Hard-boiled eggs make for a quick and nutritious snack, that has a boost of protein in it for prolonged fullness and energy. Many families enjoy keeping this inexpensive item on their refrigerator shelf for a great grab-and-go option.
If you’re storing your hard-boiled eggs properly, they should last between 5-7 days. This will depend on the freshness of the eggs before you boiled them and whether or not they’re kept in a tightly sealed container in the fridge. For the best results, store the eggs unpeeled to prevent them from picking up unwanted odors.
There are a few things to keep in mind when storing hard-boiled eggs, such as how to tell when they’ve gone bad. You should also be aware of how to avoid having your eggs spoil prematurely, which will save you both time and money in the long run.
How Should Hard-Boiled Eggs Be Stored?
After you’ve made your hard-boiled eggs, you’ll naturally want them to last as long as possible. To ensure they stay good, you should place your unpeeled eggs into a covered container and keep them in the refrigerator.
This is the ideal way to preserve hard-boiled eggs. If they’ve been left on the countertop, they can go bad very quickly and nobody wants to consume a smelly egg that no longer looks appetizing and is potentially carrying a foodborne illness.
If you’ve already peeled your hard-boiled eggs, they may have a bit of excess moisture. To combat this, you should simply place a paper towel layer within the container and place the eggs on top. You can add another paper towel over the eggs if desired.
The paper towels soak up any extra moisture instead of leaving the eggs soggy. This helps them to retain peak freshness for a longer period.
If you’re storing peeled hard-boiled eggs, you have the option to place them into a bowl full of fresh water. You should replace the water daily but there is no need to cover the container with a lid.
You’ll want to eat the eggs within a couple of days after peeling them. Without the protection of the outer shell, they don’t last as long as eggs that have been left unpeeled before storing.
How Can You Tell If a Hard-Boiled Egg Has Gone Bad?
During the process of cooking, hard-boiled eggs can naturally release a gas that may smell unpleasant to some. This does not necessarily mean that the nutritious snack has gone bad, however.
Aside from using your nose to sniff out any off scents, which you’ll be able to do if you frequently consume hard-boiled eggs, you should use your other senses as well. If the egg has any discoloration or moldy spots — definitely toss it out and start fresh.
If you know that the hard-boiled eggs have been stored in the fridge for longer than a week, you should proceed with caution. The eggs are likely past their best-by date and you should consider starting with a new batch.
When you boil the eggs and give them an ice bath, you should refrigerate them within two hours. If you left them on the countertop and forgot about them, you’ll want to toss the batch so as not to risk eating an egg that has gone bad due to rapid bacterial growth after the two-hour mark.
On a hard-boiled egg that has gone bad, you may notice a slimy film on the outer layer. Even if the egg smells okay, toss it out as this is a clear sign the egg is past its peak freshness. It’s not worth getting sick over.
Though the yolk can sometimes have a greenish or gray tinge to it from overcooking, this discoloration shouldn’t extend to the white area. If it does, this is a sign that the egg has gone bad and should be discarded.
What Can Happen If You Eat a Boiled Egg That’s Gone Bad?
When eating any type of egg past its prime, you’re putting yourself at risk for a food-borne illness. You can be a victim of food poisoning, which may result in diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
Anyone that has had a food illness in the past knows to be extra careful when it comes to consuming questionable food. If you’re unsure as to whether or not your hard-boiled eggs are safe to eat, it may be the safest bet to toss them out and boil a new batch.
Luckily, it’s unlikely that consuming a bad hard-boiled egg will make someone sick enough to end up in the hospital.
Oftentimes, the course of treatment involves plenty of extra fluids, some rest, and a light diet for a few days until you feel less nauseated.
Spoiled hard-boiled eggs have a very specific smell and you’ll be able to distinguish it from the regular smell of eggs if you consume them frequently enough. Once you get a whiff of this smell, into the garbage they go.
If you unknowingly ate a bad hard-boiled egg, symptoms may begin to appear anywhere between 6-48 hours after you consumed it.
When eating a dish such as egg salad, a spoiled egg may be disguised by various other ingredients and you may not even know until you begin to feel sick.
Do Hard-Boiled Eggs Last Longer Peeled or Unpeeled?
If you’re able to, it’s best to store your hard-boiled eggs unpeeled. Once you peel them, they no longer have the layer of protection that the shell offers to them — especially when it comes to moisture and picking up any fridge odors that may be present.
For busy parents who are trying to provide their kiddos with a quick and easy snack, storing hard-boiled eggs unpeeled may seem like the best option.
However, if your child is able to peel them before eating, this is the best way to go to ensure the eggs stay fresh.
While it may sound surprising to some, hard-boiled eggs may actually get easier to peel once they’ve spent some time in the fridge.
If you struggle to peel your eggs after placing them into an ice bath after cooking, you may want to pop them into the fridge for a day or so before attempting the process.
When storing your hard-boiled eggs, peeled or unpeeled, it’s a good habit to date the container. This way, you know exactly how long they’ve been sitting in the fridge.
This decreases the likelihood of unknowingly biting into a spoiled egg and finding yourself revolted by the taste and scent.
Can You Freeze Hard-Boiled Eggs?
Hard-boiled eggs aren’t the ideal snack to be frozen, as they don’t hold up well to frigid temperatures. If you don’t think you’ll get to your hard-boiled eggs right away, you should put off cooking them until you’re able to eat them or share them with others.
While you can technically freeze the eggs, you may notice that the whites become hard and a bit rubbery. The yolks can dry out and have a chalky texture, which isn’t ideal for eating. All in all, you should avoid freezing hard-boiled eggs.
The good news is that there are many recipes that use hard-boiled eggs, including deviled eggs, egg salad sandwiches, and a variety of green salads that call for sliced boiled eggs as a topping.
You can find a way to use your hard-boiled eggs without resorting to the freezer method.
If you wish to freeze eggs, the best method is to beat the yolks and egg white together before popping them into the freezer. You’ll want to use the frozen eggs within a year, per FDA recommendations.
Can You Reheat Hard-Boiled Eggs?
Most often, hard-boiled eggs are enjoyed cold. However, if you wish to reheat them there are a few tips to keep in mind to avoid any microwave mishaps or rubbery eggs.
If you’re heating the egg in the microwave, make sure you remove the shell. If you leave the shell on, it will likely cause a mess in the appliance that you’ll then need to clean up thoroughly to avoid any lingering scents.
When you’d like to reheat a batch of hard-boiled eggs at once, the best method is to place them into a bowl, with the shell on, and pour boiling water over them. Once they’ve sat for 8-10 minutes, you can remove them and begin to peel and eat them.
Once reheated, eggs lost some of their protein content. If you reheat them several times, they’re not nearly nutritious as they were fresh. If you wish to reheat them, do so one time only and eat them right away.