When Easter rolls around, hard-boiled eggs get to have their day in the sun—but you might be curious about what to do with all those eggs once the decorating and egg hunts are over. Or maybe you just want to know whether you can safely whip up a big batch of your favorite afternoon snack or on-the-go breakfast and enjoy those babies throughout the week. Either way, you’re wondering: How long do hard-boiled eggs last? Well, friends, that depends on how you store ‘em. Here’s everything you need to know about keeping hard-boiled eggs fresh and safe to eat for as long as possible.
How Long Do Hard-Boiled Eggs Last?
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Published Feb 28, 2022
How long do hard-boiled eggs last at room temperature?
When it comes to making use of eggs after an Easter egg hunt, it can get a little tricky. Here’s the thing: The same rule applies to hard-boiled eggs as all cooked foods, namely that they are no longer considered safe to eat if they have been left at room temperature for more than two hours, according to the USDA. So, what does that mean for your surplus of decorated eggs? Well, if you are going to be hiding them for a hunt, be sure to do so right before the hunt begins so that the eggs will still be within the two-hour window by the time they’re all found and can go back in the fridge for future consumption.
How long do hard-boiled eggs last in the fridge?
If you have multiple hard-boiled eggs on your hands, the fridge is your friend, says the FDA. Those fully cooked eggs will stay fresh in the fridge for a full week—provided you store them promptly (i.e., within two hours of cooking them). Best of all, you do not have to peel them before popping them in the fridge, which is a particularly convenient fact if the hard-boiled eggs in question have been or will be decorated for Easter. (In fact, you shouldn’t peel hard-boiled eggs prior to refrigeration regardless, as doing so will significantly reduce their storage life.) Bottom line: Hard-boiled eggs will be a-okay for up to seven days when kept nice and chilly in your fridge.
How to store hard-boiled eggs
The best way to store hard-boiled eggs is by placing them, unpeeled, in an airtight storage container and sticking ‘em in the fridge. Easy peasy.
How do I know if a hard-boiled egg is bad?
The best way to know if a hard-boiled egg is bad is simply by following the guidelines above. That said, if you’re still not confident in the freshness of a hard-boiled egg, there are a few clues that can help you out. The first thing to be on the lookout for is a funky smell: Take a hard pass if the hard-boiled egg has a sulfuric or rotten odor. Similarly, if you notice upon peeling the egg that it has a weird texture or color, you’re better off tossing it and boiling a fresh one snack.
Ready to eat? Here are eight of our favorite hard-boiled egg recipes:
