Boiled, fried, scrambled, hard-boiled, poached, in an omelette… There are a thousand and one ways to enjoy our eggs. But, although they are healthy and usually easy to prepare, many people find it a bit difficult to store them. Should we refrigerate them or rather keep them at room temperature? And once cooked, how long do we keep hard-boiled eggs in the fridge? Don’t they run the risk of rotting too quickly? In short, in this article we will try to answer all these questions that assail you.
Can eggs be stored in the refrigerator?
Quick question: Where are the eggs in the supermarket? In the fridge or just on the shelves? Are they usually kept at room temperature? Then you have your answer. Once at home, follow the same principle. Even if your fridge contains specially designed rounded trays for eggs, we do not recommend using them. It is better to keep them in their box and store them in a corner away from the heat.
Don’t have a place to put them and really insist on refrigerating your eggs? In this case, you should immediately put them in the refrigerator as soon as you get home. Remember, during the hot months, the temperature in the refrigerator should be no more than 4ºC. Warning: you should never wash eggs before storing them, otherwise you risk destroying the protective membrane and encouraging moisture build-up.
How long does a hard-boiled egg last?
Eggs are usually kept in an environment above 20°C. That’s why you’ll always find the boxes on the shelves of shops and not in the fridge. But what about hard-boiled eggs? Once they’re cooked, if you want to keep them for later, what’s the best way to preserve them? Here are two ideas:
with the shell
First let them cool down to room temperature. Then place them in an airtight container where you can safely store them in the refrigerator for a few days.
without shell
Will you need them to garnish your dinner salad or to make stuffed eggs? In this case, once peeled, let them cool to room temperature, place them in an airtight container and cover them with a damp cloth. If you keep them in the fridge like this for a while, don’t forget to change the cloth every day. Otherwise, it is also possible to keep them in an unsealed container filled with water (change the water every day).
For your information
Hard-boiled eggs (in the shell or peeled) should be consumed within three to four days of cooking. Cooked yolks can remain intact for up to 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to preserve hard-boiled eggs?
So, preferably, store them in the refrigerator at 7°C maximum. Let’s be clear, the dedicated compartment in the refrigerator door is not really suitable for hard-boiled eggs, because it is constantly opening and closing. Obviously, they will be exposed to temperature fluctuations and therefore risk being damaged. Also, since they tend to absorb strong odours, it is best not to place them next to fish or cheese. Important point: the egg shell should never touch other foods to avoid a possible transmission of salmonella (toxic bacteria). Before throwing away the cardboard box, take a look at the instructions. This packaging provides useful information on storage : some manufacturers advise storing eggs in the refrigerator immediately, while others specify the date from which they should be refrigerated.
How do you know if a hard-boiled egg is still good to eat?
We usually rely mostly on our own judgment before eating an egg. Color and smell are usually obvious signs. If the inside of the egg is gray or watery, it’s probably bad. If you notice the shell is slimy, it’s likely contaminated with bacteria or mold. Likewise, a brown shell is a sign of rot. After cooking, do you notice the yolk is pale, even greenish? This just means the egg was a little overcooked. If you left it in the pan, the yolk mixes with hydrogen sulfide, which is what causes that gassy smell. And if you notice a clearly marked gray ring or one that turns completely green, it’s quite possible that the egg is rotten.
