How to preserve hard-boiled eggs: tips and tricks (2024)

How can hard-boiled eggs be preserved? And especially how long can we keep them in the refrigerator before they are not good to eat anymore? Preparing them is simple and, especially on holidays, it is nice to serve hard-boiled eggs as an appetizer with a mayonnaise flake or an olive paté. However, it is important to correctly preseve them to eat them safely, even after some days. Whether they're in the refrigerator or in the freezer, or in vinegar, let’s see some tips on how to preserve hard-boiled eggs.

Preparing them is simple and, especially on holidays, it is nice to serve hard-boiled eggs as an appetizer with a mayonnaise flake or an olive paté. But how can hard-boiled eggs be preserved? And especially how long can we keep them in the refrigerator before they are not good to eat anymore?

Hard-boiled eggs are very easy to cook, because it just takes about 8 minutes in a small saucepan with boiling water and they are a very nutritious and protein food nonetheless. However, it is quite important to correctly preserve them to eat them safely, even after some days. Whether they're in the refrigerator or in the freezer, or in vinegar, let’s see some tips on how to preserve hard-boiled eggs, without bad smells and without altering their taste.

How to long hard-boiled eggs will last in the fridge

To preserve hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator, do not let more than 2 hours pass after cooking. Immediately after boiling them, dip them in a bowl with cold water. Let them cool, then dry them well with a paper towel to prevent bacteria from forming.

It is essential not to leave the hard-boiled eggs out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours for the development of bacteria and to avoid risks such as salmonella. In fact, hard-boiled eggs resist out of the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. Throw away the hard-boiled eggs if they have been at room temperature for too long.

Do not shell the hard-boiled eggs before putting them in the refrigerator, just preserve them with the shell so as to prevent them from going bad. Eggs without shells can be preserved for about 5 days. Preserve them in their cardboard container, or in a box with an airtight seal, if possible on the shelves of the refrigerator and not in the door. This is to not lower the temperature of the eggs too much every time you open the refrigerator. And remember to keep eggs away from foods with strong odors to avoid alterations.

If you have already shelled the eggs, preserve them in the refrigerator immersed in a bowl with cold water. In this way you will preserve their moistness level and the temperature will remain constant. Change the water once a day to keep the hard-boiled eggs fresh and consume them within a week.

How to freeze hard-boiled eggs in the freezer

You can preserve hard-boiled eggs in the freezer, but with some precautions. Anyway it is generally not recommended to freeze egg whites, because they may vary in color and create bad smells. For this reason, it is preferable to keep only the egg yolks in the freezer.

Try to separate the egg yolks before boiling the eggs. Pour plenty of water into a saucepan to cover them completely and bring to the boil within a short time. At the end of the cooking, let the egg yolks cool in the water for about ten minutes, drain well and close them in an airtight container. Leave the pickled eggs in the refrigerator for at least 1 to 2 weeks before consuming them.

How to preserve hard-boiled eggs in vinegar

Another good method to preserve hard-boiled eggs for a long time is to keep them in vinegar, closed in a clean jar. Start by sterilizing the jars to prevent bacteria from forming. You can use the classic jars suitable for preserves, because they have a good hermetic seal.

Wash the jars with warm water and dish soap, then rinse well. Put the jars in the oven at the lowest temperature for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile boil the eggs, and then let them cool in the water for about 15 minutes. Pass them under cold water and shell.

In the meantime, prepare a brine by pouring 350ml of water, 350ml of distilled white vinegar, a clove of garlic and spices for the marinade. Boil in a pot and let cool for about ten minutes.

Remove the jar from the oven, and transfer the eggs in the sterilized jar along with the brine. Close the jar tightly and put it in the refrigerator as soon as possible.

How long can hard-boiled eggs be preserved?

Hard-boiled eggs can be preserved in the refrigerator for a maximum of 1 week. Consider that hard-boiled eggs go bad long before raw ones, especially if they are already shelled.

Check the state of the hard-boiled eggs with the help of the smell and color; so if you smell the typical bad smell similar to sulfur just throw away the hard-boiled eggs. If the egg yolks are gray or greenish, it does not mean that they have gone bad, it could be indicative of a very long cooking.

The egg yolks stored in the freezer last about 3 months. Check the color and smell to make sure they are still of good quality before consuming them.

The hard-boiled eggs in brine can be preserved for about 2 months, if closed in an airtight jar, preferably made of glass or ceramic, but not in metal.

The advice is to pasteurize the jars once the hard-boiled eggs have been put there, boiling them for about 30 minutes so that the vacuum is created. So you will be sure to avoid the formation of mold, spores or bacteria. Once the jar is opened, it is still preferable to eat the hard-boiled eggs in a few days.