16.04.2023

The shelf life of boiled eggs is in hours. How to properly store eggs


The egg is a popular tasty and nutritious product that is eaten in different parts of the Earth. The variety of recipes of the peoples of the world is determined by the excellent taste and dietary qualities of quail and chicken eggs. In particular, the composition of protein and yolk contains a high concentration of vitamins, trace elements, useful cholesterol and proteins.

A boiled egg is one of the simplest and most popular foodstuffs, which can be seen in great demand during the Easter holidays. In connection with this event, it often becomes necessary to store boiled eggs for a long time, which can create some difficulties. However, even in the absence of refrigeration units, the product can extend its "life" and use it at a more convenient time. To do this, you can always use the instructions, tips and tricks.

How long can you keep boiled eggs in the refrigerator? Shelf life options typically depend on the conditions of storage (including temperature), how the product is prepared, the expiration date of the raw egg, and even where it was purchased. The appearance is also important: damage to the shell can significantly reduce the shelf life. Therefore, in order to know exactly how much any boiled eggs can be stored, all factors must be taken into account.

How to boil an egg so that it can be stored longer?

In the event that there are no special preferences in boiling eggs or culinary tasks that are associated with the preparation method, long-term storage can be ensured by proper preparation. And hard-boiled will retain its properties for the longest time.

For the procedure it is necessary to use only fresh eggs (no more than five weeks from the date of production). If they are purchased from a farm, they should be stored as little time as possible before brewing, after making sure they are fresh. If the shell after cooking is difficult to separate from the protein, then they have been stored for less than a week.

Temperature treatment of chicken eggs not only changes the culinary properties of the product, but also disinfects it. The most dangerous bacteria and microbes die only with prolonged boiling, therefore, before direct storage, it must be boiled for eight to ten minutes. Eggs with a liquid center (soft-boiled, in a bag, etc.) should not be stored for more than twelve hours.

Advice:

Before cooking chicken eggs must be washed with warm water. If they are purchased on a farm, it is desirable to treat the shell with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Storing boiled eggs in the refrigerator

When storing finished products in the refrigerator, you must observe the temperature regime: from two to four degrees Celsius. How long can boiled eggs be stored in this case? Subject to all recommendations and subject to the freshness of the product - within one week. During this period, frequent opening of the refrigerator is not desirable.

To reduce the risk of damage to a boiled chicken egg, it is recommended to place it in a container made of plastic, glass or metal, close the lid tightly and place it closer to the far wall of the refrigerator.

Video: how long do boiled eggs last in the refrigerator?

Storing boiled eggs without refrigeration

There are situations when the use of a refrigeration unit for food storage is not possible. Very often this is due to the conditions of activity and stay. At normal room temperature, a boiled chicken egg deteriorates after two to three days. So that in boiled form it can be stored longer in this case, certain rules must be observed.

Bacteria enter through pores or cracks in its shell. Therefore, damage to the shell must be avoided, and the pores closed by treatment with vegetable oil. Thus, you can add another four to five days to the shelf life of the product.

It is not recommended to keep the boiled product in the heat. On the road, it must be eaten within twelve hours. In stores, you can buy special cooling containers. They can be used even outdoors at high air temperatures. However, you need to protect them from direct sunlight.


Advice:

Do not wrap boiled eggs in polyethylene, this will only speed up the rotting process. If there is a need for packaging, it is better to use aluminum foil or paper for these purposes.

After boiling and cooling, it is important to dry the shell thoroughly. Excess moisture promotes the growth of microbes and it is also impossible to leave the product in water.

The process of decay, as a rule, is accompanied by a characteristic unpleasant odor. If it appears, eating is prohibited. This can also be indicated by a change in the shade of the protein to gray or bluish.

Video: how long can eggs be stored without a refrigerator?

Storing raw eggs before cooking

Chicken eggs freshly purchased from a farm or store with a holding period of no more than seven days from the date of manufacture can be considered ideal for cooking. But if additional storage before cooking is necessary, how it is done can also affect the aging period.

How long to keep raw food in the refrigerator? In the refrigerator, it is better to keep it at the back wall and the use of special cells is not recommended. Keep in the package away from food with strong odors. The optimum temperature can be considered as four degrees Celsius. Keeping the product in a freezer or freezer is fraught with damage to the shell and freezing of the yolk and protein.

Outside of refrigeration, one day of a protein product at room temperature can equal seven days in the cold. But the content at +20 is acceptable.

Conclusion

Sometimes any products need to be subjected to long-term storage. Most often, such situations arise after holidays or outdoor recreation. If boiled chicken eggs are among such products, under the recommended conditions, the storage period can be significantly increased. How long boiled eggs can be stored will depend on many factors that also need to be considered.

Eggs in the fridge? Is there a difference between the rules for storing chicken and quail eggs? How long do boiled eggs keep? And the broken ones? What about at room temperature? Let's figure it out.

How many days to store?

The shelf life of chicken eggs in the refrigerator depends on their condition. If they are raw and there are no cracks on the shell - up to 90 days at a temperature of 2-5 ° C. At a temperature of 5-15 ° C - up to 30 days. Storage in warmer conditions is not recommended.

If the egg is raw, but broken, then in a closed container it will “live” on the shelf for two days.

The shelf life of boiled eggs in the refrigerator can be up to 20 days. At room temperature, they will deteriorate faster, since already at 5-15 ° C they can be stored for no more than four days. Watch the integrity of the shell: it is advisable to eat cracked or peeled eggs within two days. The yolk spoils faster than the protein.

If boiled eggs are to be kept warm (for example, you take them with you on the road), then wrap them in paper napkins, not in a plastic bag, and eat them within twelve hours.

Easter eggs are sometimes lubricated with vegetable oil after painting to make them shine. This clogs the pores on the shell, which allows the product to be stored for a week.

Ready meals containing eggs will last up to four days.

An egg that is up to nine days old can even be eaten raw or half-cooked (unless, of course, there is one hundred percent certainty that there is no salmonella or other microorganisms). If it is "older", then it is better to boil it hard-boiled or make an omelette out of it. If the shelf life is coming to an end, it is advisable to use the product for baking.

Which eggs keep the longest?

Contrary to the stereotype, the color of the shell depends only on the breed of chicken and does not affect the quality and taste. It is true that brown shells are thicker and more resistant to microcracking than white shells. Therefore, brown eggs can be stored a little longer. Also, the shelf life is reduced if the shell is dirty, but washing reduces it even more.

The shelf life of eggs in the refrigerator also depends on their variety. You can distinguish dietary, canteen and small. According to the standards, the first ones are stored for a maximum of a week at a temperature of three to twenty degrees. Canteens - up to twenty days under the same conditions and up to 120 days at temperatures from zero to two degrees.

Duck and goose eggs should preferably be eaten within two weeks. Turkeys "live" as long as chickens.

The shelf life of quail eggs in the refrigerator is longer than the rest: up to three months, and at room temperature - up to thirty days. Such properties of quail eggs are provided by the content of a large amount of lysozyme, which prevents the reproduction of pathogens.

We take into account the date of purchase and demolition

At the time of purchase, you should check not only the absence of cracks, but also the date of packaging. The egg is most useful in the first month after laying. After this period, some properties of the product change. This does not mean that eggs cannot be eaten, just the result of their use will be less expected. For example, when preparing dough.

In general, an egg is one of the few foods that rarely spoils (provided it is placed in a cool, dry and dark place). Moreover, on the day of demolition, its taste is less pronounced than after a few days.

For health, it is not so much the shelf life of eggs in the refrigerator that is important, but the absence of dangerous microorganisms. After hygienic and heat treatment, the latter are destroyed. If homemade mayonnaise is being prepared, it is recommended to add vinegar (6% or 9%) to it.

Another thing is that during long-term storage, the eggs gradually dry out, since there are microscopic pores in the shell. Microorganisms penetrate through them, which also reduces the “life span” of the product. That is why it is recommended to lubricate the eggs with fat, oil, petroleum jelly, or simply wrap them in paper.

And yet, if the store packaging contains all the necessary dates, then it is problematic to determine the day of demolition on the market. In this case, experts recommend storing eggs for no longer than three weeks.

General rules for storing eggs

There is a special compartment in the refrigerator door for storing eggs, and many are annoyed that there are only eight cells, while the package contains ten. But you should not be angry, because it is recommended to store on this shelf only those eggs that will be eaten in the coming week. The door often opens and closes, which increases the temperature on its shelves, and also contributes to mechanical damage to the shell.

If longer storage of the product is expected, then the top shelf of the refrigerator is suitable for this, and it is better to place eggs on it closer to the back wall. You can use a special plastic container or the packaging in which the eggs were sold. They should lie with the sharp end down and not touch each other.

Eggs should not be placed in close proximity to meat, fish or any food with a strong flavor. It is impossible to wash before storage, because after this procedure the protective film on the shell is destroyed, which also reduces the shelf life.

If there is no refrigerator

No problem! Fill a crate or box with dry sand, sawdust, salt, wood ash, oats, bran, millet, peat - whatever you find. Lubricate the eggs with any fat or vegetable oil and place in the box with the sharp end down, then cover it with something. If the humidity in the room is low, then you can not worry about the safety of the product for two to three months.

If there is a need for longer storage, then take a clay or glass container and place the eggs in it with the sharp end down. Dilute slaked lime (300-400 g per bucket of water) and pour it over the eggs so that the solution covers them by about ten centimeters. The container must be tightly closed. In this form, the shelf life can reach one year, but on condition that the temperature in the room does not exceed 10 degrees.

This method has a significant drawback - the eggs acquire an unpleasant aftertaste. And the method is applicable only to a very fresh product. It is desirable that the eggs be laid on the same day that they are placed in the lime mortar.

Now you know what is the shelf life of eggs in the refrigerator, at room temperature and in other conditions.

Chicken eggs are among those products that are often consumed by humans for breakfast or during the day. This is a nutritious food, saturated with many substances necessary for the human body. The speed of preparation and excellent taste make eggs a very popular food. A big plus is that chicken or quail eggs can be prepared for future use by boiling in advance, as they are stored in a cool place for a long time. For how long can boiled eggs be stored in order to be sure that they do not deteriorate?

Factors Affecting Egg Storage

The shelf life of pre-boiled eggs depends on several factors. If you want to keep the product as useful as possible, you must consider how much time it was stored before cooking. Product quality and shelf life are affected by:

  • room temperature;
  • shell integrity;
  • cooking method;
  • storage conditions prior to purchase.

In order for boiled eggs to be preserved for the entire recommended period, their shells should not have chips and cracks after cooking. Also keep in mind that eggs cooked differently have different shelf lives. The longer the product was cooked, the more it can be stored without losing valuable properties. Find out how long fresh eggs lay before they were boiled. This is of no small importance in their further use.

Conditions for preserving the beneficial properties of boiled and fresh eggs

  • In the event that a fresh egg was kept in storage for no more than a day, it is considered dietary. It retains the greatest amount of useful substances and can be consumed in any form (both raw and boiled).
  • Chicken eggs stored fresh for up to 25 days are eaten only after heat treatment. They can be used to prepare dough, various dishes, and also boil for a minimum amount of time (2-4 minutes).
  • If the eggs were stored for 25 to 45 days, they can only be eaten hard-boiled (10-15 minutes).


Storing boiled eggs in the refrigerator

  • Boiled poultry eggs in the shell can be stored in the refrigerator compartment for up to 20 days, provided that the temperature regime is within +4 degrees. This applies to hard-boiled products.
  • Soft-boiled eggs can only be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days.
  • Try to place finished products in the refrigerator compartment, and not in the doors. So they will not suffer from temperature differences when the equipment doors are opened.


Storing boiled eggs without refrigeration

Boiled eggs are often taken on the road, as they take up little space and saturate the body well. At room temperature (about 20 degrees Celsius), you can store such products:

  • No more than 20 hours - if the egg is soft-boiled.
  • Up to three days - if it is hard-boiled.
  • A chicken egg, previously peeled, must be eaten within 12 hours. After this time, the product must be discarded, as it will lose its useful qualities and begin to deteriorate.



Storing boiled eggs in the freezer

Boiled eggs are usually not frozen for storage in the freezer, as they lose their valuable qualities. However, if such a need arises, only the yolk should be frozen. Eggs need to be shelled, freed from protein and put in a plastic container. You can store the yolk in the freezer for up to one year.


Ways to boil eggs

The method of preparation of this product directly affects its shelf life. Therefore, it would be advisable to take into account the time of heat treatment of eggs. There are three ways to boil an egg: hard-boiled, soft-boiled and in a bag. The consistency of the finished dish depends on the time the eggs are in boiling water. The product should be cooked:

  • For soft-boiled cooking, two to four minutes.
  • In order to get the eggs in the bag - 5-6 minutes.
  • Hard boiled eggs are boiled for about 10-12 minutes.

To prevent cracking of the shell, it is recommended to add a pinch of salt to the water.


If possible, try to eat eggs as soon as possible after they are cooked. After all, fresh food is the most delicious and healthy. If you have a need to keep boiled eggs for a long time, do not eat food after the recommended shelf life. This can cause irreparable harm to health.

Eggs are the most famous product in the history of cooking, providing a person with high-quality protein, vitamins and trace elements. Is there a way to keep the beneficial properties of the egg for as long as possible? We reveal the secrets of proper storage of such a valuable product.

  • duck
  • ostrich
  • quail
  • chicken
  • turkey
  • goose
  • caesarines

In fairness, it should be noted that the egg of any bird is edible. The main condition is that the product must be as fresh as possible!

Important. Poisoning from stale eggs is second only to mushrooms in food poisoning statistics.

Shelf life of raw eggs

The shelf life of eggs at room temperature and in the refrigerator depends on many factors.

  1. Storage temperature
  • The optimum temperature is considered to be in the range of 3-4⁰С
  • For comparison: 1 day of storage of a chicken egg at room temperature corresponds to 1 week of storage in the refrigerator.
  • The more stable the temperature regime, the longer the product will retain its freshness.
  1. Humidity

Surprisingly, eggs love moist air. That is why many chefs and poultry farmers recommend storing eggs in the refrigerator in vegetable containers. However, excess moisture can cause putrefactive processes and spoil the product.

  1. Shell thickness

The thicker the shell and the denser the inner film of the egg, the longer it is stored (even without a refrigerator). Caesar eggs, which have relatively thick shells, stay fresh for more than 30 days at room temperature.

  1. shell integrity

The shell is an ideal shell created by nature itself. Even the most microscopic cracks that have arisen on it disrupt the internal balance and shorten the shelf life of the egg.

  1. Cleanliness of the shell: the cleaner the surface, the less all kinds of pathogenic organisms on it
  • But this does not mean that non-waterfowl eggs need to be washed urgently. In washed raw eggs, the shelf life is drastically reduced. This is due to the need for the egg to "breathe". When washing the eggshell, the pores are clogged, which prevents the natural gas exchange of the internal contents of the egg with the environment. Eggs are washed with warm water immediately before use. Heavily contaminated eggs are used first
  • Eggs laid by waterfowl can and should be washed with water before being stored!
  1. illumination

Eggs don't like sunlight! The darker the storage area, the longer the eggs will last.

  1. Position


This laying of eggs is quite justified. The fact is that in the rounded blunt part of the egg there is an air chamber, the so-called "puga". Nature created the puga as an oxygen cushion for the future chick. Puga and more than 10,000 shell pores saturate the egg with oxygen, removing carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from the shell

These are general rules that extend the shelf life of all bird eggs. Read about the features of storing individual species below.

What is the shelf life of chicken eggs in the refrigerator?

Chicken eggs remain the most sought after product worldwide.

If you buy eggs in a store, read the label carefully. It is she who will tell you how long you can store the product you are purchasing, because the shelf life of dietary and table eggs is different. The decoding of the marking is shown in the photo below.



Important: do not forget to pay attention to the date of packaging / packaging of eggs

Shelf life of quail eggs in the refrigerator

Quail eggs, in comparison with chicken eggs, are smaller and have a thinner shell. This also leads to a shorter shelf life of the product, even in the presence of a refrigerator. So, at a temperature regime of 18-23⁰ and in compliance with all of the above rules, a quail egg can be stored for no more than 30 days. In the refrigerator, the shelf life increases to 60 days.



Shelf life of boiled eggs

In the case of an egg, the generally accepted logic is not acceptable: heat treatment does not increase, but sharply reduces the shelf life of the product.

Boiled chicken egg remains usable

  • at room temperature no more than 24 hours
  • in the refrigerator - 3-5 days (depending on the initial freshness of the egg and the method of cooking). Storage for more than 5 days degrades the nutritional characteristics of the product. Eating boiled eggs that have been in the refrigerator for more than 10 days can be hazardous to health

Important: This is an unpeeled boiled egg!



Why are boiled eggs stored less?

This is due to the action of high temperatures, as a result of which

  • the natural protection of the shell is destroyed
  • protein and yolk coagulate - a process of so-called denaturation occurs
  • natural processes inside the shell are violated, because the main purpose of the egg is not at all to become breakfast

Shelf life of eggs for incubation

The main purpose of the egg is to become the cradle of a new life.



How the egg will cope with its primary task depends on the conditions of its storage. There are other rules at work here.

  1. The optimal temperature regime for storing eggs before incubation is 8-15⁰С, for ostriches - 16-18⁰С
  2. Humidity - 75-80%
  3. Laying method
  • avoid stacking eggs
  • use special stacking trays
  • lay ostrich, quail, chicken, turkey eggs vertically, blunt end up. To prevent detachment and stretching of the hailstones, the movement of the embryo and the drying of the medium, turn the eggs from top to bottom from time to time
  • store goose, duck eggs in a horizontal position also, from time to time, changing their position. To avoid confusion when turning the material for incubation, mark one side of the egg with a simple pencil
  1. Egg storage times at optimum temperature
  • chicken, ostrich and quail - 6-7 days
  • turkey -5-6 days
  • duck - 8-10 days
  • goose - 10-12 days

Features of use and shelf life of goose eggs

Waterfowl eggs are rare guests on our tables.



There are several reasons for this:

  1. Geese and ducks are not laying hens by definition. Their eggs are primarily used to replenish the bird population. Rejected raw materials, not suitable for incubation, are used in cooking
  2. Waterfowl eggs are usually eaten only after heat treatment due to the high risk of salmonellosis infection.
  3. Storage conditions for eggs are almost identical to those for chicken eggs, but the shelf life is longer due to the high density of the shell

If you happen to be the owner of goose or duck chickens, don't be embarrassed by a new culinary experience! These products have proven themselves in baking, omelettes, salads.

Features of use and shelf life of ostrich eggs

The ostrich confidently conquers the northern latitudes and feels great in our, far from African, climate.

  • Ostrich eggs are a dietary product, while retaining all the beneficial properties of a chicken egg
  • One ostrich egg can make an omelette for 8-10 people. A broken egg can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days without losing its beneficial properties.
  • At room temperature, an ostrich egg can be stored for up to 30 days, provided that the shell is not damaged. In the refrigerator, the shelf life increases up to 6 months

The video at the end of the article will tell you more about how long eggs should be stored.

Video: How to store eggs correctly?

Chicken eggs are a product that is eaten by the inhabitants of the entire planet. The reason for such culinary addictions is obvious - it is a source of protein and nutrients, vitamins, while the cost is low. Chicken eggs are an indispensable component of many dishes, without them it is impossible to prepare a delicious dough or cream, they are used in the preparation of salads, they are a binding component in the preparation of minced meat and cottage cheese dishes. They are also consumed raw, boiled and fried. They often resort to the use of boiled eggs as travel food, while taking into account the possibility of a relatively long storage of this product at room temperature. That's just how much boiled eggs can be stored, how to do it correctly so as not to damage your health?

  • Store fresh eggs properly
  • How to boil eggs
  • How long to store boiled eggs

Store fresh chicken eggs properly in the refrigerator

Purchased fresh eggs should be stored in the refrigerator. It is best to place them closer to the cold back wall. Nutritionists do not approve of storage in special cells that are located on the doors - this place in the refrigerator is relatively warm, and frequent opening of the doors leads to the fact that the product experiences constant temperature changes. Store in special packaging, away from products with strong odors.

Storage of fresh eggs in the refrigerator should not exceed 5 weeks from the date of their production. The possibility of preserving the product for such a long period is possible due to the presence of a special protective film on the surface. For this reason, eggs should not be washed when stored, but immediately before cooking. Storage in the freezer is acceptable, but it can hardly be considered appropriate - at low temperatures, the protein and yolk freeze. The optimum temperature is +4 degrees.

The freshness of eggs for some period will be maintained even at room temperature. But at a temperature of, for example, +20 degrees, their shelf life will be significantly reduced, one day of stay in such conditions will be equal to seven days of storage of the product in the refrigerator.

How to boil eggs

Cooking boiled eggs, which is familiar to every housewife, also requires some attention. It should be remembered that harmful microbes and bacteria, and in particular salmonella, are resistant even to prolonged heat treatment. A sufficient temperature for their active reproduction is the range from +7 to +45 degrees, the most active reproduction occurs at 35-37 degrees. When boiled, salmonella die, so the boiling time should be extended to 8-9 minutes. This will reduce the chance of contracting salmonellosis to a minimum. Omelet or scrambled eggs for the purpose of disinfection should be fried until the product is completely dry.

How long to store boiled eggs

The shelf life of a boiled product depends on many factors:

  • First of all, how fresh the product you managed to get is also important in what conditions it was stored in the store and on the way from the farm to the counter.
  • Only those specimens can be left for storage, the shell of which did not acquire cracks or other damage during cooking. Otherwise, reliable protection of the product contained in the shell will not be ensured - pathogenic microbes can penetrate through cracks.
  • You can store boiled eggs in the refrigerator for a week, the optimum temperature for this is from 2 "to 4" C. Eggs taken on the road in the warm season should be consumed within 12 hours. It is best to keep them wrapped in paper napkins - the plastic bag should be discarded.

The possibility of relatively long-term storage allows you to prepare this product in advance, but you should not forget the rules and terms of its storage - violations can cause poisoning and salmonellosis infection.

Storing boiled eggs without refrigeration

In a room with moderate temperatures, boiled eggs can be stored without a refrigerator, but this time will be limited to 2-3 days. Easter eggs are stored much longer, about a week. The fact is that after painting, most housewives treat it with sunflower oil to make the surface shine. Small pores on the shell are clogged and the product is stored longer.

I hope that information on how much to store boiled eggs and how to do it correctly will be useful to you. The precautions recommended in the article will save you from unwanted problems. Remember that long-term storage of cooked foods should be used if necessary, nutritionists consider freshly prepared food to be the most useful.