Eggs are not just for breakfast anymore! Hard-boiled eggs make a great snack or appetizer during the day. Chopped up on top of salad greens or vegetables they can provide some much needed extra protein to your diet. When you have trouble cooking things evenly, hard-boiled eggs are an easy alternative to worry about how you will cook them evenly!
After cooking the eggs, you may wonder if the hard-boiled eggs go bad and how long the eggs will last.
Yes, hard-boiled eggs do go bad. This is usually due to improper storage. After the eggs are cooked, it’s recommended to place them in the refrigerator. This will help prevent the contamination of bacteria. If hard-boiled eggs have gone bad, it will have a powdery or slimy shell, gives off a bad odor, or discoloring.
How Long Do Hard Boiled Eggs Last?
Hard-boiled eggs should be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days. After that time, the eggs will start to deteriorate in quality. It will become soft and turn watery.
Discard the eggs after about 1 week even though they may look and smell fine.
How to Store Hard Boiled Eggs
Hard-boiled eggs are a popular source of protein that can be eaten as-is or used in dishes. Unfortunately, these eggs are notorious for not keeping too well in the refrigerator. To help extend the lifespan of hard-boiled eggs, it is important to store them properly.
There are several ways to store hard-boiled eggs. Some people put them in a zip-lock bag and put them in the fridge, while others keep their eggs separate from one another on an egg tray with holes. However, there are some precautions that should be taken to ensure the quality of hard-boiled eggs when storing them in either way.
The first thing that should be done is to make sure they have cooled down before being stored away.
To store hard-boiled eggs:
Step 1: Allow the eggs to cool to room temperature.
Step 2: Wrap them in plastic wrap or tin foil individually.
Step 3: Place them in a bowl that is as shallow as possible.
Step 4: Store them at the bottom of the fridge where it is coldest.
Make sure to store the eggs on their side, not on their end, so their yolk stays centered.
How to Tell If Hard Boiled Eggs Are Bad?
Hard-boiled eggs are one of the most common food items. But how do we know if they are bad?
For some people, knowing whether or not their hard-boiled eggs will go bad comes down to just taking a chance on that first sniff or feeling of their eggshell when they pull it out of the pan or the fridge.
There are two ways to test for spoiled eggs. One is by smell, and the other is by touch. The first way is to smell them from a distance. If you can smell an ammonia-like odor, then the eggs have gone bad and should be discarded immediately.
The second way is to simply touch them with your finger. If you feel a slimy or wet texture your eggs have gone bad and need to be thrown away too!
How To Keep Hard Boiled Eggs Fresh Longer
To keep hard-boiled eggs fresh longer, you can store them in the fridge, but if you want to avoid cracking the eggs and losing their yolks, you can try freezing them.
The best way to keep hard-boiled eggs fresh longer is to wrap them in a few paper towels and store them in the fridge.
Another way is to make sure to wash your hands after peeling them. Make sure that you don’t leave any traces of dirt on the eggshells or your hands. After the eggs are done boiling, let them cool down for a minute in a bowl of cold water before removing them from the boiling water.
How To Cook Hard Boiled Eggs Correctly
Cooking the eggs may seem simple and straightforward. However, cooking them the wrong way could cause the eggs to become watery and not last very long.
Below are the steps to cook hard-boiled eggs:
Step 1: Fill a pot with water and place it over high heat.
Step 2: As the water starts to boil, place eggs in a pot or bowl, making sure they are all in one layer.
Step 3: Once the water has reached a full boil, remove the eggs and place them into cold tap water. This is done for two reasons:
-The sudden change in temperature will help to create a more solid white and not have it become rubbery or soft.
-The cold water will stop the cooking process so that the egg is not overcooked when you remove it from boiling water around ten minutes later.
Related Questions
Can spoiled hard-boiled eggs make you sick?
Eggs are one of the most popular breakfast food in the US. However, if you don’t properly store your eggs and they get too old, they can cause serious health problems.
Eggs are very perishable items, so they should be stored in a refrigerator as soon as possible after being boiled. Ideally, you should use them within 3 to 5 days after boiling them unless you plan on frying or baking with them. If you plan to freeze your hard-boiled eggs, make sure that their shells are completely dry before storing them in an airtight container.
If you keep your eggs at room temperature for more than 2 hours and they should be discarded. It’s likely the eggs will be contaminated with harmful bacteria.