We serve deviled eggs at holiday brunches as well as at co*cktail parties and potluck gatherings year-round, and they almost always fly off the spread. But if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, you might be curious, how long are deviled eggs good for?
You need not guess any longer. We spoke with egg and food safety experts so you can safely make the most of your deviled dozens.
- Elisa Maloberti, manager of special projects and food safety at the American Egg Board in Chicago, Illinois
- Meredith Carothers, food safety specialist for the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service in Washington D.C.
How to Store Deviled Eggs
If you’ve yet to assemble the deviled eggs, Maloberti suggests getting a head start to make hosting easier. Boil the eggs and prepare the filling up to 24 hours before you plan to assemble and serve. Store both in the refrigerator at 40°F or below (do not freeze), with the prepared filling in a zip-top food storage bag and the empty egg white halves in an airtight storage container.
“If you’re planning on serving deviled eggs at a picnic or other outdoor occasion, transport both the yolk filling and egg whites with ice or frozen coolant packs in an insulated cooler,” Maloberti suggests. “Assemble the deviled eggs by snipping off a corner of the filling bag and squeezing to fill the egg white halves just before serving.”
Once those beauties are built, the clock starts ticking. Just like with all perishable foods, with egg recipes of any kind—including deviled eggs—it’s vital to steer clear of the “danger zone,” Carothers reminds us.
“Bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes,” Carothers explains, which is why this temperature range is referred to as the “danger zone.”
Once prepared, deviled eggs should not be left out of the refrigerator for over 2 hours, and if the temperature is above 90 °F (as it might be at a summer picnic, 4th of July potluck, or graduation party, for instance), deviled eggs should not be left out for more than 1 hour. Discard any extra deviled eggs if they’ve been in the danger zone for longer than those timeframes.
If you have extra deviled eggs and can have them chill out before that zone, transfer the stuffed eggs to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator at 40 °F or below, Carothers advises.
“This helps keep bacteria out while retaining moisture and preventing leftovers from picking up odors from other food in the refrigerator,” she explains.
Test Kitchen Tip: As we mentioned regarding the egg white halves and deviled egg filling, do not freeze prepared deviled eggs, either.
Here's How to Make Perfect Deviled Eggs
How Long are Deviled Eggs Good For?
The USDA, Carothers, and Maloberti agree that hard-cooked eggs should be safe to store in the refrigerator (peeled or in their shells) for up to 7 days.
“Once mixed with the additional ingredients that go into deviled eggs, they become a ‘prepared food,’ and would fall into our general recommendation to use within 4 days,” Carothers clarifies.
The fact that the filling is often made with mayonnaise or yogurt means that deviled eggs are best to consume within 4 days max; ideally sooner. Maloberti would prefer that you polish off those leftovers within 1 day, if possible.
“Deviled eggs are handled multiple times during the cooking, peeling, and preparation processes, and each handling occasion is one more opportunity for the eggs to come into contact with bacteria,” Maloberti says.
How to Tell if Deviled Eggs Have Gone Bad
The most common signs of spoilage, according to Carothers: “off” odor, flavor or texture. If you notice any of these features in your deviled eggs, discard them.
Test Kitchen Tip: Egg shells are an excellent addition to your compost. Egg yolks and whites, though, are trickier territory. Technically, you can compost them, but they might attract rodents to your compost. If you're worried about that, discard the deviled eggs in the trash. If you choose to compost the deviled eggs, we suggest placing them in the middle of your compost mix to ensure they decompose rapidly.
Bonus Food Safety Tips For Deviled Eggs
To prevent the possibility of foodborne illness, Maloberti advises:
- Use eggs well within their expiration date.
- Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces that will come in contact with food before and after preparation.
- Keep eggs in the refrigerator as much as possible during deviled egg preparation.
- Be mindful of the time the assembled deviled eggs are out of refrigeration.
In case you missed it, here’s how to tell if your raw eggs have gone bad.
