How Long Can Eggs Be Last Outside of the Fridge? (2024)

FAQs

How Long Can Eggs Be Last Outside of the Fridge? ›

A general rule, unwashed eggs will last around two weeks unrefrigerated and about three months or more in your refrigerator. If you're experiencing an egg boom, it's smart to refrigerate any unwashed fresh eggs you aren't planning to eat immediately. This will help them last longer.

According to the American Egg Board, you can leave eggs on the counter about 2 hours at room temperature (or 1 hour if the temperature is 90°F or hotter). After 2 hours, you'd be safer to throw those eggs out and get a fresh dozen rather than chance it.

Never leave cooked eggs or egg dishes out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours or for more than 1 hour when temperatures are above 90° F. Bacteria that can cause illness grow quickly at warm temperatures (between 40° F and 140° F).

Information. Eggs may be refrigerated three to five weeks from the day they are placed in the refrigerator. The "Sell-By" date will usually expire during that length of time, but the eggs will be perfectly safe to use. Always purchase eggs before the "Sell-By" or EXP (expiration) date on the carton.

The best-kept secret in determining an egg's freshness is to see if it sinks in water. To try the egg water test, simply fill a glass or bowl with cold water and submerge the eggs. If the eggs sink to the bottom and lay flat on their side, they're still fresh.

A general rule, unwashed eggs will last around two weeks unrefrigerated and about three months or more in your refrigerator. If you're experiencing an egg boom, it's smart to refrigerate any unwashed fresh eggs you aren't planning to eat immediately.

Left at room temp, any bacteria on the shell can move with that moisture into the egg, since egg shells are semipermeable. Even clean eggs with no cracks can harbor Salmonella, so it's important not to just go by the appearance of the eggs. Cold will also slow the aging of eggs, making them last longer.

Combine 1 part water glass solution to 10 parts boiling water. Mix the solution thoroughly and allow it to cool. Place clean eggs in a clean jar and pour the cooled solution over the eggs until it covers them by 2 inches. Screw a lid onto the jar and store the jar in a cool, dark location.

To perform the float test, gently set your egg into a bowl or bucket of water. If the egg sinks, it is fresh. If it tilts upwards or even floats, it is old. This is because as an egg ages, the small air pocket inside it grows larger as water is released and replaced by air.

While egg farmers supply a safe, clean, fresh product, it is possible for eggs to become contaminated by the food poisoning bacteria Salmonella. The good news is Salmonella is killed instantly at 74^oC. So even if you are unlucky enough to get an egg with bacteria on it, the food will become safe by cooking it properly.

When to throw out eggs? ›

The most accurate way of testing whether your eggs have gone bad is to crack them open. If the yolk or white has any discoloration, the egg is no good. Discoloration is an indication of bacterial growth. If your eggs look good but have an off or sulfuric smell to them, they are bad.

Safe Egg Refrigeration

Eggs can sit out on your counter for up to two hours and only one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees. After that, they must be stored in the fridge. Most refrigerators come with a special bin or shelf on the door to hold the eggs.

While most Americans store eggs in the fridge, many Europeans do not. This is because authorities in most European countries say refrigerating eggs is unnecessary. But in the United States, it is considered unsafe to store eggs at room temperature.

We recommend discarding eggs that were left out longer than 2 hours at normal room temperature or more than 1 hour at 85F or above. If you forgot your eggs in the car or the garage overnight, it's best to toss them; you never know how much the temperature fluctuated during that time period.

But in general, if you take them out of the fridge and place them on a towel or in a container on the counter, your eggs will reach room temperature in 30 minutes or so. Eggs left in the carton will take longer.

Once you purchase your eggs, do not let them sit in a hot car for too long. At room temperature, do not leave them out over two hours and if the temperature is sweltering hot (90 degrees F or higher) then no more than one hour.