How long do hard-boiled eggs last in the fridge and freezer?
In short: hard-boiled eggs keep 1 week in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. Do not freeze.
Storage times at a glance
| Type | Fridge (40°F / 4°C) | Freezer (0°F / −18°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Hard-cooked eggs | 1 week | Do not freeze |
One week, peeled or not
Hard-boiled eggs keep one week in the refrigerator. Cooking removes the egg's natural protective coating, which is why they keep much less time than raw eggs. Refrigerate them within 2 hours of cooking, and remember that eggs left out for an Easter egg hunt count toward that limit.
Is the green ring around the yolk safe?
A gray-green ring around the yolk is harmless. It forms when eggs are overcooked or cooled slowly. To avoid it, cook eggs just until done and cool them right away in ice water.
Why you should not freeze them
Hard-boiled egg whites turn tough and watery in the freezer. If you have too many, use them up in egg salad, deviled eggs or on salads within the week. The yolks alone can be frozen for sprinkling on dishes, although the texture changes.
How to store eggs
- Keep eggs in their original carton on a shelf in the main body of the refrigerator, not in the door.
- Do not wash eggs before storing them.
- Never freeze eggs in the shell. Beat yolks and whites together before freezing.
- Hard-boiled eggs keep one week in the refrigerator, peeled or not.
Freezer times are about quality, not safety
Food kept continuously frozen at 0°F (−18°C) stays safe indefinitely; the freezer times above are about flavor and texture. Label packages with the date you froze them.
Avoid freezing, thawing and refreezing the same food. Every cycle damages texture and flavor, and food that thawed outside the refrigerator gives bacteria a chance to grow. Raw food thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen, with some loss of quality. Food thawed in cold water or in the microwave must be cooked before it goes back in the freezer. Never refreeze food that thawed on the counter or stayed out more than 2 hours. Freeze in small portions so you only thaw what you need.
When in doubt, throw it out
These times assume food was handled safely and refrigerated promptly. If the package shows a use-by date that comes sooner, follow the label. Trust your nose too: if food smells sour, rancid or simply off, or looks slimy or moldy, throw it out, even within these times. The reverse is not true: the bacteria that cause food poisoning usually do not change the smell or appearance, so food that smells fine past these times is not safe either. Never taste food to check whether it is still good.
Never lose track of the date again
The hard part is rarely knowing the rule; it is remembering when you put the food away. FridgeBuddy lets you scan the barcode and printed date, choose how early you want a reminder, and see what to use first across your fridge, freezer and pantry.
Source: USDA cold food storage chart on FoodSafety.gov, last reviewed by the agency on September 19, 2023. This guide is for general information; always follow the label and your local food-safety authority.
Frequently asked questions
How long do hard-boiled eggs last in the fridge?
1 week at 40°F (4°C) or below, according to the USDA cold food storage chart.
Can you freeze hard-boiled eggs?
Do not freeze. Refrigerate instead and use within 1 week.
Related FridgeBuddy guides
- Raw eggs — Fridge and freezer storage times.
- Food storage chart — Fridge and freezer times for every food in this guide.
- Food expiration tracker — Get reminded before food in your kitchen expires.
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