How Long Do Hard Boiled Eggs Last?

It’s no secret that eggs are used in many recipes.

Whether you’re baking a rich chocolate cake or simply making breakfast, eggs are made for flipping, scrambling, mixing, and baking.

And if you’re meal prepping hard boiled eggs Easter egg dyeing, for the week of eating, or for whipping up mom’s famous deviled eggs, how long do hard boiled eggs last until they are rotten?

Your short answer, if it smells, throw it away, but here are few things you can do to keep your hard boiled eggs fresh correctly and safely.

“Of course, smell may be hard to determine because hard-boiled eggs already have a strong smell,” notes Emily Rubin RD, LDN at Thomas Jefferson University Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology to TODAY.com. “But basically you want to discard any eggs with an unusual smell.” If you’re unsure or have lost your sense of smell, definitely get a second opinion if you can.
Emily Rubin

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, hard boiled eggs, whether they are peeled or not should be eaten within seven days after cooking them.

Although it’s important to note that if you buy pre-cooked eggs from the grocery store, your expiration date is shortened.

But when it comes to storing hard-boiled eggs properly, they should be put in the fridge within two hours after taking them out of the water or tossed in the garbage if they are accidentally left out for more than two hours at room temperature.

“Hard-boiled eggs should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking and discarded if left out for more than two hours at room temperature,” explains Rubin. She recommends leaving them in the fridge in their shells for optimal taste and quality and only peeling them right before you’re ready to eat them.
Emily Rubin

And when it comes to soft-boiled eggs if you prefer a runny yolk, these eggs can be refrigerated for up to two days in their shell.

“Soft boiled eggs spoil faster,” stated Rubin. If you don’t eat soft-boiled eggs right after cooking them, it’s OK to keep them in their shell and refrigerate them for up to two days. While the whole point of a soft-boiled egg is to have a creamy yolk, Rubin isn’t a fan of the technique. “To prevent salmonella, cook eggs thoroughly so that both the yolk and white are firm.”
Emily Rubin

Freezing is also an option, but only for the hard-boiled yolk; just make sure to boil the yolks a second time separately according to the the American Egg Board.

Make sure to also throw away any eggs that look discolored and yes, the green ring that sometimes appears around the hard-boiled yolk is perfectly safe.