Can You Freeze Eggs (Raw, Hardboiled, Cooked)?

Last updated on July 30th, 2022 at 10:30 am

One of those ingredients you always have in your refrigerator is eggs. You can scramble them up for a healthy breakfast or add them into a cake batter. 

Eggs are used in so many homemade recipes. Usually, a carton of eggs will last for about 3 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator. 

But have you ever thought about freezing them so you can use them months later? 

Eggs can be put in the freezer but only certain types. Raw egg whites, raw egg yolks, raw whole eggs that have been removed from their shell and whisked and cooked mixed eggs dishes like casseroles or quiches can all be frozen. 

The Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services state that you should never freeze raw eggs in their shells. If you do, the liquid inside the eggs will expand and cause the shells to crack causing the eggs to spoil and possibly get contaminated. 

Freezing an egg in its shell can also make the texture bad and the yolk thick and gel-like making them hard to cook or bake with after they are thawed.

You also shouldn’t freeze hard-boiled or soft-boiled eggs because the egg whites will get rubbery and watery after it is thawed. It is recommended you only freeze certain types of eggs like the whites, yolks, and whole eggs that have been removed from the shells and whisked.

If you have made a casserole with eggs in it it is fine to freeze this. Freezing eggs is a great way to prolong their life for future use but by knowing which one to freeze and how to, you will be safer and they will still taste good.

Can Eggs Be Frozen In The Shell? 

You want to try freezing eggs. It would be easier to just put the whole carton of eggs into the freezer so you can thaw one or two whenever you like but is this something that should be done? 

Some types of eggs cannot be frozen and for the ones that can be, there are a few things you need to do in order to freeze the eggs.

An egg in the shell should never be frozen. The temperature is too cold and will cause the shell to crack, making the eggs at risk for contamination.

If an egg has accidentally frozen and its shell is cracked, throw it away. It’s better to keep yourself and your family safe from eating an egg that is likely to have spoiled or been contaminated. 

If the frozen eggs did not crack during its time in the frigid temperatures, you can keep it frozen until you want to cook it and then thaw it by placing it in the refrigerator. You will have limited options on how to cook these eggs but it can be hard-cooked.

Any other cooking method most likely won’t turn out because freezing an egg causes the yolk to become thick and syrupy. The yolk of a frozen egg doesn’t flow like the one of an egg that hasn’t been frozen or blend well with the egg white or other ingredients and so it wont turn out good in a recipe other than baking hard-cooked. 

Freezing an egg in its shell changes the liquid inside and the texture. You still should never purposely freeze eggs in their shells but if they happen to freeze accidentally, they cannot be cooked if the shells have cracked and if the shell haven’t cracked then you can only hard-cook the egg. 

What Is The Best Way To Freeze Eggs?  

So, you can safely freeze eggs making your life a little easier so you can stock up on some of the ingredients and freeze them for a later use. There are some ways to freeze the eggs correctly so you can make the most out of cooking with them while being safe.

The best way to freeze eggs is to shell and then whisk them. You can also freeze the yolk and whites separately or make a dish with the egg in it and freeze that.

Let’s go a little more into detail on the best methods of freezing eggs. First, you can lightly scramble the eggs and add salt or sugar to them. The salt and sugar will stop the egg from thickening while it is frozen. 

Store the eggs in a muffin tin or ice cube tray. Cover and freeze them until they are frozen and then transfer them over to a freezer container or freezer bags. 

Make sure you label them with the current date and if you used salt or sugar in them.

Frozen eggs will be good for up to a year. When it comes time to thaw the egg, place them in the refrigerator for about 6 to 8 hours or overnight and then use them immediately. 

If the eggs are ice cubes, use a small, covered dish to thaw them in. If you need to speed up the thawing time just place the container in a bowl of cold water. 

You can store and thaw the egg whites in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Never refreeze any of the thawed eggs.

Are Eggs Still Good After Being Frozen? 

If you have frozen some eggs and it’s time to cook them you may be wondering if they will even taste good. Will they have lost some of their texture and taste due to being confined to the cold temperature of the freezer?

Eggs will still be good after being frozen as long as you have properly stored them properly. Eggs that are frozen in the shell will likely be bad or unusable but eggs frozen properly will still taste fine. 

When you freeze eggs you are saving yourself the cost when you can purchase another carton when they are on sale. You are also making it easier on yourself since you will have a food supply and alway have the egg ingredient you need on hand. 

Freezing eggs will save you time because they are already prepped and ready for your recipe. It can also save you space in your refrigerator.

Freezing eggs will most likely not affect much of its taste and texture unless you have added sugar or salt to the eggs before freezing them. These eggs should be used for recipes calling for salt or sugar in the eggs since they may taste slightly sweet or salty. 

The salt and sugar do help the liquid in the eggs not to thicken which happens during the freezing process. After being frozen, the eggs will still taste good.

Final Thoughts

Eggs can be frozen and when frozen correctly they will be easy to add to many recipes. Hard-boiled eggs cannot be frozen because they will not taste good since freezing them will cause them to be rubbery. 

You can freeze raw eggs but they should be shelled and whisked together first. Egg whites and egg yolks can also be frozen separately if you like. 

Cooked eggs can be frozen as well if they are mixed into a dish. 

By freezing eggs you can save yourself space in your refrigerator and time in preparing them. The eggs will be handy if you tend to cook with them and will still taste good for up to a year after putting them in the freezer.