Can You Freeze Eggs? What to Know Before Sticking Them in the Freezer

This trick is an easy way to make your carton last

Hard-boiled, poached, scrambled, sunny-side up … eggs are endlessly versatile, and endlessly delicious! Unfortunately, with the recent egg shortage, it can also feel like eggs can be endlessly expensive. But given that they’re a staple for everything from breakfast to baking, it’s hard to do without them. Sure, you can try using an egg substitute—but it’s just not the same as that yolky goodness.

One way to save money on groceries is to make sure you’re getting good use of the whole egg carton before buying more. Even if you know all the best tips for how to freeze food, you may still be wondering, Do eggs need to be refrigerated? And can you freeze eggs to make them last longer?

Well, good news, egg lovers. We’ve got some egg-cellent advice on freezing eggs, to help make your carton last.

Can you freeze cooked eggs?

Not only is it possible to freeze cooked eggs, but they actually taste better when reheated than cooked eggs stored in the refrigerator. On the weekend, you can meal-prep breakfast burritos or egg sandwiches and toss them into the freezer. Then, thaw them overnight in the fridge for an easy breakfast on the go. While you can freeze cooked eggs for up to a year, we find they taste best within three to six months of the freezing date.

Can you freeze hard-cooked eggs?

Technically, hard-cooked eggs can be frozen, but they won’t taste great. The whites become tough and rubbery, and they release excess water when they’re thawed. The cooked yolks freeze exceptionally well, though, so we recommend eating the boiled whites fresh and freezing the yolks by themselves in an air-tight bag. Don’t forget to learn the easiest way to peel hard-boiled eggs!

Can you freeze deviled eggs?

Just like boiled eggs, the white part of a deviled egg will turn rubbery in the freezer, so you really only want to freeze the yolk mixture. You might want to try a deviled-egg makeover if you’re freezing leftovers, such as piping the thawed filling onto toasted baguette slices.

Can you freeze scrambled eggs?

Scrambled eggs are easy to freeze, and they taste great when reheated! We like to cook them so they’re slightly runny, which helps them retain a soft texture when they’re warmed through. Let your scrambled eggs fully cool before packing them into individual portions in freezer-safe bags. Then, let them thaw in the refrigerator or use the microwave to thaw them before reheating. If you make the best-ever scrambled eggs, this is a great way to meal-prep them for the week.

Can you freeze egg casserole?

Freezing egg casseroles or frittatas is a great way to make breakfast in advance! It works the same way as scrambled eggs, but you get to choose whether you freeze the casserole whole or in individual portions. If you love eggs, check out these delicious recipes to eat them for every meal.

Can you freeze eggs in the shell?

You can freeze raw eggs, but you never want to freeze them in the shell. The water content in the egg will cause the shell to shatter! Some people like to separate out their whites and yolks before freezing them, creating more flexibility to use them on their own or re-mix them, depending on the recipe.

While you can thaw cooked eggs in the microwave, we definitely recommend thawing raw eggs in the refrigerator overnight. For best quality, you’ll want to use them the same day they’re thawed. After you thaw the eggs, you can even make scrambled eggs in the microwave.

Can you freeze raw eggs?

So long as you remove them from the shells, you’ll have no problem freezing raw eggs. Beat them until they’re just blended and store in a freezer-friendly container. Three tablespoons of thawed eggs will roughly equal one fresh egg. If you need to free up some space to freeze the eggs, these are the things in your freezer you should toss.

Can you freeze egg whites?

Our favorite way to freeze egg whites is in an ice cube tray. Two tablespoons of egg whites roughly equals one large, fresh egg white, so portioning them ahead of time makes them easier to work with! After you’ve thawed your egg whites, let them stand at room temperature for 30 minutes; they will beat to a better volume with this extra step.

Can you freeze egg yolks?

Over time, egg yolks can become gelatinous and unusable in the freezer. We recommend adding salt or sugar to prevent them from thickening. Simply add 1/8 teaspoon of salt or 1-1/2 teaspoons of sugar for every 1/4 cup of egg yolks (about four yolks).

Now that you know how to freeze eggs, find out the foods you should never freeze.

Taste of Home
Originally Published on Taste of Home

Lindsay D. Mattison
Lindsay D. Mattison is a professional chef and a food writer. After graduating from Cascade Culinary school, Lindsay became the Executive Chef at Jackson's Corner in Bend, OR, from 2013 to 2016. Her genuine passion for food and sustainable food practices led her to find the farmer in herself. She lives in Durango, CO, where she enjoys the trials and errors of small plot farming. Lindsay is currently working on a cookbook that teaches home cooks how to craft beautiful meals without a recipe, tentatively titled "The Art of Bricolage: Cultivating Confidence and Creativity in the Kitchen."