How Long Food Lasts

Dairy Products & Eggs

How long do eggs last?

Quick answer

Eggs (in shell) keep 3-5 weeks in the fridge.

  • In shell 3-5 weeks in the fridge
  • Raw whites, yolks 2-4 days in the fridge
  • Hard boiled cooked 2 days in the fridge
Form

Fridge

From purchase

3-5weeks

Freezer

Do not freeze

-

Pantry

No known time

-

Mine has been in the fridge for

How long do eggs last in the fridge?

  • In shell3-5 weeksFrom purchase
  • Raw whites, yolks2-4 daysFrom purchase
  • Hard boiled cooked2 daysAfter cooking

Your fridge should be set between 0 and 5°C.

Refrigerators should be set to maintain a temperature of 40 °F or below.

How long do eggs last in the freezer?

  • General guidance3 months

Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Your freezer should be around -18°C

A freezer acts as a pause button - food in a freezer won’t go bad and most bacteria cannot grow in it.

Food stored constantly at 0 °F will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage.

Can you freeze eggs?

  • In shellNo
  • Raw whites, yolksNot recommended
  • Hard boiled cookedNo
  • General guidanceYes

How to defrost eggs safely

  1. In the fridge
  2. In cold water, cook it straight after defrosting
  3. In the microwave, cook it straight after defrosting
  4. Cook it from frozen

You should defrost your food in the fridge so that it doesn’t get too warm

It’s also important to use food within 24 hours after it’s been fully defrosted

There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.

Check the water frequently to be sure it stays cold. Change the water every 30 minutes. After thawing, cook immediately.

It is safe to cook foods from the frozen state. The cooking will take approximately 50% longer than the recommended time for fully thawed or fresh meat and poultry.

Can eggs be kept out of the fridge?

Official sources give no room-temperature (cupboard) storage time for eggs.

All forms at a glance

FormFridgeFreezerPantry
In shell3-5 weeks--
Raw whites, yolks2-4 days--
Hard boiled cooked2 days--
General guidance-3 months-

What the official sources say

“You can safely store a boiled egg in the fridge for a couple of days.”

“a hard-boiled egg can be kept for up to 2 days in the fridge”

“Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.”

“Fresh, in shell 3-5 weeks”

Frequently asked questions

How long do eggs last in the fridge?

In shell: 3-5 weeks; Raw whites, yolks: 2-4 days; Hard boiled cooked: 2 days.

How long do eggs last in the freezer?

General guidance: 3 months. Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Can eggs be kept out of the fridge?

Official sources give no room-temperature (cupboard) storage time for eggs.

Good to know

Other figures given by the sources for close variants:

  • Raw egg whites Fridge 2-4 days Freezer 12 months
  • Raw egg yolks Fridge 2-4 days
  • Eggs, Raw egg whites and yolks Note : Yolks do not freeze well Fridge 2-4 days Freezer 12 months
  • Eggs: Hard-cooked Fridge 1 week
  • Hard-cooked eggs Fridge 1 week
  • Eggs, Hard-cooked eggs Fridge 1 week

Related foods

Sources

We always show the most cautious time among official sources. Last checked: 1 October 2026.

Values we do not display (8)

Values below were set aside: unconfirmed by a second independent source, or contradicted by a shorter time.