How Long Food Lasts

Dairy Products & Eggs

How long do eggs last?

Quick answer

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

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

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

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

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

How long do eggs last in the freezer?

  • General guidance3 months

Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

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

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.

Can you freeze eggs?

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

How to thaw eggs safely

  1. In the refrigerator
  2. In cold water, cook it right after thawing
  3. In the microwave, cook it right after thawing
  4. Cook it from frozen

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.

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

Can eggs be stored at room temperature?

Official sources give no room-temperature (pantry) 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

“Fresh, in shell 3-5 weeks”

“Eggs Raw eggs in shell 3 to 5 weeks Do not freeze in shell. Beat yolks and whites together, then freeze.”

“Fresh, in shell 3 - 5 weeks”

“Egg whites and yolks (raw) 2 to 4 days”

Frequently asked questions

How long do eggs last in the refrigerator?

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 stored at room temperature?

Official sources give no room-temperature (pantry) 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 verified: October 1, 2026.

Values we do not display (8)

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