If you’re anything like me, then you probably hate peeling hard-boiled eggs early in the morning.
Fortunately, you can avoid this and store peeled your hard-boiled eggs in the fridge until you’re ready to use them.
It’s also a good idea to avoid peeling them right away, since the shell is easier to remove when they’re cold.
Having said that, there are a few steps you’ll need to follow in order to ensure proper storage.
Let me share with you the best way to store peeled hard-boiled eggs.
How to store peeled hard-boiled eggs?
The egg shell acts as a barrier which protects hard-boiled eggs from deterioration and the harmful effects of the environment.
When it gets removed, the eggs get exposed to air and dry out more quickly as a result.
Peeled hard-boiled eggs also have a shorter shelf life than fresh eggs and spoil when they’re left unrefrigerated for too long.
So in order to properly store them, you’ll need to keep the eggs refrigerated and provide them with a source of moisture.
Having said that, here’s how to store hard-boiled eggs without their shells:
- Transfer the boiled eggs in cold water when they’re done and let them cool off. Storing the eggs while they’re still hot increases the risk of bacterial contamination and spoilage.
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- Place the peeled eggs in a bowl filled with cold water. The water will moisturize the eggs and keep them from drying out.
- Store the eggs uncovered in the fridge and replace the water each day. This will prevent contamination and keep the eggs fresh for longer.
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Another way you can prevent the eggs from drying is by placing them in an airtight container with a damp towel.
The benefit of this approach is that the eggs won’t absorb any of the odors from the other foods in your fridge.
With this in mind, it’s also a good idea to stash the eggs away from cheeses or any dishes containing garlic if they’re uncovered.
For optimum storage, it’s best to keep the eggs on the middle shelf of the fridge since it has the most stable temperature.
Avoid keeping them at the door of the fridge as the temperature fluctuations will cause them to spoil faster.
You can also keep peeled hard-boiled eggs in the freezer.
Unfortunately, freezing causes the texture of the whites to become watery, so it’s best to freeze only the yolks.
How long are hard-boiled eggs good for?
Whether they’re peeled or unpeeled, hard-boiled eggs will be good for 7 days in the fridge before they spoil.
If you’ve forgotten when you placed them in the refrigerator, you can inspect the eggs to see if they’re still fresh.
In case they are unpeeled, you should check if their shell has a slimy or chalky texture. If it does, you should toss the eggs out.
Another way to see if a hard-boiled egg is spoiled is by smelling it. Hard-boiled eggs emit an unmistakable sulphuric odor when they’re spoiled.
However, you might need to peel the egg first to check this out.
One thing you shouldn’t be concerned about is the presence of a dark green ring around the yolk.
This discoloration typically appears when there’s too much iron in the water or the eggs are overcooked.
Even though this makes the eggs seem unpleasant, it doesn’t affect their quality in any significant way.
WIth that said, you shouldn’t keep hard-boiled eggs at room temperature for more than 2 hours, regardless if they’re peeled or not.
Boiling removes the protective layer from the egg shell and exposes the eggs to harmful microorganisms.
So if you’ve accidentally left out your boiled eggs overnight, it’s best to toss them out.
How to repurpose leftover hard-boiled eggs?
Even though they’re highly nutritious, plain hard-boiled eggs can become boring if you eat them every day.
Fortunately, there are plenty of creative ways to repurpose leftover eggs and make them more tasty.
Before I move onto the classics I recommend you take a look at my Savory Salad Cake recipe where hard-boiled eggs play a great part. This recipe is typically made with 2 eggs, but there’s no problem if you make it with three.
As for the classic ways to repurpose leftover hard-boiled eggs, you can chop the eggs, mix them with some celery and green onions, and then spread the mixture between two slices of bread for a quick and easy egg sandwich.
Alternatively, you can spread some avocado on a piece of toast and grate the eggs for an open egg sandwich.
And if you’re looking for a side dish for your oven baked pork chops, you can turn the leftover eggs into a deviled egg salad.
All you need to do is chop the eggs, mix them with some red bell peppers, celery and green onions, and then stir in the dressing.
You can add hard boiled eggs to your instant ramen to make it more sophisticated.
Anyways, the possibilities to repurpose leftover eggs are truly endless so I’ll just leave it at that.
My short recap
Whether you’re in a hurry or you just like to plan your meals ahead, it’s always good to have some hard-boiled eggs at hand.
What’s even more helpful, is to peel the eggs ahead of time and store them in your fridge until you need them.
Just remember to use the eggs within a week as they’ll spoil if you keep them for longer than that.
