Can You Reheat Eggs?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against FSA/NHS reheating guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
Yes, you can reheat eggs — once, until piping hot throughout. Quality suffers (eggs turn rubbery), but properly stored and reheated they're safe.
What makes it safe (or not)
Healthline says it is generally considered safe to eat leftover eggs if they were stored properly and reheated thoroughly. The rules are the standard ones: refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking, keep no more than 2 days, reheat once until piping hot (75°C / 165°F). The genuine downside is texture: reheated eggs overcook easily and turn rubbery, which is why short, gentle bursts work best.
You can also check the calorie content of eggs alongside their safety information.
Egg by egg: how to reheat each kind
| Egg | How (as the sources say) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hard-boiled | Do not microwave in the shell: the yolk can explode. Pour boiling water over them in a heat-resistant dish and leave for 10 minutes. Better still, eat cold within 2 days | Healthline (11 Sep 2020); Food Standards Scotland |
| Scrambled | Microwave in 20 to 30 second bursts, stirring in between | Healthline |
| Fried (sunny-side up) | Microwave, then rest for 1 minute so the yolk does not burst | Healthline |
| Omelette, quiche, frittata | Oven, 176°C (350°F) for 15 to 20 minutes; 25 to 30 minutes from frozen | Healthline |
| Egg fried rice | See reheating egg fried rice: the rice rule (cool within an hour, 24 hours) is stricter | Food Standards Scotland |
Two UK sources, two different lines
| Source | What it says about cooked egg dishes |
|---|---|
| Food Standards Scotland | Eat them as soon as possible; if not, cool quickly, refrigerate and eat within 2 days. Hard-boiled eggs: up to 2 days in the fridge, with or without the shell |
| British Egg Industry Council (egginfo.co.uk) | 'Do not re-use left-over egg dishes' |
| High Speed Training (UK), 3 Jan 2024 | Reheating changes the texture of fried or scrambled eggs; boiled eggs and omelettes should reheat fine. Names no regulator |
| Healthline (US), 11 Sep 2020 | Leftover eggs are 'generally considered safe' if stored properly and reheated to 165°F (74°C); says to eat within '3–4 days' (the page text has a typo) |
The egg industry body is stricter than the regulator, and the US page is looser. We follow the regulator: refrigerate within 2 hours, eat within 2 days, reheat once until steaming hot. If you want the cautious route that satisfies all four, cook only as much egg as you will eat.
About the 70°C and 75°C figures
High Speed Training quotes '70°C for two minutes (or 75°C for 30 seconds)' in its egg FAQ, but as the time and temperature that kills Salmonella when cooking duck and goose eggs, and names no authority. We found no source that gives these as reheating figures for leftover eggs. For leftovers our rule is the general one: steaming hot all the way through, which the Food Standards Agency's research page describes; 75°C is the figure the Bromley council leaflet and Birds Eye use.
Sources checked
Everything in the sections above was checked against these pages on 28 October 2026.
- Healthline: Can you reheat eggs? (Lauren Panoff, 11 September 2020) — boiled, scrambled, fried, omelette methods; 165F; microwave explosion risk
- Food Standards Scotland: Eggs (food safety at home; no date shown) — egg dishes within 2 days; hard-boiled up to 2 days
- British Egg Industry Council (egginfo.co.uk): Egg storage and handling (no date shown) — do not re-use left-over egg dishes
- High Speed Training (UK): Answering your FAQs about egg safety (Louise Petty; published 3 January 2024, modified 10 May 2024) — boiled eggs and omelettes reheat fine; 70C/75C figures are for duck and goose eggs
- Food Standards Agency research report: Not reheating leftovers until steaming hot throughout (published 31 October 2023; not consumer guidance) — steaming hot throughout
- London Borough of Bromley: Clostridium perfringens leaflet for food businesses (no date shown) — reheat to 75C (business leaflet)
- Birds Eye: Making the most of your frozen leftovers (no date shown) — about 75C for 2 minutes
How to reheat eggs safely
- Refrigerate eggs within 2 hours of cooking and use within 2 days.
- Reheat in short microwave bursts (20–30 seconds), stirring or turning between bursts.
- Stop as soon as it's steaming hot throughout — 75°C (165°F).
- Eat immediately; don't reheat again.
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Check Price →Eggs: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| In pregnancy | Safe if Lion-stamped |
| While breastfeeding | Safe |
| In the fridge | 3–5 weeks in the fridge |
| In the freezer | Not recommended |
| Past the date on the label | 1–2 days after, if cooked well |
Common questions
Is it true you shouldn't reheat eggs?
It's a myth that reheating eggs is dangerous or 'releases toxins'. Properly stored and reheated until piping hot, eggs are safe — the real casualty is texture.
What is the best way to reheat eggs?
Use short microwave bursts of 20–30 seconds, stirring, until steaming hot throughout, or warm gently in a pan.
Can you reheat eggs twice?
No — once only, the same rule as all reheated food.
Can you eat eggs cold?
Yes — cold cooked egg dishes from the fridge, within 2 days of cooking, are fine (egg salad exists for a reason).
How long can eggs sit out?
No more than 2 hours at room temperature — after that, bin it rather than reheat it.
Can I freeze eggs instead of reheating it?
Possibly: the FoodKeeper window is 2–3 months, but the texture changes. See our freezing guide for the details.
Is it dangerous to reheat scrambled eggs?
Healthline says it is generally considered safe to eat leftover eggs if stored properly and reheated thoroughly, and Food Standards Scotland says to eat egg dishes within 2 days of cooking. The egg industry body is stricter: 'Do not re-use left-over egg dishes'.
Can I reheat a hard-boiled egg in the microwave?
Healthline says not in the shell, because the yolk can explode. It suggests pouring boiling water over the egg in a heat-resistant dish and leaving it for 10 minutes. Food Standards Scotland's guidance for boiled eggs is to eat them within 2 days.
Related answers
Primary source: FSA/NHS reheating guidance.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.