How Long Do Hard-Boiled Eggs Last in the Fridge?
Written by Jordan Morley · Storage times from Food Standards Scotland (fridge limit; the USDA says about a week) · Last updated 28 October 2026
Hard-Boiled Eggs keep up to 2 days in a fridge running at 0–5°C.
Storage tips for hard-boiled eggs
- Fridge at 0–5°C. A fridge thermometer is the cheapest food-safety upgrade — many home fridges run warmer than their dial suggests.
You can also check the calorie content of hard-boiled eggs alongside their safety information. Want to know exactly what's in your food? Our ingredient checker covers E-numbers, allergens and vegan status.
How long: 2 days or a week?
| Source | Fridge life of a hard-boiled egg | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Food Standards Scotland (eggs page) | 'Up to 2 days in the fridge (with or without the shell)' | UK regulator; the only UK government source we found that names boiled eggs |
| Healthline, updated 1 Oct 2025 (US) | 'About one week', attributed to USDA, peeled or unpeeled | Reviewed by a registered dietitian; refrigerate within two hours of cooking |
| Noble Foods via The Grocer (undated) | '12-day shelf life' for its commercially packed chilled boiled eggs | A factory product, not a home-boiled egg; follow the pack |
| British Egg Industry Council (egginfo.co.uk) | No figure for boiled eggs. 'Do not re-use left-over egg dishes' | Boiled eggs not covered |
We use Food Standards Scotland's 2 days, which also fits the UK 2-day limit for cooked leftovers. Many sites follow the USDA's week. If you cook eggs in bulk for the week, the UK source says to eat them within 2 days.
Peeled or not?
Food Standards Scotland says 2 days 'with or without the shell', and Healthline gives the same time for peeled and unpeeled eggs, so neither source lets you keep a peeled egg for less or an unpeeled one for more. Keep them in a covered container in the fridge, cooled and refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking (Healthline; Food Standards Agency).
Signs a boiled egg has gone off
Healthline says to look for a slimy or chalky shell and an unpleasant smell. A greenish-grey ring around the yolk is not a sign: it is caused by overcooking. These are signs of spoilage, not tests of safety. Eat them inside the 2 days. You will see advice to crack a boiled egg into a bowl to check it; we found no source for that for hard-boiled eggs (it is a raw-egg habit), so we do not recommend it.
If you cannot eat them in time
Healthline and Which? both say not to freeze hard-boiled eggs; see why not. Eggs left out overnight should be binned: hard-boiled eggs left out overnight. Raw eggs can be frozen beaten (Food Standards Scotland), so boil only what you will eat.
Sources checked
Everything in the sections above was checked against these pages on 28 October 2026.
- Food Standards Scotland: Eggs (food safety at home; no date shown) — hard-boiled egg up to 2 days in the fridge, with or without the shell
- Healthline: How long are hard-boiled eggs good for? (Kaitlyn Berkheiser; published 20 September 2019, updated 1 October 2025) — about one week (USDA as cited); refrigerate within two hours; spoilage signs
- The Grocer: Noble claims first with boiled eggs (no date shown) — 12-day shelf life for a commercially packed boiled egg
- British Egg Industry Council (egginfo.co.uk): Egg storage and handling (no date shown) — do not re-use left-over egg dishes
- Food Standards Agency: How to chill, freeze and defrost food safely (page text 'Published 18 December 2017'; page metadata shows 2026 updates) — cool and refrigerate within 2 hours; 48 hours
- Which?: How to use your freezer to the max this summer (28 August 2025) — hard-boiled eggs cannot be frozen
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Store it properly
Fridge thermometer
These storage times assume 0–5°C — check what your fridge actually runs at.
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More storage essentials
Vacuum food sealer
Removes the air that speeds spoilage — extends shelf life by days.
Check Price →Airtight glass containers
Fridge, freezer and microwave safe — one less transfer step.
Check Price →Hard-Boiled Eggs next to similar foods
| Food | Fridge time |
|---|---|
| Cooked Egg Dishes | Up to 2 days |
| Hard-Boiled Eggs | Up to 2 days |
| Scrambled Eggs | Up to 2 days |
| Raw Egg Whites and Yolks (Cracked) | 2–4 days |
| Liquid Egg Substitutes | 7 days |
Of the 6 egg foods with a fridge time in this guide, hard-Boiled Eggs keep for the same time as 2 and less time than 3.
Hard-Boiled Eggs: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| In pregnancy | Safe |
| In the freezer | Not recommended |
| Left out overnight | No — throw it away (limit about 2 h) |
Common questions
How long do hard-boiled eggs last in the fridge?
Up to 2 days in a fridge running at 0–5°C (Food Standards Scotland guidance). After that, quality and safety both start to slip, and because the bacteria that cause food poisoning are invisible, ‘it seems fine’ is not a reliable test. When in doubt, throw it out.
How can I tell if hard-boiled eggs have gone off?
A slimy or chalky shell or an unpleasant smell are signs a boiled egg has gone off (Healthline); a green-grey ring around the yolk is only overcooking. Do not rely on this alone: the time guideline matters even when everything looks fine.
Can I freeze hard-boiled eggs to keep them longer?
Freezing is not recommended for this food; the texture tends to suffer badly. Buy or cook only what you will use in time.
Does my fridge temperature really matter?
Yes. These times assume a fridge at 0–5°C, which is what the Food Standards Agency says to set it to. Bacteria grow faster in a warmer fridge, and many fridges run warmer than their dial suggests, so a cheap fridge thermometer is worth having.
Can I keep boiled eggs for a week for lunches?
US sources say about a week (USDA via Healthline). Food Standards Scotland says up to 2 days in the fridge, with or without the shell. We follow the UK figure, so batch-boil for 2 days rather than 7.
Are shop-bought packs of boiled eggs different?
Yes: they carry their own date. The Grocer reported a 12-day shelf life for one commercial chilled boiled egg product, but that applies to the factory pack, not to eggs you boil at home.
Related answers
Primary source: Food Standards Scotland.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.