How long do hard boiled eggs last?

Checked 24 Oct 20264 official publishers, 6 sources

Hard-cooked, in shell or peeled: 1 week in the fridge and freezing is not recommended.

Official stance

“Avoid freezing hard-cooked egg whites (toughens them)” Extension

Storage times for hard boiled eggs by state and place
State	Counter / pantry	Fridge 40 °F	Freezer 0 °F
Hard-cooked, in shell or peeled	2 hours max FDA	1 week safety FDA FoodKeeper Extension FDA	Not recommended FoodKeeper Extension FDA

Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

Source	State	Counter / pantry	Fridge	Freezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	Hard-cooked, in shell or peeled	-	1 week	Not recommended
FDA 2024	Hard-cooked, in shell or peeled	2 hours	1 week	-
Nebraska Extension	Hard-cooked, in shell or peeled	Not recommended	1 week	Not recommended
FDA 2018	Hard-cooked, in shell or peeled	-	1 week	Not recommended

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

“For picnics, pack cooked eggs and egg dishes in an insulated cooler with enough ice or frozen gel packs to keep them cold.” FDA
“For school or work, pack cooked eggs with a small frozen gel pack or a frozen juice box.” FDA
Cooked egg whites turn soft, tough, rubbery and spongy after freezing. Extension
“Easter eggs should be hard-boiled before coloring. Do NOT eat them after hiding or playing with them.” FDA
“Serve cooked eggs (such as hard-boiled eggs and fried eggs) and egg-containing foods (such as such as quiches and soufflés) immediately after cooking.” FDA

What the sources say

FoodKeeper, the FDA egg safety page and the Nebraska Extension storage chart all give the same fridge time for hard-cooked eggs: 1 week.¹²³

The FDA counts that week from the day the eggs were cooked, and it applies whether the eggs are still in the shell or already peeled.²

Neither FoodKeeper nor the Nebraska chart recommends freezing them: FoodKeeper lists the freezer as not recommended, and the Nebraska chart says do not freeze.¹³

The reason is texture: Nebraska Extension says freezing toughens hard-cooked egg whites, and the National Center for Home Food Preservation lists cooked egg whites as turning soft, tough, rubbery and spongy after thawing.⁵⁶

At room temperature the Nebraska chart marks hard-cooked eggs as not safe, and the FDA says cooked eggs should not stay out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours.³²

For decorated Easter eggs, the FDA advises hard-boiling them before coloring and not eating any that were hidden or played with.²

The FDA refrigerator and freezer chart matches its egg safety page, listing hard cooked eggs at 1 week in the fridge and marking the freezer as do not freeze.⁴²

To take hard-boiled eggs to a picnic, the FDA suggests an insulated cooler with enough ice or frozen gel packs, and for school or work a small frozen gel pack or a frozen juice box.²

Rules that apply here

The 2-hour rule Freezing and refreezing Fridge and freezer temperature

Cooked chicken Cooked rice

Sources

USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 23: Eggs, hard boiled cooked. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Eggs, hard boiled cooked. Refrigerate: 1 Weeks; Freeze: Not Recommended
What You Need to Know About Egg Safety | FDA. FDA. Dated 2024-03-05. Checked 2026-10-24. Never leave cooked eggs or egg dishes out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hoursUse or eat hard-cooked eggs (in the shell or peeled) within 1 week after cooking.For picnics, pack cooked eggs and egg dishes in an insulated cooler with enough ice or frozen gel packs to keep them cold.For school or work, pack cooked eggs with a small frozen gel pack or a frozen juice box.Easter eggs should be hard-boiled before coloring. Do NOT eat them after hiding or playing with them.Serve cooked eggs (such as hard-boiled eggs and fried eggs) and egg-containing foods (such as such as quiches and soufflés) immediately after cooking.
Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Hard cooked eggs Not safe 1 week Do not freeze
REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Hard cooked ... 1 weekHard cooked ... 1 week ... Don't freeze
Leftover Food Safety | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Avoid freezing hard-cooked egg whites (toughens them)
Foods That Do Not Freeze Well - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Egg whites, cooked In salads, creamed foods,sandwiches, sauces, gravy or desserts Soft, tough, rubbery, spongy