How long do hard-boiled eggs last in the refrigerator?
Hard-boiled eggs generally last up to 7 days in the refrigerator when they are properly cooked, cooled, and stored. This applies whether they are peeled or unpeeled. For best quality, however, eating them within a few days is often preferable.
Storage guide
| Type of hard-boiled egg | Refrigerator life |
|---|---|
| Unpeeled hard-boiled egg | Up to 7 days |
| Peeled hard-boiled egg | About 5–7 days when properly stored |
| Hard-boiled egg left at room temperature | No more than 2 hours |
| If room temperature is above 90°F (32°C) | No more than 1 hour |
Why only about 7 days?
Cooking removes some of the egg’s natural protective barriers and makes it easier for microorganisms to grow if the egg is mishandled. Refrigeration slows this growth, but it doesn’t stop it indefinitely.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends using hard-cooked eggs within 1 week after cooking, provided they have been refrigerated promptly.
How to store them safely
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Refrigerate promptly. After cooking, cool the eggs and put them in the refrigerator within the recommended 2-hour window.
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Keep the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below.
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Keep the shells on until you’re ready to eat them, if possible. The shell provides some additional protection and helps prevent the egg from absorbing odors.
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Store peeled eggs in a covered container. You can place a clean, slightly damp paper towel in the container to help prevent them from drying out.
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Label the container with the cooking date. This makes the 7-day limit easy to track.
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Don’t rely entirely on smell or appearance. Harmful bacteria aren’t always detectable by smell, taste, or appearance.
What if the egg has been refrigerated for more than 7 days?
If a hard-boiled egg has been refrigerated for more than one week, the safest approach is to discard it, even if it looks and smells normal. The 7-day recommendation is a food-safety limit rather than an indication that the egg necessarily becomes spoiled exactly at midnight on day seven.
What if the egg was left out overnight?
Don’t eat it. A hard-boiled egg that has been sitting at room temperature overnight should be discarded, rather than refrigerated again for later consumption.
Signs you should throw away a hard-boiled egg
Discard the egg if you notice:
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An unpleasant or unusual odor
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Slimy or unusually sticky texture
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Mold
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Cracks or contamination accompanied by questionable storage
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Any uncertainty about how long it has been unrefrigerated
A gray-green ring around the yolk, by itself, does not mean the egg is spoiled. It usually results from overcooking and is generally harmless, although the texture and flavor may be affected.
Bottom line
Keep hard-boiled eggs refrigerated at ≤40°F (4°C) and eat them within 7 days of cooking. If they have been left unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours (or more than 1 hour in temperatures above 90°F/32°C), discard them.
If you’d like, I can also give you a day-by-day guide (Day 1 through Day 7) for hard-boiled egg freshness, storage, and safety.