2 hours at most
Once eggs are chilled, keep them cold
3 to 5 weeks
Raw, in the carton, on an inside shelf
Up to 1 year
Beaten, never in the shell
The short version: to store eggs well, keep them in their carton on an inside shelf of the fridge, not the door, and never leave chilled eggs out for more than 2 hours.
Storage times from Iowa State University Extension, University of Minnesota Extension and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
On this page
How to choose eggs that store well
Egg problems start before the fridge. Open the carton in the store, because a cracked egg or a wet shell is easier to spot there than at home.
Open the carton before you buy. The egg at the front has a fine crack, so this carton stays in the store.
Sold from a refrigerated case. The FDA says to buy eggs only if they are kept cold.
Clean and uncracked. Open the carton and check every egg before you buy.
No water beads on the shell. Condensation can mean the eggs were chilled and then left warm.
Before the sell-by date. Buy eggs before the date printed on the carton.
How to store eggs so they last
To store eggs so they last, keep them cold, in their carton, on an inside shelf of the fridge at 40°F or below. That is because the door is the warmest part of the fridge, and once eggs have been chilled they should stay chilled. The same also goes for cheese, which keeps best on a lower shelf.
How to store eggs in the fridge
Keep them in the original carton on an inside shelf, pointed end down, which Iowa State University Extension says keeps the yolk centered. Avoid the door: University of Minnesota Extension calls it the warmest spot, and adds that there is no need to wash eggs first, because washing can spread bacteria around the kitchen. Eggs also pick up smells easily, as NC State Extension notes, so keep them away from strong-smelling food.
A carton of eggs on an inside refrigerator shelf, while the door holds only bottles.
How long can you store eggs in the fridge?
Iowa State University Extension and University of Minnesota Extension both give 3 to 5 weeks for best quality. However, the FDA is more cautious and says to use them within 3 weeks. Meanwhile, Clemson Extension puts the safe limit at 45 days after the eggs were packed.
Why does the fridge matter so much? In a U.S. Department of Agriculture study of 5,400 eggs over 15 weeks, refrigerated eggs, washed or not, were still Grade A at the end, while unwashed eggs kept at room temperature dropped from Grade AA to Grade B within a week. That study measured quality rather than safety, so stick to the 3 to 5 week guidance above.
Do eggs need to be refrigerated?
In the United States, yes. Store-bought eggs are washed and sanitized before sale and must be kept at 45°F or below, according to University of Minnesota Extension. Once chilled, do not leave them out for more than 2 hours: Iowa State University Extension explains that a cold egg left out can sweat, which helps bacteria move into it. For more, see food left out overnight and food after a power outage.
How to store farm-fresh eggs
Eggs from a farm stand or your own hens may not be washed, and producers with fewer than 3,000 hens are exempt from federal egg regulations, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, so the washing and 45°F storage rules for store eggs may not apply. The natural coating on the shell is no reason to leave them out, though. A USDA food technologist explains that it dries and comes off after laying and was never there to keep Salmonella out. The same USDA study found unwashed eggs lost quality quickly at room temperature, so refrigerate farm eggs too.
What do the dates on an egg carton mean?
The three-digit number is the pack date, counted from 001 for January 1 to 365 for December 31, as Nebraska Extension explains. However, a sell-by or expiration date is not federally required. In fact, Iowa State University Extension says refrigerated eggs stay safe and good for 3 to 5 weeks after any date code.
Can you freeze eggs?
Yes, but not in the shell. Freezing is a good way to store eggs you will not use in time, as long as you beat them first. The FDA says to use frozen eggs within 1 year.
How to store whole eggs in the freezer
First of all, mix the yolks and whites well without whipping in air. To stop the yolks turning grainy, the National Center for Home Food Preservation adds 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar or corn syrup, or 1/2 teaspoon of salt, per cup, depending on how you will use the eggs. Then strain the mixture and freeze it with 1/2 inch of headspace. You can also freeze 3 tablespoons in each compartment of an ice cube tray: one cube equals one egg.
Beaten eggs frozen in an ice cube tray, then moved to a freezer bag. At 3 tablespoons per cube, one cube equals one egg.
How to store eggs as separate whites and yolks
Gently mix the whites without whipping them, strain them, then freeze them as they are. Two tablespoons equals one white. Yolks, however, need the same sugar, corn syrup or salt as whole eggs, and 1 tablespoon equals one yolk.
How to store hard-boiled eggs
Refrigerate hard-cooked eggs within 2 hours of cooking and use them within a week, according to the FDA and Iowa State University Extension. Cooked egg dishes keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge, and when you reheat them, bring them to 165°F.
How to tell if an egg has gone bad
However you store eggs, you usually cannot tell a bad one from the outside, and the float test only tells you an egg is old. The smell when you crack it tells you more. Here is how to read each sign.
Verdict: use it
Fresh
A clean, uncracked shell, kept cold in the fridge. When you put it in a bowl of water, a fresh egg sinks and lies flat, as Iowa State University Extension describes.
Verdict: use it
Past the date on the carton
The carton date is mostly for the store. In fact, Iowa State University Extension says refrigerated eggs stay safe and good for 3 to 5 weeks after any date code. The quality does drop: West Virginia University Extension notes the whites thin out, so the yolk may sit off-center.
Verdict: crack it and check
Floats in water
An egg floats when its air cell has grown, which means it is old, not necessarily bad. Nebraska Extension says it may still be safe: crack it into a separate bowl and check it for an off smell or an unusual look first. Iowa State University Extension is more cautious and advises using a floating egg right away or throwing it out.
Verdict: use within 2 days, or throw it out
Cracked shell
Do not buy cracked eggs. When one cracks on the way home, Iowa State University Extension says to empty it into a sealed container, refrigerate it and use it within 2 days. Eggs that crack while you boil them are safe to eat.
Verdict: throw it out
Bad smell or odd look inside
A spoiled egg has an unpleasant smell as soon as you break it open, raw or cooked, according to Nebraska Extension. Crack older eggs into a separate bowl before adding them to anything, and throw out any that smell off or look unusual.
Is a green ring around a hard-boiled yolk safe?
Yes. West Virginia University Extension explains that the green ring is a harmless reaction between sulfur in the white and iron in the yolk, caused by cooking the egg too long or too hot.
Egg substitutes
Down to your last egg, or the carton is past saving? These will stand in.
Substitute
Works best in
What changes
Pasteurized liquid egg
Scrambles, omelets and baking
Close to fresh egg, and the safer choice for recipes served raw.
Frozen egg cubes
Baking and scrambles
One cube equals one egg.
Ground flaxseed and water
Muffins, pancakes and quick breads
Denser and nuttier. It will not whip.
Mashed banana or applesauce
Brownies, muffins and quick breads
Adds sweetness and moisture.
Mistakes people make when they store eggs
These are the ways people store eggs that cost them the most, and each one has an easy fix.
Keeping eggs in the fridge door. Since it is the warmest spot, use an inside shelf instead.
Leaving chilled eggs out. Two hours is the limit before they go back in the fridge.
Washing eggs before storing them. Store eggs are already washed, and washing at home can spread bacteria.
Freezing eggs in the shell. Beat them first, then freeze.
Throwing eggs out on the carton date. In fact, refrigerated eggs keep 3 to 5 weeks after it.
Keeping hard-boiled eggs too long. Use them within a week.
Trusting the float test alone. A floating egg is old, not proven bad. Crack it into a bowl and check the smell before you decide.
Sources
What You Need to Know About Egg Safety, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, March 2024. Buying, fridge temperature, storage times, freezing and hard-cooked eggs.
Egg Safety Q&As, AnswerLine, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, March 2026. Storage, date codes, cracked eggs, the float test and hard-cooked eggs.
Purchase, store, and prepare: Eggs, University of Minnesota Extension, reviewed 2026. Buying, the fridge door, washing and pasteurized eggs.
Cracking the Date Code on Egg Cartons, Nebraska Extension, reviewed 2026. Pack dates and sell-by dates.
Is an egg that floats still fresh?, Nebraska Extension. The float test and checking an old egg.
Is My Carton of Eggs Still Good?, Home & Garden Information Center, Clemson Extension, June 2022. How long eggs stay safe after packing.
Egg Safety, West Virginia University Extension, reviewed May 2017. Sell-by dates, the door egg tray and green rings on hard-cooked eggs.
Freezing Eggs, National Center for Home Food Preservation, University of Georgia. Freezing whole eggs, whites and yolks.
Identifying and Responding to Factors That Can Affect Egg Quality and Appearance, NC State Extension, reviewed May 2022. Storage temperature and odors.
How We Store Our Eggs and Why, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Refrigeration versus room temperature, the shell coating, and a 15-week study of 5,400 eggs.
Storage times and safety advice on this page come from the sources above. Food safety depends on conditions I cannot see, so read the Disclaimer, and if in doubt, throw it out.
Other ingredient guides
Browse all guides
Never miss a guide
New ingredient guides when they go up, plus one storage tip worth knowing. Anything sponsored is labelled.
Emilly White