Can you freeze boiled eggs? Yes, you can freeze boiled eggs. Although, the outcome might not be favorable. The flavor would change, and the egg may release water when thawed. The flavor change might be subtle, but the ugly appearance would suggest an unappetizing meal.
Conversely, the boiled egg yolk freezes well without much structure and flavor changes. Although it’s not foolproof. Do it wrong and it would be as bad as badly frozen whites.
Do you have a dependable freezer? Are you maintaining it well? Is your power provider reliable? If your answers are all yes, then go boiling extra eggs and freeze them for later.
If one or two answers are no, then freezing wouldn’t be your friend.
If you have the habit of freezing everything as an easy fix, you tend to freeze fruits and veggies in addition to meat products. Then freeze some eggs too and see if you can really freeze boiled egg and eat it later.
How to cook boiled eggs. Find out here.
Basics of Boiling Eggs
Knowing the basics of boiling eggs gives you an idea if you need to freeze the eggs or not. Don’t tell me you don’t need this because I know you do. The basics of boiling eggs.
How many times have you cringed when someone tells you he wants a soft boiled egg? You think the matter is trivial that you haven’t bothered to memorize.
Duration in boiling water creates boiled eggs of various intensity. It’s not a hard and fast rule so feel free to adjust.
- soft boiled eggs = 3 minutes
- medium boiled eggs = 4 minutes
- hard boiled eggs = 8 minutes
- overcooked eggs = more than 8 minutes
The egg hardens when heat disrupts protein bonds. Then, with the presence of water, it forms a solid structure.
At 140°F, the egg whites turn into jelly. Cooking happens from outside to inside. So by varying the time you can get a firm white but liquid yolk.
At 170°F, the yolk turns yellow and crumbly. Continued boiling raises the temperature further. Thus, hydrogen sulfide develops, goes outside, and gives off a repulsive smell.
Worry not if you’re cooking fresh eggs. Scram otherwise.
Make the Freezer Work for You
I urge you to quick freeze whenever you need to toss something in the freezer. Unlike ordinary home freezers, it can preserve any products without deterioration in quality.
I admit most freezers are not capable of -48°C, only -18°C. What you can do is to make the freezer work for you.
Say no to freezer overloading. Each freezer has rated capacity. Too much load will give the machine a hard time to cool down everything.
Create spaces. Cut large items into smaller portions and put in separate canisters. This way you’re creating spaces for the cold air efficient flow. For eggs, let them sit in their egg trays.
Repair refrigerator seal. Place a dollar bill between door seal and fridge body, then close. If you can pull it without resistance, then the seal needs repair. This means outside moisture is coming inside causing frost.
What do I mean with frost? Does it matter? The thicker the frost, the less efficient the freezer becomes.
How do You Preserve Hard Boiled Eggs?
How do you preserve hard boiled eggs? You have two options, which also applies to poached eggs.
Firstly, refrigerate. Then reheat before eating, because it feels awkward eating cold eggs.
Secondly, store the boiled eggs in the freezer for up to a week. Freezer can hold it for longer, for three to six months, and don’t let it go beyond.
Whichever method you choose, peel the egg first and put inside airtight container.
Can You Freeze Eggs in the Shell?
In a hurry and want to freeze the boiled eggs right away. You boiled over a dozen, and feels like peeling them all will take too much time. So, can you freeze boiled eggs in the shell?
Yes, freezing it with the shells intact is fine. Besides, peeling it off right before eating is much exciting. However, you’ll have some trouble if the freezer is crowded and on a low setting. Freezing will be slow and may cause the egg to crack, thus oozing the liquid around.
Can You Eat Hard Boiled Egg That’s Been Frozen?
Even if I told you not to, there will be cases when you need to freeze hard boiled eggs. And if you do, you have to anticipate some caveats.
Freezing may cause water to exude, causing the egg white to become rubbery. If you don’t expect this outcome, then you might find it awful. Egg yolk freezes well but is not exempted from this issue.
Freezing expands both white and yolk causing the eggshell to crack. It’s bad for both hard boiled and soft boiled eggs. The goo may ooze out as the shell crack midway.
After hearing my brief explanations, I ask you. Can you eat hard boiled egg that’s been frozen. I’m not okay if I were you.
If your answer is yes, then you can definitely freeze boiled eggs.
How to Thaw and Reheat Frozen Eggs
Unless what you have is an ice cream, eating frozen foods seems awkward. Cold foods are fine but best while still hot. You need to know how to thaw and reheat frozen eggs.
It’s easy. Soak the frozen eggs in a water bath or leave under running water for a few minutes. Remove shells if you haven’t done beforehand. Put into a sealed jar and place over boiling water for about 5 minutes.
Other Ways to Store Eggs
You don’t always have to go through the trouble of freezing boiled eggs. You have other options.
Let boiled eggs at room temperature. It lasts up to two hours but only one hour on warmer days. Bacteria grow at temperature of 5-60°C. With increasing rate towards the upper limit. Discard once it emits sulfury odor and discharge sweats.
Store fresh eggs instead. It’s a bit surprising that fresh eggs last longer than boiled. Get fresh and clean eggs. Use the original egg tray or transfer to a more protective canister, because eggs absorb foreign odors and pathogens too. Then store in the fridge for 3-5 weeks.
Just get enough eggs to last for a week, and cook only as needed. Egg farms are producing eggs for your needs, and groceries are happy to hand it over to you. So don’t go panic buying eggs and other stuff.
Conclusion
Can you freeze boiled eggs? Absolutely, you can. However, you have to consider some pros and cons.
Firstly, flavor and texture changes. Do you find a shriveled egg with oozing liquid appealing? Knowing how the freshly boiled egg looks and tastes like, you’ll immediately cringe. Even though you can eat it fine, you wouldn’t dare offer it to your visitors.
Secondly, you have no control over some factors. After cleaning and setting up your fridge properly, it will be crowded again after a few days. You can’t keep watch over the fridge.
Power fluctuation is also a dilemma. An hour power outage is enough to thaw all the freezer has. Also, enough for water to drip and invite bacterial population.
Thirdly, the cost of equipment and power consumption. What do you need to implement a reliable quick freezing setup? A costly machine and a reliable power supply. They require a big budget. I suggest getting fresh eggs enough to last for a week. And boil eggs as needed.
Read my other post on how to spiced up eggs.
