Can You Freeze Fresh Eggs to Use in Your Cooking?

Eggs can last for weeks in the fridge if stored properly. But sometimes, you may want to freeze eggs—whether you’re looking for easy breakfasts on-the-go, or just need to preserve unused egg whites for a future recipe.

There are a few tips and tricks you need to know about freezing eggs, to help ensure the eggs are safe to eat, and still just as delicious.

Can You Freeze Eggs?

The short answer to the can you freeze eggs question: It depends. And what it depends on, is the current state of the egg.

Raw eggs can be frozen, but not in the shell—which will likely crack when the contents expand as they freeze, leaving them open to contamination. Scrambled eggs are a safe bet for freezing (and we’ll give you the tips for how to ensure they taste just as fresh when you reuse them). Most experts, including the American Egg Board, recommend that you do not freeze hard-boiled eggs, as the whites will become tough when they’re frozen.

How to Freeze Eggs Safely

There are a few different techniques for prepping eggs for freezing, depending on how you plan to use them after you thaw them.

Freezing raw eggs

The big issue with freezing raw eggs is the yolks, which will become congealed when frozen and thawed. Previously frozen yolks will no longer blend well with the egg whites, and will have a different, more syrupy texture, according to the USDA.

To properly freeze raw eggs, follow these steps:

• Crack them out of the shell. As we already mentioned, the expansion of the egg when frozen will crack the shell and potentially allow in bacteria or other contaminants.
• Scramble or separate. If you’re planning to use the eggs in baking or cooking, scramble the eggs one at a time. If you’d like to freeze the egg whites (and potentially, the yolks) separately, separate the eggs.

• Freeze in separate units. An ice cube tray is an ideal way to freeze each egg separately, so you can easily just take out what you need. Pour a single scrambled egg into each ice cube slot, or two egg whites or four egg yolks.
• Put frozen eggs into a freezer-safe container. A freezer-safe bag is ideal for holding your frozen egg cubes.

Freezing cooked scrambled eggs

If you want to cook scrambled eggs and freeze them (perhaps for muffin-tin scrambled eggs or a scrambled egg breakfast burrito), the trick to freezing the scrambled eggs is to leave them a bit soft when you’re cooking them. That gives you a little added moisture to allow you to thaw and reheat the eggs without ending up with a too-dry scramble.

To freeze cooked scrambled eggs, portion the scrambled eggs as you plan to use them (including assembling any burritos or other dishes), then freeze them in freezer-safe containers.

Freezing cooked yolks

While hard-boiled eggs get tough in the freezer, you can freeze just the cooked egg yolks. Freeze them for a few hours separately on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then put the frozen yolks in a freezer-safe bag.

How Long Can You Store Frozen Eggs?

Like anything else in the freezer, frozen eggs are best used as soon as possible, but they won’t go “bad”—they’ll just gradually lose quality and may become freezer burned. The American Egg Board suggests that you can freeze eggs for up to a year.

How to Thaw Frozen Eggs

The gentlest and safest way to thaw frozen eggs is to pop them in the fridge several hours before you need them, so they have time to slowly thaw. You can also thaw them (in the container) under cold running water.

Ways to Use Frozen Eggs

Frozen eggs can be a versatile addition to your cooking arsenal. Frozen egg whites can be cooked into an egg-white omelet or whipped and baked into meringues. Beaten raw eggs that were frozen can be thawed and cooked as scrambled eggs, or added to baked goods. Scrambled cooked eggs can be reheated and eaten for breakfast (or dinner!), and frozen egg yolks can be mixed into avocado for a protein-boosted avocado toast, or grated over salad.