Can You Freeze Eggs?

From time to time you may find yourself wondering if you can freeze eggs, say if you've made something like homemade angel food cake and have a bunch of yolks left over.

Here we're going to break down everything you need to know about freezing eggs. Can you freeze eggs in the shell? Can you freeze egg whites or yolks? We've got you covered.

Can You Freeze Eggs?

The short answer is yes! Eggs can safely be frozen for up to one year. For maximum freshness it is ideal to use them within three to four months.

While eggs will keep on their own in the fridge for up to three to five weeks, freezing eggs is not only possible but smart in some cases.

That said, there are precautions to keep in mind when freezing eggs to be sure it is safe to do so. Some kinds of eggs should not be frozen.

It is generally considered safe to freeze the following kinds of eggs:

• raw egg yolks
• raw egg whites
• cooked egg dishs
• whole raw eggs (whisked together)

Can You Freeze Eggs in the Shell?

If you have eggs in the refrigerator that need to be used up before they go bad, you may wonder if it is safe to freeze eggs in the shell.

Unfortunately, that answer is no. Because liquids expand when frozen, it is very possible for egg shells to crack and break when frozen.

Because of that, the chance of raw egg contaminating other food in your freezer is high. It could also allow for bacteria to grow inside the eggs themselves.

Eggs are one of those foods that need to be handled with care to avoid anyone getting sick. Keeping that in mind, you never want to freeze eggs in the shell.

How to Freeze Whole Eggs

Fortunately you don't even need to know how to separate eggs before freezing them. It's such a simple thing to do!

So knowing that it is unsafe to freeze eggs in the shell, how do you freeze whole eggs?

To freeze whole eggs, follow these simple steps!

1. Crack your eggs into a bowl and whisk them well to thoroughly combine the yolks and whites.
2. Transfer the beaten eggs into a freezer-safe container.
3. Be sure to label the container with the number of eggs and the date.
4. Place the container in the freezer for up to one year - but up to a few months for best results.

Alternately, it's also possible to freeze eggs in an ice cube tray!

How to Freeze Eggs in an Ice Cube Tray

Freezing eggs in an ice cube tray is a simple way to have indvidually portioned eggs to use for cooking or baking.

Doing so is a great way to extend the life of your eggs if you like eggs for breakfast but live alone or travel frequently.

1. Crack one to two eggs into a bowl and beat until fully combined.
2. Pour into a silicone ice cube tray (the larger size trays will fit two eggs to a compartment) so the frozen eggs can pop out easily.
3. Place the ice cube tray in the freezer and freeze for at least 2 hours.
4. Pop the frozen egg cubes out and place them in a freezer storage bag marked with the date, then return to the freezer.

If you don't have a silicone ice cube tray, try a muffin tin or a regular ice cube tray! You'll want to lightly spray either with a bit of oil before freezing to ensure the eggs come out easily when you're ready to use them.

Should you choose to freeze eggs in this way, it's useful to whisk just one or two eggs at a time, so you know the number of eggs you have frozen. This will make using them for cooking or baking very simple.

Can You Freeze Egg Whites?

Much like whole raw eggs that have been beaten, you can easily and effectively freeze egg whites to use at a later time.

Like their whole egg counterparts, it is safe for egg whites to be frozen for up to one year. We recommend three to four months tops for optimal freshness.

Some experiments have even found that egg whites that have been frozen and then thawed have greater foaming properties, a characteristic great for baking.

This is an excellent option in particular when making light and airy baked goods such as this cannoli poke cake that is meant to be fluffy and moist.

1. To freeze egg whites, crack your eggs and separate the eggs and the whites as needed for whatever dish you're making.
2. Pour the reserved egg whites into a freezer-safe container.
3. Label the container with the number of egg whites and the date, then place in the freezer.
4. Freeze for a maximum of 12 months, but we suggest no more than four months.

Can You Freeze Egg Yolks?

Like egg whites and whole raw eggs that have been beaten, freezing egg yolks is very straight forward process that comes in handy when making a recipe that calls for only egg whites.

What do you do with leftover yolks? Well you could make this delicious grapefruit curd recipe, for sure! (And you wouldn't be disappointed.)

Or you can freeze them! It's worth pointing out that unlike egg whites, you may see a change in texture once egg yolks have been frozen and then thawed.

Because of tiny ice particles that form in the yolks when frozen, they can take on a thicker gel-like consistency. This process is known as gelation.

There's good news though - you can help prevent this by adding a bit of sugar or salt to your yolks before freezing them. This will improve the texture once thawed.

1. Place egg yolks in a bowl and whisk until smooth.
2. For every 1 cup of egg yolk, add roughly 1/2 teaspoon of salt or 1 tablespoon of sugar to the beaten egg yolks.
3. Beat again to thoroughly combine the egg yolks with the salt or sugar.
4. Transfer to a freezer-safe container.
5. Label the container with the number of egg yolks and the date, then cover and place in the freezer.

Can You Freeze Hardboiled Eggs?

While it may be tempting to freeze hardboiled eggs, cooked egg whites generally do not freeze well.

When thawed the texture is very hard and dense, taking away the inherent texture you likely associate with cooked egg whites.

In lieu of freezing, we suggest storing hardboiled eggs in an air tight container with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator. There they will easily keep for a few days while staying fresh.

If you have more hardboiled eggs than you think you'll eat before they go bad, try making deviled eggs! Our herbed deviled eggs are a favorite.

For a creamy, savory deviled egg recipe we love try this harissa goat cheese deviled egg recipe. 

How to Freeze Cooked Egg Dishes

If you have leftover cooked egg dishes such as quiche or breakfast casserole (or if you want to prep them in advance for later), it is best to let the dish cool completely before freezing.

Keep in mind that it's important to cool the cooked dish to 40°F or colder within two hours. With that in mind, once it has reached room temperature you'll want to freeze it immediately. 

To do so, cover it tightly and place it directly in the freezer in a freezer-safe container. You'll want to mark it with the date and be sure to use it within a few months. 

Alternately you can portion out individual servings and freeze each portion indvidually. Simply wrap them tightly and place in the freezer, being sure to label each one with the date.

Any frozen previously cooked egg dishes should not be frozen for more than a few months to help ensure they're safe to eat.

How to Thaw Frozen Eggs

When you're ready to use your frozen eggs, simply remove the container from the freezer and place it in the fridge overnight to thaw.

If you need the eggs quicker, you can also run the container under running water to help thaw the eggs so long as they are stored in a sealed container.

Now you have eggs ready to use for cooking or baking!

What to Make with Frozen Eggs

Since you have to scramble or beat your eggs before freezing them, you can't exactly use them to make fried eggs or egg preparations where you need the yolk intact.

That said, frozen eggs are perfect for using in baked goods, casseroles and other dishes such as omlets or these baked ham and cheese egg muffins.

We also like using frozen eggs to make migas or frittatas like this spinach, leek and potato frittata recipe.