how long can hard boiled eggs stay in the fridge

Hard-boiled eggs are generally safe in the fridge for about up to 7 days , as long as they’ve been cooked, cooled quickly, and kept refrigerated the whole time.

Quick Scoop: Safe Time in the Fridge

• Most food safety and cooking sources say hard-boiled eggs (peeled or unpeeled) should be eaten within 1 week of cooking if stored properly in the fridge at or below 40°F (4°C).

• Some culinary experts prefer a slightly shorter window for best taste and texture, around 3–4 days , but they still recognize that up to a week is considered safe.

Peeled vs. Unpeeled

• Unpeeled eggs : Keep best up to 7 days in the fridge when stored in a covered container; the shell helps protect them from drying out and absorbing fridge odors.

• Peeled eggs : Also can last up to 7 days if they’re in an airtight container; lining the container with a damp paper towel helps prevent them from drying out.

Storage Rules That Matter

• Refrigerate your hard-boiled eggs within 2 hours of cooking; beyond that at room temperature, bacteria can grow fast and make them unsafe.

• Keep the fridge at 40°F / 4°C or below and store eggs in a covered container rather than loose on a shelf for best quality and safety.

When to Throw Them Out

Always trust your senses and the calendar:

• If it’s been more than a week since you boiled them, it’s safest to toss them, even if they look okay.

• Throw them away sooner if you notice:
  • Strong sulfuric or “rotten egg” smell.

* Slimy, chalky, or unusually dry texture.

* Unusual discoloration on the white or an off taste.

One-Line TL;DR

If you boiled them, cooled them, and kept them in the fridge the whole time, plan to eat your hard-boiled eggs within 7 days max , and toss them sooner if anything smells or looks off.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.