This Is How Long Hard-Boiled Eggs Can Sit Out Unrefrigerated

Eating food contaminated with germs linked to foodborne illnesses can lead to fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Practicing poor hygiene or undercooking can contribute to food poisoning. But leaving some foods, like hard-boiled eggs, out on the side for too long can also raise the risk, according to MedlinePlus.

How Long Can Hard-Boiled Eggs Sit Out of the Refrigerator?

Hard-boiled eggs can sit out of the fridge for no more than two hours, or one hour if the temperature outside is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Hard-boiled eggs can be a quick and nutritious snack, but you have to refrigerate them and handle them correctly to keep them from becoming contaminated. You can store peeled or unpeeled hard-boiled eggs in the fridge for a week.

Why You Need to Refrigerate Hard-Boiled Eggs

Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse. But when left out too long, they carry certain health risks.

Hard-boiled eggs need to stay at a low temperature, so it's best to refrigerate them after boiling. To keep fresh eggs safe, store them at 40 degrees F (4.4 degrees C) or colder, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The same rule applies to hard-boiled eggs, both in and out of the shell.

If hard-boiled eggs stay at room temperature for long periods, bacteria can multiply quickly and cause foodborne illness. Salmonella is one of the most common risks linked to eating rotten eggs, according to the FDA.

Salmonella symptoms last between four and seven days, and the infection can spread through any contaminated food. In severe cases, salmonella can lead to dehydration and require a trip to the doctor. Contrary to popular belief, hard-boiled eggs are not safer to leave out than raw eggs.

Heat kills salmonella bacteria. But hard-boiled eggs can still become contaminated if you don't cook them fully or store them properly, or if they acquire germs and you don’t store them at the right temperature. This is because the cooking process damages the protective layer on the eggshell, according to the Global Food Consumers' Forum.

How to Tell if Your Eggs Have Expired

Rotten eggs don't always have a foul odor. So err on the side of caution by taking some safety measures. Throw out any eggs with cracks or shell imperfections before boiling, according to the FDA. And cook eggs until the yolks and whites are firm.

If you serve a dish that has hard-boiled eggs in it, such as deviled eggs, place the serving platter on ice to keep the eggs cold. Set a timer to remind yourself to refrigerate the leftovers within two hours.

If your eggs sit out longer than they should, play it safe and throw them out.