Boiled eggs are a dish that can be made easily and quickly, and has a delicious taste and excellent nutrition for the body. In particular, eggs are so rich in protein that they can be eaten as a snack or as a heavy meal. If you don't have time to boil an egg every time you eat it, why not try hard-boiling eggs and saving them for later consumption? To maintain the freshness and quality of eggs, you can store them in the refrigerator, freeze them in the freezer, or process them into pickles by following the methods listed in this article.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Storing Boiled Eggs in the Fridge
Step 1. Put the eggs in a bowl of cold water after boiling
Once the temperature is normal, dry the surface of the eggs with kitchen paper and immediately put them in the refrigerator to prevent the risk of bacterial contamination!
Step 2. Put the eggs in the refrigerator, a maximum of 2 hours after boiling
If possible, put the eggs in the refrigerator as soon as they have cooled.
- If not stored in the refrigerator immediately, eggs can be harmful to your health when consumed. Be careful, warmer temperatures can easily contaminate eggs with bacteria, such as salmonella. So make sure you throw away any eggs that have been sitting for two hours or more at room temperature!
- Leave the eggs in the refrigerator until it's time to serve. Remember that hard-boiled eggs that have been left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be thrown away immediately!
Step 3. Store unpeeled hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator
Keeping eggs in their shells can prevent them from rotting quickly. Therefore, place the eggs in their container or in another sealed container, then put them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.
- Do not store hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator door. The repeated process of opening and closing the door can make the temperature in the area inconsistent. As a result, the eggs will rot more quickly.
- Keep hard-boiled eggs away from strong-smelling foods. Because eggs absorb the flavors and aromas of other foods very easily, make sure they are stored away from strong-smelling foods, such as garlic and cheese.
Step 4. Put the peeled boiled eggs in a bowl of cold water, then immediately store them in the refrigerator
Since peeled hard-boiled eggs dry out, you can first store them in a bowl of cold water and then place them in the refrigerator to maintain humidity and temperature.
- Change the egg bath water every day. Do this to preserve the freshness of the eggs and reduce the risk of contamination.
- If you wish, you can also store the peeled boiled eggs in a sealed container. Instead of pouring water into a bowl, try covering the surface of the egg with a few damp paper towels. Change the tissue every day to keep the eggs fresh and moist!
Step 5. Consume hard-boiled eggs within one week
For both boiled and unpeeled eggs, they will only stay fresh for 5 to 7 days. If stored longer, the eggs will start to rot and be dangerous to eat.
- Hard-boiled eggs go bad faster than raw eggs. The most obvious symptom of spoilage is the pungent smell of sulfur coming from the egg. If the egg is still in the shell, you'll need to peel it first to detect the presence or absence of an unpleasant aroma.
- Egg yolks that are gray or green in color are not necessarily rotten. Sometimes, the discoloration occurs because the eggs have been boiled too long.
Method 2 of 3: Freezing Boiled Eggs
Step 1. Freeze only the yellow part
In fact, you are not advised to freeze whole boiled eggs because the texture of the egg whites can feel rubbery afterward. In addition, the color of eggs can change when the texture is softened before consumption. After all, frozen egg yolks can also be used as a garnish or complement to lettuce and other dishes at a later date!
Write the date of storage on the surface of the container or plastic bag. This will make it easier for you to keep track of how long your yolks have been stored and ensure that the yolks are eaten within 3 months
Step 2. Put the hard-boiled egg yolks in a sealed container or plastic bag
After boiling, peel the eggs, then separate the whites and yolks, and store the boiled egg yolks according to the instructions given earlier.
Egg yolks should be frozen immediately after boiling to reduce the risk of contamination
Step 3. Try separating the yolks and whites before boiling them
Many people find this method easier, especially if they just want to process the egg whites into various dishes, such as chocolate mousse, and freeze the yolks.
If you only want to boil the yolks, try placing the yolks in a saucepan and pour enough water to cover the yolks. Then, immediately boil the water. Once the water boils, turn off the heat and cover the pot for 11 to 12 minutes. Drain the yolks with a slotted spoon before storing them in a plastic bag or special container
Step 4. Process or consume frozen boiled egg yolks within 3 months so that the quality does not change
If it smells weird, throw it away as soon as it smells bad.
Method 3 of 3: Pickling Boiled Eggs
Step 1. Sterilize the glass container in the oven
In fact, glass containers (often sold as canning jars) are the most ideal option for storing hard-boiled pickles. If you want, you can buy it at an offline kitchen supply store or online. The correct glass container is always equipped with an airtight lid to prevent the contents inside from being contaminated. However, you still have to sterilize it to prevent the risk of disease transmission!
- Wash the container with hot, soapy water, then rinse thoroughly. Then, place the container on the baking sheet and place the pan in the oven. After that, preheat the container to 60°C for 20 to 40 minutes.
- The eggs and soaking solution should be added immediately after the container is removed from the oven.
Step 2. Boil and peel the eggs
Put the eggs in the pan. Pour in cold water until the eggs are submerged and leave about 2.5 cm between the surface of the egg and the surface of the water. Then, boil the water. After the water boils, turn off the stove and cover the pot so the hot steam that forms can cook the eggs. Let the eggs sit for 14 minutes covered, or 17 minutes if they are very large.
Once cooked, flush the eggs with cold water to stop the ripening process. Then, peel the skin so that the eggs can be directly processed into pickles
Step 3. Prepare the soaking solution
In order for the results to be more ideal, the soaking solution should be used immediately after it is made.
- The basic marinade recipe for pickling consists of 350 ml of water, 350 ml of distilled white vinegar, 1 crushed garlic clove, 1 tbsp. pickled spices, and 1 bay leaf or bay leaf.
- To make the marinade, combine water, vinegar, and pickles in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Then, add bay leaf or bay leaf and garlic. Reduce heat, and continue to warm the solution for 10 minutes.
Step 4. Put the eggs and solution in a glass container, then screw the lid on until it's completely tight
Then, store the container in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks before you can eat the pickled hard-boiled eggs.
