The question of the day is, “Can you freeze eggs?” The answer is yes! I will teach you how to safely freeze raw and cooked eggs in just a few simple steps.
We have four sweet little chickens that we’ve raised. They normally give us about 3-4 eggs every day. Some weeks that many eggs for my family is not enough, but other times (when we haven’t been using them as much), my containers and bowls fill up to the brim and eggs are coming out of our ears!
I love to give the extras away and never seem to have anyone turn them away. However, if I’m trying to save money it’s really easy to simply freeze the eggs and use them myself later too.
Can You Freeze Eggs?
Yes, you can! And they taste darn near the same after they have thawed too. You can fry them, bake with them or add them to casseroles or other recipes even after they have been frozen and thawed.
What Are the Benefits of Freezing Eggs?
- Cost. This is a fantastic way to stock up on eggs when they are on sale, or a great idea to use them up when you have a lot about to expire too. When you see those sales on eggs..have no fear. Now you can go crazy. So easy AND practical! Doing this can save you money.
- Supply. Always have eggs on hand when you use frozen eggs. Nothing is worse than going to bake a cake and realizing you’re an egg or two short!
- Time. Save yourself time by having eggs already prepped for cooking or baking ahead of time. Sometimes those little steps, like freezing eggs, can add up to shave valuable time off cooking!
- Space. Raw eggs can take up a lot of room in the fridge. Freezing them will move them from the fridge into the freezer, and will save you a ton of space!
HOW TO FREEZE EGGS
The Best Method
- Lightly scramble the eggs. Stir with a fork until the yolk and whites are blended together without incorporating air.
- Add salt or sugar to your eggs – don’t skip this part!! Egg yolks have a gelatinous property in them that will thicken when frozen. By adding in salt or sugar before freezing, it will stop it from happening.
>>> Add in 1 teaspoon of salt per cup of eggs for eggs that will be used for savory items like scrambled eggs, omelets or souffles.
>>>Add in 1 teaspoon of sugar per cup of eggs for eggs that will be used for cake, desserts or sweet items.
>>> If you are freezing individual eggs, use 1/8 teaspoon of salt or sugar for each egg. - Store your eggs. Cover and freeze in a muffin tin or ice cube tray until frozen (about 4-6 hours), and then transfer them to freezer containers or freezer-safe bags.
- Label your eggs. Add the date, the quantity and make a note on your storage container if you used salt or sugar in the eggs. Make sure you adjust the recipe to compensate for the sugar or salt that you used in your eggs. Your eggs are now good for up to a year.
The Old Fashioned Way
For years I used the method of cracking an egg into an ice-cube tray, covering it and allowing it to freeze, and then storing it in a freezer-safe bag to use for up to a year. When thawed the eggs didn’t make the perfect fried egg. The yokes got thicker and the texture changed. After more research and testing, it’s better (and my recommendation) to use the Best Method above.
Freezing Egg Whites
Stir the egg whites together with a fork, and then freeze and package them in quantities you will use for recipes etc. It’s good to note that egg whites seem to whip up better and fluffier than after they’re frozen – so freeze away!
Freezing Egg Yolks
Beat the egg yolks slightly with a fork, add your salt or sugar to them with the same quantities as above, and then freeze and package the same way as you would whole eggs above. It’s also good to note here that egg yolks don’t freeze as favorably as egg whites, but are still usable in sauces etc.
Thawing Eggs
To thaw eggs, always do so in a closed container in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours or overnight and use immediately. To thaw the ice cubes, use a small covered dish. To speed up thawing, place container in a bowl of cold water. Egg whites can be stored, thawed, in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. DO NOT REFREEZE EGGS.
Can You Freeze a Hard Boiled Egg?
If you freeze a whole hard-boiled egg, the egg whites will be chewy and watery when thawed, and not enjoyable! So, no, you don’t want to freeze a hard boiled egg. Egg yolks can be frozen to use later for toppings and garnishes, but you will need a little prep first.
How to Freeze Hard Boiled Egg Yolks
If you want to use the egg whites for another recipe and then cook & freeze the yolks to use on tops of salads or other toppings, you can simply separate the whites from the yokes and cook just the yokes.
- Carefully place the yolks in a single layer in a saucepan and add enough water to come to at least 1 inch above the yolks.
- Cover and bring the water just to boiling.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let the yolks stand, covered, in the hot water for about 12 minutes.
- Remove the yolks with a slotted spoon, drain them well and package them for freezing.
Can You Freeze Scrambled Eggs?
Yes, you can freeze scrambled eggs! You can freeze scrambled eggs raw, or cooked, using different simple methods below. This is GREAT for meal-prep breakfasts!
How to Freeze Raw Scrambled Eggs
- Scramble raw eggs in a bowl.
- Add one teaspoon of salt for each cup of raw eggs.
- Transfer the eggs to a muffin tin or ice cube tray and cover to freeze.
- Remove them from the containers the eggs were frozen in, and transfer them to a labeled freezer bag to store in the freezer.
- Thaw and cook as usual within one year of freezing.
How to Freeze Cooked Scrambled Eggs
- Let the cooked scrambled eggs cool completely.
- Wrap tightly with plastic wrap, pressing down gently to remove any air.
- Cover with foil, or store in freezer bags.
- Label them and place in the freezer.
- Thaw and reheat within one year of freezing.
Can You Freeze an Egg in the Shell?
No! According to the USDA, if an egg cracks while it freezes, it needs to be thrown away. Alternatively, if it doesn’t crack while freezing, the egg white and yolk don’t blend well together after being frozen this way, making the uses limited.
That being said, egg freezing in the shell can end up costing you money, instead of saving it, and could waste eggs that very well may have been saved and stored if frozen in another method. We want to save money, not waste it!
Tips and Tricks for Egg Freezing
Always freeze eggs in the amount that you will use at one time. Believe me me, it doesn’t work to try to chisel off part of a frozen egg block!
Use ice cube trays or muffin tins to portion the eggs out correctly. I use this conversion guide.
1-1/2 tablespoons yolks = 1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons whites = 1 egg white
3 tablespoons eggs = 1 whole egg
If you have trouble removing the frozen eggs from the muffin tins or ice cube trays, simply sit the bottom of the trays in warm water for a few seconds, and they should slip right out. Plastic ice cube trays work best for this method.
If you are freezing multiple eggs in a jar or container, make sure you leave 1/2 inch head-space for expansion before freezing.
Clearly mark your freezer bags with the date one year from freezing to make sure you use your frozen eggs within the safety window.
Want Some Recipes You Can Use Frozen Eggs In?
- Basic Muffin Recipe – use this recipe, or any of the variations, to use your frozen eggs!
- Make Ahead Freezer French Toast Sticks – a freezer-friendly breakfast recipe!
- French Toast Casserole – a great way to use up lots of eggs.
- Vintage Banana Cake – this recipe is vintage, from my Great-Grandmothers old recipe box.
- German Pancakes (aka Dutch Babies) – this uses several eggs so it’s perfect when you need to use up lots of eggs.
So, can you freeze eggs? Yes! Now that you know how to freeze eggs, and just how simple it is, you most certainly should!
How to Freeze Eggs
Ingredients
- 12 eggs
- 1 tsp salt or sugar
Instructions
- Lightly scramble the eggs. Stir with a fork until the yolk and whites are blended together without incorporating air.
- Add salt or sugar to your eggs – don’t skip this part!! Egg yolks have a gelatinous property in them that will thicken when frozen. By adding in salt or sugar before freezing, it will stop it from happening.
- Add in 1 teaspoon of salt per cup of eggs for eggs that will be used for savory items like scrambled eggs, omelets or souffles.
- Add in 1 teaspoon of sugar per cup of eggs for eggs that will be used for cake, desserts or sweet items.
- If you are freezing individual eggs, use 1/8 teaspoon of salt or sugar for each egg.
- Store your eggs. Cover and freeze in a muffin tin or ice cube tray until frozen (about 4-6 hours), and then transfer them to freezer containers or freezer-safe bags.
- Label your eggs. Add the date, the quantity and make a note on your storage container if you used salt or sugar in the eggs. Make sure you adjust the recipe to compensate for the sugar or salt that you used in your eggs. Your eggs are now good for up to a year.
Notes
Nutrition
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About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Colleen says
Hi. I followed this tip and upon defrosting, my yolks were firm like they had been cooked (even at room temp). There was no mention of this happening in the post that I could see. How do you work around this? I put them in my blender to puree and am hoping the muffins I am baking will work out.
Jesse says
So, here is what I am wondering…. Do you know if this effects the nutrients of the eggs? I know that they are delicate when it comes to heat, but wonder about very cold temperatures. Would really love to know, because this is such a helpful idea.
Thank you!
Happy.MoneySaver says
From this information I have found it does not affect it nutritionally since the they base the nutrition facts on raw or frozen. The link is below if you would like to look at it! Hope this helps!
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-egg-white-i1172
Jesse says
I will most definitely read the info in the link. Thank you so much! I appreciate your help.
Carrie Love Albertson says
Thanks so very much for this way to freeze eggs. I will surely use it & not have to worry that my eggs are out dated anymore.
ellen says
Is there are reason not to freeze them in the shells?
Happy.MoneySaver says
I have read that if you freeze raw eggs in their shell, the water in the egg can expand creating small cracks in the shell letting bacteria contaminate the egg. If the egg freezes without any cracks it is said to be edible. 🙂
joan says
just had to share this with you.The best way to freeze the eggs is to use silicone cupcake cups-just great. I tried quite a few containers , like ice cube trays and had a hard time getting frozen eggs out. to use the silicone cups after the eggs freeze-just turn them inside out and the eggs pop out. I can do a dozen at a time, laying them in a cake pan. I bought them at Walmart 6/$1.98. I sure hope this helps someone. I think this is the best tip I know—next to freezing eggs.
joyce says
I will be getting silicone cups. Thanks for this info.
Diane says
This is a great tip. I will look for these silicone cups. Thanks!
Marie Campos says
Thank you for sharing that information. I have never frozen eggs and am in fact looking it up now on how to do it. The tip about Walmart is extra help!!!!
Jana says
I use a regular plastic cylinder popcicycle tray I got at the grocery for $1 to freeze the eggs I trade baked goods for. When frozen just pop them out and put in zip lock bag in freezer. Occasionally have one to stick but, let tray sit in warm water for a minute then it will slide out easily. I never run out of eggs and others get my home milled flour breads, cakes & pies.
carol says
No more running out of eggs while on a baking frenzy during a snowstorm!!!!!
Liam says
Hmm … why do you have to crack the eggs … if the yolk and eggwhite can be frozen, why not just chuck the whole egg shell and all in the freezer and let thaw when needed?
Karrie says
I think that they sometimes crack when they freeze, but you could sure try it!
Becky E in Yakima says
Yes, sometimes they do freeze-those of us that live in colder climates have all gone out to our coops to see a frozen egg with a big crack in it:)
Margaret Anne @ Natural Chow says
You wanna know what, I was just asking myself this last week. I was thinking about getting chickens and how many and wanted to know if it was possible to freeze eggs. Do you have chickens? If so, how many eggs does one chicken lay per day? Thanks a bunch! Love the site! 🙂
Happy.MoneySaver says
Yes, I do have 4 backyard chickens! I usually get 3-4 eggs every day from all of my chickens. 🙂
Patty Barbee says
I’ve been raising chickens for 5 years now. I have 29 hens. I get anywhere from 14 to 21 eggs every day. It depends a lot on the breed. It also depends on whether or not the hens are happy. If the weather is too hot or too cold, they may stop laying for a while, or at least slow down. Once I had too many roosters. Hens don’t like that. They told me so by not laying until I got rid of all but one rooster. Then they were happy again and laying left and right. They talk to you, if you listen. ;0)
Jennifer says
Wow….I never knew. Typically I have fried the eggs or hard boiled and THEN frozen them….but this is genius! I will definitely be stocking up when they go on sale now.
saundra says
thank you for sharing this Karrie! I had no idea you could freeze eggs. I will stocking up on eggs now when they are on sale.
Karrie says
Glad to be helping!
Alli says
Hi Karrie! I know this is an old post, but excited to have a strategy! Thank you! Heading to Iceland in a few weeks. i’ll be taking a LOT of our “normal” meal options. I don’t eat animal flesh, bytbdo eggs, milk and cheese. i’ll freeze a dozen eggs in an ice tray along with cheese and tofu.. ? Thank you.
Tiffany says
Do the egg whites beat stiff after being frozen?
Karrie says
Oooh…gonna test that tomorrow morning by making homemade waffles –>https://happymoneysaver.com/sweet-milk-homemade-waffles-recipe/. I will update you soon!ate you soon!
Tanya says
I have frozen both egg yolks and egg whites. The whites thawed great and were normal but my yolks gelled up. I added salt and scrambled the yolks like a lot of websites said and I they still were so gelatinous that I couldn’t use them. Everything I read said you couldn’t freeze the whole egg together but it looks like it works great for you. Do you have any problems with the yolk becoming gelatinous?
Carmen K says
Here is a great link for all the ways you can freeze eggs: http://www.incredibleegg.org/egg-facts/eggcyclopedia/f/freezing-eggs
To avoid gelatinous yolks I scramble and add salt (and pepper and cauliflower puree). Then I freeze the eggs in old 4 cup yogurt tubs. Each container holds the right amount for a meal with scrambled eggs for my family.
Freezing is also great for camping. No worry about broken eggs in travel and they thaw (or thaw enough) for use after a day or two.
Diane says
I will have to try this for future scramble egg breakfasts. Thanks for sharing.
Mary says
Awesome!!
Ruth says
I once had many extra eggs so I put a dozen (in a cardboard egg container) in the freezer. A few weeks later, I thawed them in the fridge and they were COMPLETELY normal–as if they had never been frozen. Try it with one egg–I was shocked.
Christina says
I tried putting them in the garage fridge when I was over run with eggs-they were horrid. LOL/I will try cracking them an using ice cube trays….and those NEAT-OH bags.
Diane says
Hello Ruth or readers:
Does it have to be in a cardboard carton or can it be the styrofoam carton?
Paul says
Freezing your eggs is great if you are storing them up to a year. There are other ways to store fresh eggs for months. The eggs you buy at the store are typically 3 weeks to 3 months out of the chicken when you bring them home and that includes the supposed organic eggs you find in the store. I remember my great grandmother just kept her fresh eggs on the kitchen counter and growing up my friend in high school, his parents raised chickens and they just stored their eggs in a storeroom beside the chicken house at room temp unwashed and they had about 200-300 birds and sold them locally. You can store fresh eggs in a cool basement on the shelf for a few months with no problem. Refrigerated you can store them for up to 9 months. Mother Earth did a long term experiment back in 1977 testing various different methods of storing eggs. You can also just ask an old farmer or older family member how they store(d) their eggs. You will get all kinds of responses. Quality will decrease once you do refrigerate your fresh eggs and the longer they are stored and never chill them and then try to store them at room temp. Shelf life will depend on lots of things and can be affected by washing your eggs because that removes the bloom which protects your egg from bacteria. Always use an egg wash to clean your eggs which will replace the natural bloom with another protective cover or store them unwashed and wash as you use them. All of this information can be found on your own on the Internet which is where I found all the info I use to raise our little backyard flock of 4 Easter Eggers. We started raising ours after reading about you doing it Karrie and are grateful that we did. It has been a great experience raising our girls from day old chicks and now reaping the benefit of their glorious eggs.
Gilly says
I agree! When i lived in Portugal we would store eggs in a bucket with straw and a lid, they would stay good for almost two years. We never washed them just use a little sandpaper to scratch off any dried poop or dirt. Don’t refrigerate eggs! North America is the only place that refrigerates eggs, but once they have been refrigerated they must stay in the fridge because they have been damaged by the humidity in te fridge.
Caroline Hinners says
Your right, my mother always said do not refrigerate eggs. My brother raised chicken for us and the neighborhood and they were never put in the fridge. I only started to refrigerate mine when I started to buy them in the store because they were already refrigerated. So now you have to keep them that way. We never had a shelf life on them either but now they have one and people don’t understand that they are still good after that date, We as Americans throw out to much food that is still good after what they call shelf life!
sylvia Chapman says
My egg producer late husband would store eggs in the grading shed for weeks at certain times, unwashed and on grey cardboard trays. One day a worker had a slight accident in the Land rover as he transported the days collection to the grading shed. Hubby took out all the damaged stack of eggs and re stacked them, put them onto a bench in an outbulilding. When I asked for eggs for the house he would bring in the tray and I would decant them into my ‘hen’ crock. Eventually he told me He had come to the end of the eggs he had saved, unknown to the household, and they were 16 weeks old, So I have never worried since
Chris from Carson says
It depends… once Eggs from the USA are washed…. and once that happens you have to refrigerate them because the protective coating is washed away. You can only store eggs refrigerated if and only if… they were NEVER WASHED.
Ree says
Actually, it is against US law for commercial eggs to be washed if they are grades A. So, if you buy grade A eggs in an American supermarket, they will not have been washed, and the bloom is intact.
Eggs graded B are used by commercial restaurants and usually washed.
Kandice Norris says
You do NOT know what you are talking about . My son works in the industry and they do wash eggs
Debbie says
I have frozen my eggs in its shell, that wont hurt them will it?
Shannon Walsh says
Eggs that have been washed, as store bought eggs have lost their protective coating that comes naturally and must be refrigerated. Straight from the hen and unwashed can be stored on the counter or in a co spot, but not store bought eggs.
Bethany says
This. Is. AWESOME!!!!! Thank you for this post!
soley says
Fantastic! Is that a reusable freezer bag I see? What brand?
Karrie says
They are called Neat-os and I LOVE them.. super great quality with a see through part –>http://neat-os.com/
Coleen says
I went to the site and it’s for small businesses. I was looking the looking for the freezer bags?????
Melissa says
Really cool – thanks for sharing this wonderful tip!
Kris says
Thank you for sharing this! I go through a lot of eggs, and this is a great way to stock up and make them last. Thank you.
Jill says
Thank you for this post. I had this question arise a couple days ago and I didn’t have an answer! How timely. Have some freezing work to do this weekend.