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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Comments & Reviews
Gayle Graham says
Thanks Karrie…..maybe I’ll just try one like someone above suggested and
see what happens……….GG
Gayle Graham says
Carrie…..I’m very glad I found your site but now I’m completely confused.
I have copied 3 different entries…..one says yes she froze raw eggs in cardboard carton
and they were completely normal when she took them out and thawed them. Then another
entry asks if it’s ok to freeze eggs in their shells and your answer said no…they will expand
and crack…..and then the last entry below says that if they crack in the freezer, they can
become contaminated. So my question is….who is correct…the first one who said they were
completely normal….or the ones after saying they crack and can cause bacteria.
Thanks for your help!!…..Gayle
Ruth says:
January 9, 2014 at 9:10 am
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.
Lynn says:
February 4, 2016 at 11:29 am
Can you freeze them in their shell?
Reply
Karrie says:
February 8, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Nope, they will expand and crack and you will have all sorts of a mess.
Happy.MoneySaver says:
March 3, 2014 at 4:19 pm
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. ?
Reply
Karrie says
I have seen eggs crack and expand before, so I’m still saying no to this one.
Charisse says
We raise chickens too! Whenever I can’t find a buyer, it’s would be nice to freeze them! Thanks for teaching me how! I linked your post on my website it was such a great article (you can read it Feb 13, 2017)
Annette says
This is very handy to know how to freeze eggs I I have been getting about 14 a day. More than I will ever use, I give them away as well but still have too many, it’s either feast or gammon lol. I also pickled a lot of eggs. Any other suggestions how to use up eggs would be great, cheers.
Karrie says
I make a lot of German pancakes for breakfast – ha ha!! Here is a link to my recipe: https://happymoneysaver.com/frugal-food-german-pancakes/
JoeKaye says
Lately, the price of eggs varies here from as low as 88 cents a dozen to as much as $2.79 a dozen (go figure). So, heck… I stock up when they are cheap. I just bought three dozen jumbos at $1.19/doz, with about half of them double and even a couple triple yolks. I just use the small ziplock bags from the dollar store for whole eggs or egg yolks. I also use the small snap lock plastic containers (10 for a dollar) for whites; they will hold 2 or three yolks or a half cup or so of whites each. Both containers work fine. I’ve never had gelatinous yolks when I froze the whole egg (I suspect that the whites being present may prevent that).
Cayuqui Estage Noel says
The reason I’m interested is that my two-days-a-week house keeper stored the eggs in the refrigerator close to the freezer (which I never do) and they froze. I left them overnight in the lower part of the refrigerator and they’re still frozen. I’m going to leave one out in room temperature to see what happens. Yep, thay all cracked, but as they were frozen, none of the egg white leaked out. Thank you so much for all this wonderful information. I am an “abandoned” husband, and I love it, but am having a hard time mananging the house — something I’ve never done alone before. Again, thank you.
Cayuqui Estage Noel says
It’s worth trying. Thanks.
Lynn says
Can you freeze them in their shell?
Karrie says
Nope, they will expand and crack and you will have all sorts of a mess.
Deshi says
Not always, I have Frozen eggs in the Shell in order to deep fry them Frozen, (I was trying a technique I saw on a cooking anime) and it didn’t crack. I’ve Frozen a number of eggs successfully and none has cracked so far. But I suppose the danger is there.
susanna stevens says
Thank you for the information about freezing raw egg. My question is: Can you refreeze them? I made a lemon tart that called for two raw eggs, and rather than being cooked the tart was put into the freezer. I then thawed it and consumed part. Can I refreeze the part that remains?
Karrie says
Usually my rule of thumb is not to refreeze anything twice because it usually takes away from the taste. I don’t think you will get sick or anything unless your eggs weren’t good to begin with, but the texture and flavor might not be perfect anymore.
Karen says
This is my first year having chickens and this is so great to know!! It will come in handy, especially for stalking up for winter when the chickens are producing less. Thank you so much!!
Happy.MoneySaver says
Glad I could help out! 🙂
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Chin says
Hi! I was wondering how you thaw them? How long at room temperature? Can you ‘defrost’ it faster in the microwave? If you decided you don’t need it, can you refreeze it? If you’re using it to bake, does it affect the consistency of the finished baked product? Thank you!
Stephanie says
I freeze everything but I have never tried freezing eggs. Thanks for the information. Eggs are now going to be in my freezer.
Steve says
Just to go along with the other crazy ideas on here, why can’t you just freeze the chicken till you get ready for eggs, then being them out to thaw and start laying?
Diane says
Lol… Steve, Steve, Steve, you are not domestic at all are you?
Don says
Steve, It’s because a chicken takes up more space in your freezer than an egg does.
Sandi says
ROFLMAO!!!…you too funny!!!…:o)
T, Cunningham says
I had many grocery items for the freezer and some of my items in the bottom part of my fridge froze about seven of my eggs I have in an egg tray and four more in a new carton of eggs I had bought early in the week…When I went to fill my egg container they were stuck as they had cracked….all I said was oh no did I buy them that way as I always check for cracked eggs…..then as I got the new package there were more stuck in the cardboard container….seeing as I tried to pull them out the shell was stuck and the eggs looked frozen…….needing them for baking that week…I decided to put them in a bowl and use them quickly, I tried to wash off the moisture of ice on them, before I put them in the bowl …..two days later they all looked foomy ant I was sad to do this but put them down the drain……thanks for your advise but for me its too late to have kept them….Thank you …T. Cunningham
smc says
Just wondering what type of freezer bags you are using and if you like them.
Karrie says
I use neat-os bags and love them. They are dishwasher safe and reusable!
Peggie says
Where would I be able to find these freezer bags. I have never heard of them.
Pam Winterrowd says
Good info to know….especially since I have MANY freezer containers with 6 eggs in each one already in my freezer. ha. We have less than 15 hens, and at one point I was being overrun with fresh eggs, but I hated to give them all away; so I froze them in groups of 6—perfect for my cream cheese pound cake recipe.
Carla says
I am definitely trying this. My girls are laying like crazy! It’s becoming a joke that no one can visit our house without taking a dozen eggs home with them.
To Susan M, I doubt I’d eat those old eggs either but the best trick to find out if an egg is good or bad is to place it in a bowl of water…if it sinks, it’s fine. If it floats, it’s bad…toss it out.
Years ago, back before the airline regulations were tightened, my mom would bring a carry on full of fresh eggs home with her when she visited at Christmas. She was still eating our eggs at Easter although she did check each one before she ate it.
Freezing eggs seems like a great way to have eggs in the winter when the girls take a break and the egg production drops. Thanks Karrie!
Susan M. says
Hi Karrie!
I’m pretty new to your site. This was a really helpful article. I’ve become interested in homesteading, etc., and considering raising chickens, especially for the eggs. I’ve wondered about storing eggs, how long they last, etc. I never knew you could FREEZE eggs, let alone store them at room temp! I’ve also been reading about selecting chickens, and which ones are “broody”. Sounds like choosing ones that are not “broody” is the way to go. In the description of being “broody”, it would seem that may be the chicken version of “PMS.” lol Anyway….thanks for the great info on eggs. I do have a question though. I bought some fresh eggs from a local farmer about the middle of last summer (2013), are they still good (as in edible)? I’ve kept them in the fridge. It was my first time buying fresh eggs, rather than store bought. Thanks!
P.S. I live in Kennewick (WA).
Karrie says
Hello Susan, welcome to my site! As for your question about the eggs, I wouldn’t eat them — I think the longest in the fridge should be around 4-5 months. It would lose a lot of the nutritional value much longer after that..and possibly make you sick.
Kathy says
A “broody” chicken is one that wants to lay on eggs. She’s not PMSing. She just wants to be a mommy! Can be really hard to “break” but you have to unless, of course, she’s got fertilized eggs under her! I’ve heard of all kinds of harsh ways to break them…but I preferred to segregate a broody hen in a large wire dog kennel set up on bricks. I put a piece of 2×4 in it do give her a place to perch. This keeps her belly from staying warm, and no one else’s eggs are around to sit on! Some take a few days, some a week. Just depends on the girl!
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