Can You Freeze Eggs? | How To Best Freeze Eggs and What NOT To Do

Eggs are a healthy and versatile food that can be used in many ways. But did you know that you can freeze eggs? This post has tips on how to freeze raw and cooked eggs, and also tells you how NOT to.

I love eggs. 

They’re good for you, taste great, and are an economical way to boost your nutritional intake. 

I tell you all about the superpowers of this delicious food in my post, 10 Benefits of Eggs and Why You Should Eat Them More Often!, so let's answer the question now, can you freeze eggs?

CAN YOU FREEZE EGGS?

You can definitely freeze eggs. There may be slight texture changes when freezing raw eggs, but if you prep the eggs first, it’s entirely doable. I’ll look more at that a little further down in the post. Right now, I want to talk about freezing cooked eggs.

Think about it – no more wasting eggs<--Yay!

You know I’m all about meal prep and having nutritious food ready ahead of time. My family keeps me super busy, and yet, I know that I've got to put healthy food on the table, right?

So, that's where meal prep works so well! It helps me keep my healthy lifestyle on track, and when I can accomplish this, I feel so much better.

If you look at my meal prep post, you’ll see all kinds of nutritious meals to prepare ahead of time and place in the fridge or freezer, to grab when you are hungry. Meal prep is also good for when you are on your way out the door and need to bring food along. 

This is where freezing cooked eggs comes in. I’ve got a few egg recipes that can be frozen and are the ideal choice for a protein-filled meal on the go or for after a long day at work:

• Healthy Egg Muffin Cups (Perfect for Meal Prep!) These are excellent if you are on a weight loss regimen – and of course, even if you are not! Wrap them in single portions in plastic wrap and freeze for a month.
• Frozen Breakfast Burritos  These absolutely yummy burritos are full of protein and fiber. Fiber is fantastic for your body, by the way. These burritos can be placed in an airtight container frozen for 3 months.
• Make Ahead Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches Freeze these nutritious and filling sandwiches in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Not only are make-ahead meals like these good to have on hand, but you can also freeze scrambled eggs and omelets. Here’s how:

• Scrambled eggs: Cook the scrambled eggs as you normally would. Let them cool completely. Wrap them in plastic wrap, being careful to make sure there is no air left in the plastic. Place them in a freezer bag and label with the date. The scrambled eggs will keep up to one year, although the longest I keep them is 6 months. 
• Omelets: Prepare your homemade omelet, let cool, and lay flat in plastic wrap. Cover with foil. Place in a freezer bag and store on a level shelf in the freezer. For optimal freshness and palatability, use within 3 to 6 months. I reheat them for 20 minutes in the oven, covered in foil.

REASONS FOR FREEZING EGGS

Some of you may wonder, why even freeze eggs? After all, they last for up to a month in the fridge anyways.

• Freezing eggs, either in cooked or raw form, will save you space. I know organizing my fridge can take time, especially when it’s full of make-ahead smoothies and things like that.
• When you have eggs in the freezer, you’ve got them whenever you need them!
• Buying eggs when they are on sale is a smart, cost-effective measure – always a bonus.
• Time saver! Having eggs prepped in the freezer, whether as a make-ahead meal like frozen breakfast burritosor for baking, saves valuable time.

CAN YOU FREEZE EGGS IN THE SHELL?

Right off the bat, let’s get this one out of the way. I don't recommend that you freeze eggs in the shell. The contents will expand, and the shell will crack.

Not only that, but the texture of the yolk will change and be basically unusable. When a yolk freezes, it will either solidify or turn to a gel. The texture will be such that it won’t blend with the white. To leave both the white and the yolk usable after freezing, you have to prep them first.

HOW DO YOU FREEZE RAW EGGS?

There are a few simple steps to freezing raw eggs, but yes, it can be successfully done. I recommend that you add either salt or sugar to the eggs so that the yolks don’t turn thick and gelatinous.

• Blend the eggs with a fork, but try not to add a bunch of air, So, just blend – don’t whisk.
• If you are freezing the raw eggs to use later in a souffle or omelet, add 1 teaspoon of salt per 1 cup of eggs.
• Planning to bake with the eggs you’re about to freeze? Add 1 teaspoon of sugar to 1 cup of eggs.
• If you are freezing just one egg at a time, add ⅛ teaspoon per egg.
• I then put the eggs into muffin tins and cover. Freeze them for 4 to 6 hours and transfer to labeled freezer bags. Make a note on the bag the amount of salt or sugar added so that you can adjust your recipe if needed when it comes time to thaw and use the eggs.
• Use within a year. 

HOW TO FREEZE EGG WHITES ON THEIR OWN

Separate the whites from the yolks and stir to blend. Transfer to a freezer bag, label and keep in the freezer for up to a year. Thaw in the fridge and use within 2-3 days. There does not seem to be a change in texture when you freeze an egg white. And it’s been my experience that previously frozen egg whites whip up nicely, so don’t hesitate to freeze the whites!

HOW TO FREEZE JUST THE EGG YOLKS

When you freeze egg yolks, the texture does change somewhat. Lightly beat the yolks, adding the sugar or salt as per your quantity of eggs. Then, freeze in the muffin tins and transfer to a freezer bag for about one year. Once thawed, use them right away. And you cannot refreeze eggs! Note that using egg yolks that have been previously frozen can be used in soufflés, quiches, and other egg dishes.

CAN YOU FREEZE HARD-BOILED EGGS?

Freezing a hard-boiled egg is not ideal. Why? The whites become chewy, and there is a watery consistency, too. Cooking a hard or soft-boiled egg like on this perfect avocado toast is super easy, so I just cook them as I need them. Hard-boiled eggs are one of my favorite high protein snacks, so I always keep a batch in the fridge. Want to know how to cook the perfect fried egg? I’ve written a post on frying an egg, too!

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