Deviled eggs can be appreciated at any time of the year; it doesn’t have to be just for a special occasion. I make deviled eggs for special occasions, as a fancy, eye-catching dish when taking something to a potluck meal, as a side dish for Sunday dinner, or just as a snack or an informal meal such as part of a charcuterie board. But how should they be stored to keep them fresh?
The best way to store deviled eggs in the refrigerator is on a deviled egg plate covered with a sheet of plastic wrap or place the eggs in the refrigerator in a covered dish. If the eggs have been boiled and the deviled eggs are not prepared, leave the eggs whole until ready to make the deviled eggs.
In the following paragraphs, we will discuss in detail the best ways to store deviled eggs in the refrigerator to maintain their freshness as long as possible.
How to Store Deviled Eggs in the Fridge to Keep Them Fresh
Here are several ways to store deviled eggs in the refrigerator:
Before the meal:
- Just peel the boiled eggs and store them in the refrigerator in either a plastic bag or a covered plastic container like this one, found on Amazon, and wait until right before the meal to prepare the deviled eggs.
- Make the deviled eggs the day before the meal or earlier on the day of the meal, place them on a deviled egg plate, cover them with plastic wrap, and place them in the refrigerator. It will be ready to serve when the meal is ready.
- Make the deviled eggs the day before the meal or earlier in the day of the meal, and place them in a covered plastic container made especially for deviled eggs like this one.
After the meal:
- Assuming that you have some of the deviled eggs left after your meal, the covered plastic deviled egg trays make the best way to store any leftover eggs that you may have.
- However, if you only have a few deviled eggs left after the meal, any small plastic or glass container with a lid will keep the eggs fresh for a couple of days.
Related How Long Can A Sandwich Sit Out Unrefrigerated?
How Long Do Deviled Eggs Stay Fresh?
In the fridge:
According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), deviled eggs will stay good in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. However, for optimum taste, the eggs should be eaten within 2 days after they are made.
At room temperature:
Deviled eggs should be either eaten or put back into the refrigerator after 2 hours at room temperature. If, however, you are taking freshly made deviled eggs to a meal you are having away from home, the best thing to do would be to transport the deviled eggs in a cooler surrounded by ice to keep them fresh.
Can Deviled Eggs Be Frozen?
Deviled eggs can be partially frozen. The filling part of deviled eggs can be frozen and used at a later time, but egg whites cannot be frozen and will become tough and rubbery after they are frozen.
Why Are Hard-Boiled Eggs More Perishable Than Fresh Eggs?
Fresh eggs have a protective coating that keeps them fresh for several weeks without refrigeration, but after eggs are boiled, the protective coating is removed or washed away and will no longer be able to protect the eggs.
Boiled eggs should be refrigerated within 2 hours of boiling and will last in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Can Deviled Eggs Make You Sick?
Deviled eggs can make you sick if they are not handled properly and have gone bad because they can become contaminated with the bacteria that causes salmonella. Salmonella can cause serious illness and even death.
How Can You Tell if Deviled Eggs Have Gone Bad?
It is easy to tell if deviled eggs have gone bad by the following methods:
- A color change,
- The presence of mold,
- An unpleasant smell, and
- An unpleasant taste.
Even though, according to the USDA, deviled eggs can remain good for up to four days if refrigerated and handled properly, I would err on the side of caution and discard any leftover deviled eggs after 2 days, especially if there are any indications that they are no longer fresh.
What Are the Symptoms of Salmonella?
The symptoms of salmonella include:
- Fever,
- Chills,
- Nausea,
- Abdominal cramps,
- Diarrhea,
- Vomiting,
- Headache, and
- Blood in the stool.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some people who have contracted salmonella infection do not have any symptoms. Most people, however, develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps within 8 to 72 hours after exposure, and most healthy people recover within a few days to a week without treatment.
Final Thoughts
No matter how you make your deviled eggs, whether you spoon in the filling or pipe it in, and no matter which recipe you follow, the most important thing to remember about your deviled eggs is that they must be refrigerated after 2 hours at room temperature and will remain fresh for 2 days in the refrigerator.
Thanks for stoppin’ by!
Jelly Grandma
For more, don’t miss Do Eggs Really Need to Be Refrigerated? | Storage Guide.
Anne James has a wealth of experience in a wide array of interests and is an expert in quilting, cooking, gardening, camping, mixing drinks (worked as a professional bartender), and making jelly.
Anne has a professional canning business, has been featured in the local newspaper as well as on the Hershey website, and has been her family canner for decades. Anyone growing up in the South knows that there is always a person in the family who has knowledge of the “old ways,” and this is exactly what Anne is.
With over 55 years of experience in these endeavors, she brings a level of hands-on knowledge that is hard to surpass. Amazingly, she doesn’t need to reference many resources due to her vast wealth of experience. She IS the source.
Anne wants nothing more than to pass on her extensive knowledge to the next generations, whether that be family or anyone visiting her website, her YouTube channel, or preservingsweetness.com.