For how long can one keep a hard-boiled egg (not refrigerated) before it goes ba

1. 85

   Simone Smithposted 13 years ago

   For how long can one keep a hard-boiled egg (not refrigerated) before it goes bad?
   
   While traveling in Germany, I noticed hard boiled eggs for sale that weren't refrigerated... I've always kept mine chilled, but is this necessary?
   I supposing timing will be different depending on whether the egg is peeled or not, but... just wondering!
   
   

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2. 60

   MR.POINT OF VIEWposted 13 years ago

   six hours and that's pushing it my friend so eat up!

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3. 90

   Rochelle Frankposted 13 years ago

   My German Mother-in-law didn't even keep raw ones in the refrigerator-- though if you, do they can keep for three weeks, maybe more.  The thing is, if you buy them you don't really know how long it has been since they were laid.
   
   I have chickens and have learned that hard boiled eggs are almost impossible to peel  if you try to boil them when they are really fresh-- before they are a week or two old.
   After they are boiled, they keep well for a week, maybe more. If  not refrigerated they would be better in a relatively cool place-- a cupboard, maybe.
   Another thing-- you don't want to wash them before you store them.
   
   A good way to test fresh ones-- is to see if they sink or float when you put them in water. if they float to the top so part of the shell is out of the water-- they are questionable.
   As they age, the pocket of air (gas)gets larger at the bigger end of the egg.

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4. 69

   megmccormickposted 13 years ago

   I have a one week rule for all cooked food.  I don't eat anything that has been cooked, then refrigerated for more than 7 days. With something as dicey as an egg, I would probably invoke the five (5) day rule.

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5. 65

   fettyposted 13 years ago

   Each year around Easter time , we are warned to refrigerate our colored hard boiled eggs. The natural seal that exists inside the egg is altered by boiling them. So the shell allows bacteria in very quickly. No one around here follows this practice but it does make sense when you think about it.

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