How many days egg salad keeps in the fridge, and why not to freeze it
Quick answer
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Fridge
Keeps for 3-4 days
Keep egg salad in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below, and eat it within 3 to 4 days.
Watch out Throw out egg salad left out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
Egg salad is good for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, according to USDA FoodKeeper. The USDA's refrigeration chart gives store-prepared or homemade egg salad 3 to 5 days. Keep it at 40°F (4°C) or below, and don't leave it out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C). FoodKeeper doesn't recommend freezing egg salad.
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Egg salad is good for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, according to USDA FoodKeeper. The USDA’s refrigeration chart gives it a little longer, 3 to 5 days for store-prepared or homemade egg salad.
Either way, egg salad lives in the fridge. FoodKeeper doesn’t recommend freezing it, and it shouldn’t sit out for more than 2 hours.
How long is egg salad good for?
Egg salad is good for 3 to 4 days in the fridge by USDA FoodKeeper, or 3 to 5 days by the USDA’s refrigeration chart. Out of the fridge, it’s good for 2 hours at most, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
| Where | How long | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 3 to 4 days | USDA FoodKeeper |
| Refrigerator, store-prepared or homemade | 3 to 5 days | USDA refrigeration chart |
| Room temperature | 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C) | USDA |
| Freezer | Not recommended | USDA FoodKeeper |
How long does egg salad last in the refrigerator?
Egg salad lasts 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, the time USDA FoodKeeper gives it. The USDA’s refrigeration chart gives 3 to 5 days to store-prepared or homemade egg, chicken, tuna, ham, and macaroni salads.
The two times overlap, so eating egg salad within 3 to 4 days fits both. By day 5, it’s at the end of the chart’s range and past the FoodKeeper time.
How long is homemade egg salad good for?
Homemade egg salad is good for 3 to 5 days in the fridge on the USDA’s refrigeration chart, the same as store-prepared egg salad. FoodKeeper lists a single time for egg salad, 3 to 4 days, with no separate line for homemade.
What temperature should egg salad be kept at?
Keep egg salad at 40°F (4°C) or below, the USDA’s limit for cold perishable food. Bacteria grow most rapidly between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C), a range the USDA calls the Danger Zone. In that range, they can double in number in as little as 20 minutes.
How to handle egg salad safely
Handle egg salad safely by keeping it out of the fridge for no more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C). After that, throw it out.
The time starts when the egg salad leaves the refrigerator, so count serving time too. At a summer picnic above 90°F (32°C), the limit drops to 1 hour.
Can you freeze egg salad?
No, USDA FoodKeeper doesn’t recommend freezing egg salad, so keep it in the fridge and eat it within 3 to 4 days. Make an amount you’ll finish in that time.
If your egg salad is made with mayonnaise, there’s another reason. The USDA lists mayonnaise among foods that don’t freeze well. As it thaws, large ice crystals from slow freezing make it separate and look curdled.
Frequently asked questions
Is egg salad still good after a week?
A week is past both USDA times for egg salad in the fridge. FoodKeeper gives 3 to 4 days, and the USDA's refrigeration chart gives 3 to 5 days.
Can egg salad sit out overnight?
Egg salad left out overnight should be thrown out. The USDA says to discard cold perishable food left out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
Does store-bought egg salad last longer than homemade?
No, the USDA's refrigeration chart gives store-prepared and homemade egg salad the same 3 to 5 days in the fridge.
Do egg salad and tuna salad last the same time in the fridge?
Yes, the USDA's refrigeration chart gives store-prepared or homemade egg and tuna salads the same 3 to 5 days. Chicken, ham, and macaroni salads get that time too.
How long can egg salad stay out when it's hot?
Above 90°F (32°C), egg salad can stay out of the fridge for 1 hour at most, instead of the usual 2 hours. Throw it out after that.
