Can You Freeze Eggs?

When egg prices soar, it’s more important than ever to get the most bang for your buck and avoid food waste at the same time. Freezing eggs offers an easy, safe, and practical way to stretch your food budget. It's a great kitchen hack if you’ve got a bunch of eggs to use up or want to prep ahead—but it's more complicated than just tossing a carton in the freezer. Read on for the best ways to freeze eggs including how to freeze egg whites, how to freeze whole eggs, and our Test Kitchen's best defrosting tips.

Can You Freeze Eggs?

You can absolutely freeze eggs including egg whites, yolks, and whole eggs. It's important to ensure the eggs are fresh before you freeze them (check out our guide to determining if your eggs have gone bad). You can also freeze refrigerated liquid eggs, just refer to the expiration date on the package.

You may be wondering if you can freeze hardboiled eggs? The answer is partially. According to The American Egg Board, you can freeze hardboiled egg yolks for use later. Whole hard boiled eggs and the egg whites will change texture and become watery after freezing so it's not recommended.

How To Freeze Eggs

Freezing eggs is easier than you might think, but there's a catch: do not freeze eggs in the shell. Each egg needs to be removed from its shell. As the eggs freeze, they will expand and contract which could crack the shell if frozen whole. Once cracked, you can either separate them and freeze or keep them whole. Portion them into freezer-safe containers (we find a muffin tin or ice cube tray works great for this), seal them tightly, and label with the contents and date.

Again, only freeze fresh eggs. Expired eggs should go straight in the trash or compost bin. To check the freshness, try the egg float test. Fill a bowl with water, and submerge the eggs. If the eggs sink, they’re still fresh. If they float, discard them.

Can You Freeze Egg Whites?

Yes, you can freeze egg whites. Break and separate the eggs, one at a time, making sure that no yolk gets in the whites. Pour the whites into a freezer-safe container. Seal the container tightly and label with the number of egg whites and the date the egg whites were frozen.

Can You Freeze Egg Yolks?

Yes, but the gelatinous nature of egg yolks can cause them to thicken when frozen, so freezing egg yolks will require a little bit of prep. Beat in 1/8 teaspoon salt or 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar or corn syrup per 1/4 cup of egg yolks (this will be about 4 yolks). Label the container with the number of yolks and the date and stick them in the freezer.

Can You Freeze Raw Eggs?

Good news: you can! For best results, beat yolks and whites just until blended. Pour into freezer containers, seal tightly, label with the number of eggs and the date, and freeze. For faster thawing and easier measuring when it’s time to cook, try this trick before you freeze eggs. Place egg whites, yolks, or a mixture of yolks and egg whites into a standard ice cube tray or muffin tin. Once the contents have frozen after a couple hours, pop the eggs out of the container and transfer them to a resealable plastic bag or other freezer-safe container for long-term storage.

How Long Can You Freeze Eggs?

Eggs can be frozen for up to a year, although it’s a good idea to use them within three to six months for optimal freshness.

How to Defrost Frozen Eggs

When you’re ready to use the eggs you’ve frozen, it pays to plan ahead. Never cook eggs directly from their frozen state. Transfer the eggs from the freezer to the refrigerator in their container, and let them thaw. This can take up 24 hours, depending on the amount of frozen eggs. Use egg yolks or whole eggs as soon as they’re thawed. If you plan beat egg whites that have been frozen, you can achieve maximum volume by letting the thawed egg whites sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes after removing them from the freezer.

Freezing eggs is one of our Test Kitchen's go-to methods for prepping ahead. After you thaw the eggs, they'll be ready for you to fry them, bake with them, or add them to casseroles or other recipes.