Can You Freeze Eggs?
In a word: yes. But it’s important to follow a few rules.
Renee Comet
By Heath Goldman for Food Network Kitchen
Why yes, it is possible to freeze eggs. So the next time they’re on sale at the supermarket, feel free to stock up and then follow the tips below.
Can I Freeze Whole Eggs In Their Shells?
When you think about freezing eggs, freezing whole eggs — shells and all — is probably what comes to mind. But we recommend that you do not do this. Here’s why. First, because eggs are liquid, they expand when they freeze and crack their shells, exposing the interiors to freezer burn and turning into a gloopy shell-studded mess when thawed. Second, whole eggs yolks don’t freeze well — they thicken into an unappealing gelatinous mass.
How to Freeze an Egg
Renee Comet
Step 1: Crack the shells. You should never freeze whole eggs, so crack the eggs you'd like to freeze out of their shells and into a bowl.
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Step 2: Whisk the eggs. Lightly whisk the yolks and whites together until just combined. Yes, you must mix together the yolk and the white. Consider these your future scrambled eggs and omelets.
Renee Comet
Step 3: Transfer the eggs to a freezer-safe container. Transfer the eggs to a resealable freezer bag. Next, label and date that bag and freeze it flat. You might want to write this formula on the outside of the bag: 3 tablespoons egg mixture = 1 large whole egg.
Alternatively, if you want to pre-portion your eggs, crack an egg into each well of a muffin tin. Then whisk up each egg with a fork, freeze the whole tray, pop out the discs when they're frozen and stash them in a labeled freezer bag.
Step 4: Thaw the egg mixture to use it. To thaw, transfer to the refrigerator overnight.
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Can You Freeze Egg Whites?
Great news: Egg whites freeze remarkably well. So if you’re baking with egg yolks, save those leftover whites in the freezer. Here’s how.
Step 1: Transfer the egg whites to a freezer-safe container. Simply transfer the whites to a resealable freezer bag, label/date it and freeze it flat. You might want to write this formula on the outside of the bag: 2 tablespoons egg whites = 1 large egg white. Alternatively, if you’d rather freeze egg whites in individual portions, freeze them in an ice cube tray. Once they’re solid, transfer them to a resealable freezer bag and label it.
Step 2: Thaw the egg whites to use them. Thaw them in the fridge overnight before using them.
How to Freeze Egg Yolks
You might be saying to yourself, “Wait what, they just said it wasn’t possible to freeze egg yolks!” But listen up, if you’re freezing egg yolks on their own (maybe you made an egg white scramble and have some yolks leftover), there’s a smart hack you can use.
Per every four yolks, whisk in a pinch (1/8 teaspoon) of salt. The salt prevents the yolks from gelatinizing. Then stash those yolks in an airtight freezer bag, the usual. Thaw in the fridge overnight when you want to use them. 1 tablespoon = 1 large egg yolk.
And if you don't feel like freezing egg yolks, check out our story 12 Things to Do with Leftover Egg Yolks.
Can You Freeze Cooked Eggs?
We don’t recommend freezing hard-boiled eggs because they lose their structure and weep water when they thaw. However, any iteration of scrambled eggs or frittatas will hold up quite well. Case in point: Ree Drummond’s Freezer Breakfast Panini, which are built with a thick layer of scrambled eggs before going into the freezer.
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