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how long can hard boiled eggs safely stay out of the refrigerator?


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Eggs stay good for a remarkably long time even when raw. Once they are boiled - same thing. As long as the shell is intact, I would say even a number of days would be safe.

 

We always left our dyed eggs *in* our Easter baskets, out of the fridge, growing up: all 5 of us are still alive and kickin' ;) so I think a few hours/a day would be just fine.

 

~coffee~

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We've had hardboiled eggs in our picnic lunches that have been out for at least 6 hours, so I think I'd be okay with that. Not if it's very hot, though.

 

On a side note: in Costa Rica where my daughter lives, they never refrigerate eggs. In fact, my son-in-law thought it was so strange that we DO! Eggs are not found in the refrigerated section in grocery stores, but just in a regular aisle. (These are raw eggs, though, not hard-boiled.) But, I think it might have to do with the fact that eggs go so quickly from the farm to the stores, there.

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According to food safety guidelines, they are only supposed to be out for 2 hours after cooking.

 

Raw eggs can be out longer because, as long as they haven't been washed, they have a protective barrier on them that keeps them fresh. Once they are boiled, they loose this coating and become susceptible to spoilage.

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According to food safety guidelines, they are only supposed to be out for 2 hours after cooking.

 

Raw eggs can be out longer because, as long as they haven't been washed, they have a protective barrier on them that keeps them fresh. Once they are boiled, they loose this coating and become susceptible to spoilage.

So is that why store-bought eggs are refrigerated, and say on the carton to refrigerate? Because they've been washed? (store-bought here in the U.S., anyway.)

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