If you're not planning to eat your eggs after boiling them, pop them in the fridge stat.

Image Credit: Worytko, Pawel/Foodcollection/GettyImages Eating rotten or spoiled food — whether it’s eggs, milk or meat — can result in fever, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea (​really​ not fun).

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 Hard-boiled eggs can be a quick and nutritious snack, but they must be refrigerated and handled properly in order to prevent contamination.

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  Consider the following information and safety tips next time you're wondering how long hard-boiled eggs can sit out. And if you're questioning whether your eggy snack has already gone bad, play it safe and toss it in the trash.

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 How Long Can Hard-Boiled Eggs Sit Out? Unrefrigerated hard-boiled eggs can sit out for no more than two hours (or one hour if the temp is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above), per the USDA.

Peeled or unpeeled hard-boiled eggs can last a week in the fridge. Why You Must Refrigerate Hard-Boiled Eggs Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse, but when left out too long, they carry certain health risks. Hard-boiled eggs need to be refrigerated, so it’s best practice to pop them into the refrigerator after they’re boiled. If hard-boiled eggs are left at room temperature for long periods of time, bacteria will grow at a rapid pace. Salmonella is one of the most common risks associated with rotten eggs, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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 Salmonella symptoms last between four and seven days, and it can spread through any contaminated food that hasn't been handled properly. In severe cases, salmonella can lead to dehydration and require a trip to the doctor.

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 Contrary to popular belief, hard-boiled eggs are not safer to leave out than raw eggs. Boiled eggs are actually more susceptible to bacterial contamination, as the cooking process damages the protective layer on the eggshell, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Both raw and cooked eggs (and egg products) must be refrigerated.

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 Tip In order to keep fresh eggs safe, store them at a temperature of 40 degrees or colder at all times. The same rule applies to hard-boiled eggs, both in and out of the shell.

Bad eggs do not always have a foul odor, so play it safe by practicing proper food safety. Before boiling, throw out any eggs that have cracks or imperfections in the shell, recommends the FDA. Cook eggs until the yolk and white are firm. If you serve a dish that contains hard-boiled eggs, such as deviled eggs, place your serving platter on ice to keep the eggs cold during service. Set a timer to remind yourself to refrigerate the leftovers within two hours. If your eggs sit out longer than they should, play it safe and throw them out.

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 Remember: You should discard any perishable foods that have been left at room temperature for longer than two hours (or one hour if the temperature is 90 degrees F or more), per the USDA.

Related Reading How Bad Is It Really to Eat Food That’s Been Out for Hours?

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  references
  
      FDA: "What You Need to Know About Egg Safety"
    
      Food Safety and Inspection Service: "Shell Eggs from Farm to Table"
    
      Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "Egg Essentials"
    
      USDA: "Why should eggs be refrigerated?"
       




  references
  
      FDA: "What You Need to Know About Egg Safety"
    
      Food Safety and Inspection Service: "Shell Eggs from Farm to Table"
    
      Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "Egg Essentials"
    
      USDA: "Why should eggs be refrigerated?"
    




If you're not planning to eat your eggs after boiling them, pop them in the fridge stat.

Image Credit: Worytko, Pawel/Foodcollection/GettyImages

Image Credit: Worytko, Pawel/Foodcollection/GettyImages

Unrefrigerated hard-boiled eggs can sit out for no more than two hours (or one hour if the temp is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above), per the USDA. Peeled or unpeeled hard-boiled eggs can last a week in the fridge.

Peeled or unpeeled hard-boiled eggs can last a week in the fridge.

In order to keep fresh eggs safe, store them at a temperature of 40 degrees or colder at all times. The same rule applies to hard-boiled eggs, both in and out of the shell.

How Bad Is It Really to Eat Food That’s Been Out for Hours?

      FDA: "What You Need to Know About Egg Safety"
    
      Food Safety and Inspection Service: "Shell Eggs from Farm to Table"
    
      Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "Egg Essentials"
    
      USDA: "Why should eggs be refrigerated?"