A question about hard boiled eggs

@foxyfire33 (10005)
United States
April 9, 2007 5:37am CST
I feel silly asking this but I'm just not sure what is right. Of course the little ones colored Easter eggs. I noticed that one carton was sitting out so I picked it up to put it back in the refrigerator. My mom always made us keep our boiled eggs in the refrigerator because she said they'd go bad if we left them out and would make us sick if we ate them. As I was putting them in my s/o asked what I was doing and honestly looked at me like I had two heads when I told him I was putting the eggs in the refrigerator so they wouldn't go bad. He said they always left theirs out, that once they are boiled it's safe. So which is it? Do you keep them refrigerated or leave them at room temperature?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@bk3tz06 (71)
9 Apr 07
I just leave our eggs in top of the refrigerator coz' some people said you must put it somewhere having a normal temperature..I cant find any place but just on the top of the refrigerature...and its still good..
• United States
9 Apr 07
the top of the fridge actually gets pretty warm. Thats where I put my bread dough to rise. It's usually around 78 F up there when my house is cooled to 72 F.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
9 Apr 07
Mine gets pretty warm up there too. I guess it could depend on how much air is circulating up there. It might be cooler if the refrigerator is out in the open.
@prestocaro (1251)
• United States
9 Apr 07
The rule is any food that is perishable should be refrigerated after 2 hours. Otherwise, while the food sits at room temperature, bacteria has a great environment to grow in. Here's more egg saftey: http://www.eggsafety.org/f_a_q.htm Even though no one has gotten sick YET at your s/o's house, they may get sick in the future because of the unsafe practice. We always refrigerated ours. Who wants to eat a room temperature hardboiled egg? I'd rather have it either cold or hot. A great thing to do with lots of leftover eggs is make son-in-law eggs: http://importfood.com/recipes/soninlaweggs.html It's a delicious thai dish, where the eggs are fried to have a crispy skin. If you've never had it, you must try it! It's a nice change of pace, instead of egg salad.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
9 Apr 07
Thanks for the link. I often wonder if people do get sick doing things like this but blame on the typical "holiday over eating" or something like that. I've never heard of son-in-law eggs. I'll have to give it a try Thanks!
@qouniq (1966)
• Malaysia
9 Apr 07
Living in a warm country I experienced that whenever I put the boiled egg out side for a few days I will get them bad. It is more better to put the boiled egg in the refrigerator as it can slow down the time of the egg getting in bad condition. The room temperature will makes the egg more faster to get bad and can't be eaten.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
9 Apr 07
See that's what I thought too. They should go in the refrigerator to keep them fresh, especially if it is very warm.
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
9 Apr 07
Growing up we always left them out. We would eat them with in a couple of days and they never made anyone sick. Now that I am the mom, I put them in the frig. The only reason is because I think that they taste better cold and I will make egg salad with them too. I don't think it really matters, just don't wait too long after to eat them.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
9 Apr 07
I like them warm with a little bit of salt...but freshly cooked warm, not sitting out warm. Maybe it's just from being raised that way but I just don't think I'd want to eat it if it had been left out for more than a few hours. I've been so hungry for egg salad sandwiches lately too!
9 Apr 07
I don't make extra boiled eggs anytime so I don't have to put them in the fridge.When I do so very rarely,I put them in the fridge.Any cooked and cooled food must be kept in the refidgerator.I think if you plan to consume it within the next 6 hours,keep it out.Otherwise,put it in the fridge.Better be careful rather than get stomach upset having eaten food left outside.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
9 Apr 07
I hardly ever have extras either. I just make enough for that meal or snack so that's why this issue never came up before. Of course there is a certain amount of time afterward that they can be left out I just agree with you that it's more like a few hours rather than a few days. Thanks!
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
9 Apr 07
i refrigerate them...i've never heard that boiling them makes them safe to leave out..i'd rather be safe than sorry...today our pretty little eggs are becoming yummy little sandwiches...
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
9 Apr 07
I'd never heard it either that's why I was confused. I'd rather know they were safe than take a chance too.