How Long Do Eggs and Egg Products Stay Safe and Usable?

Safely Storing Eggs and Keeping Them Fresh

The USDA has done research on the best temperatures to safely store eggs at home and how long the eggs will remain safe and usable.

 The "Sell-By" date is not the same as a "use by" date. It's ok if the sell-by date expires while you have the eggs in the fridge. The eggs will be perfectly safe to use. Always purchase eggs before the "Sell-By" or EXP (expiration) date on the carton. To keep them safe, take eggs straight home and store them immediately in the refrigerator set at 35 to 40 °F. Leave the eggs in their carton and place them in the back of the refrigerator, not in the door.

Egg Storage Chart
Product	Refrigerator	Freezer
Raw eggs in shell	3 to 5 weeks	Do not freeze.
Raw egg whites	2 to 4 days	12 months
Raw egg yolks	2 to 4 days	Yolks do not freeze well.
Raw egg accidentally frozen in shell	Use immediately after thawing.	Keep frozen; then refrigerate to thaw.
Hard-cooked eggs	1 week	Do not freeze.
Egg substitutes, liquid Unopened	10 days	Do not freeze.
Egg substitutes, liquid Opened	3 days	Do not freeze.
Egg substitutes, frozen Unopened	After thawing, 7 days, or refer to "Use-By" date on carton.	12 months
Egg substitutes, frozen Opened	After thawing, 3 days, or refer to "Use-By" date on carton.	Do not freeze.
Casseroles made with eggs	3 to 4 days	After baking, 2 to 3 months.
Eggnog, commercial	3 to 5 days	6 months
Eggnog, homemade	2 to 4 days	Do not freeze.
Pies, pumpkin or pecan	3 to 4 days	After baking, 1 to 2 months.
Pies, custard and chiffon	3 to 4 days	Do not freeze.
Quiche with any kind of filling	3 to 4 days	After baking, 1 to 2 months.