Can You Freeze Deviled Eggs?

Deviled eggs are quintessential appetizers that requires no introduction at all. It’s one of the most versatile finger foods! But can you freeze deviled eggs? Storing and reheating cooked eggs are tricky because they are prone to texture and flavor changes.  This goes especially for the egg whites, which could turn gummy and slimy when reheated.

Improper handling during storage and defrosting could also cause the egg mixture to break down and turn on a watery texture. The fact is, cooking the eggs destroys their natural coating that inhibits bacterial growth. This is the reason why deviled eggs and even hardboiled eggs do not keep well in the fridge.

Devlied eggs and greens
Image used under Creative Commons from jeffreyw

Most types of egg dishes – including deviled eggs – will keep in the fridge for three to four days. Freezing the egg mixture extends its shelf life to three weeks. Do note that the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests consuming stored egg dishes in a week or less for best results.

Freezing deviled eggs is not common but it can be done. However, we don’t recommend freezing the egg whites because there’s just no way you’ll be able to save these without the flavor and texture changing once they are defrosted and reheated. If you’re wondering how can you freeze deviled eggs, check out our step by step guide below:

How to Freeze Deviled Eggs?

Because deviled eggs do not keep fresh in the freezer well, you have to prep these appetizers properly to avoid spoilage. If you made the egg filling from scratch, leave the mixture to cool completely prior to freezing. Get a freezer-safe, resealable bag and start spooning the egg mixture inside, leaving about an inch of space to let the filling expand as it freezes.  Squeeze as much air out as possible before sealing the freezer bag to prevent bacterial growth.

For long-term storage, we recommend wrapping the freezer bag with aluminum foil for added protection. If you do not have aluminum foil, you can use an extra freezer bag or a heavy-duty bag. Just chuck the egg mixture-filled bag inside, squeeze the air out and then seal. Get a marker and label the bag with the storage date.

If you’re freezing leftover deviled eggs, just get a spoon and a resealable freezer bag. Spoon out the egg mixture from each deviled egg and place it inside the bag. Once the egg mixture has been collected, give the filling a good stir to incorporate all the ingredients together. Then, seal the freezer bag. Refer to the steps above to prep the egg mixture for freezing.

Deviled eggs and sauce
Image used under Creative Commons from Meal Makeover Moms

How to Defrost and Reheat Deviled Eggs?

As for defrosting and reheating the egg mixture, it’s quite easy. Just transfer the frozen bag of egg mixture from the freezer to the fridge. Leave the mixture to defrost completely overnight. One thing to remember, do not try to cut the defrosting time by leaving the egg mixture to thaw at room temperature. This could cause the egg mixture to go bad or take on a runny texture.

Once the egg mixture has been thawed completely, you can reheat the filling using a microwave. If you’re reheating the mixture in the microwave, it’s best to get a large plate, spoon the filling on and place a cup of water on the side. This way, the egg mixture won’t dry out during reheating.

You can also drop the sealed plastic bag in boiling water then soak for about 10 t0 15 minutes. You can simply cut the corner of the resealable freezer bag and use it to “pipe” the mixture into cooked egg whites after. Never bring defrosted egg mixture back in the freezer because the process will cause unpalatable changes in flavor.

Summary

As you can see, it is easy to freeze, store, and defrost deviled eggs as long as you took the right steps. While deviled eggs do not keep well in the freezer unless you’ve gone through the preps, it’s nice to know that you can make a large batch and not worry about the leftovers! We hope that this guide on how can you freeze deviled eggs helped you store your favorite appetizer for future uses.