When Does Left Out Hard Boiled eggs go bad?

[moms3cuties]

I accidentally LEFT my hard-boiled eggs from yesterday morning out ALL Night to this morning in the pan of cool water. :/ How long after cooked at room temperature can my hard-boiled eggs stay good for? Does anybody know? Thanks!

 

[donrae]

I've eaten boiled eggs that sat in the water almost 24 hours and we were all just fine.

 

[moms3cuties]

Thank you!,,, anyone else eaten boiled eggs out longer than 24 hours???

 

[vehve]

Thank you!,,, anyone else eaten boiled eggs out longer than 24 hours???

I'd say the boiling process (especially when hard boiling) would of have taken out most of the bacteria population, so I wouldn't worry about it that much. The shell should protect it, and if you left it in cold water, that would work as a makeshift fridge for at least part of the time too.

I've eaten meat products that have been left on the counter over night, and I'm still alive. And that is a much better base for growing bacteria, than a submerged egg that has just been boiled.

 

[petrel]

I did a little internet searching and was surprised at what I found. Several sources including some gov't food safety sites recommend not consuming hard boiled eggs after they have been unrefrigerated for just a few hours. They also agree that they will only last a week if refrigerated.

Like everyone else, I know I've eaten day old boiled eggs before. I guess it just isn't a good thing to do regularly.

 

[vehve]

I did a little internet searching and was surprised at what I found. Several sources including some gov't food safety sites recommend not consuming hard boiled eggs after they have been unrefrigerated for just a few hours. They also agree that they will only last a week if refrigerated.

Like everyone else, I know I've eaten day old boiled eggs before. I guess it just isn't a good thing to do regularly.

Quite the contrary, being subjected to bacteria regularly is better than to not have had any contact with it before and then eating something that's a bit spoiled. Regular contamination in small amounts builds up immunity. That's the reason why people often get sick when eating slightly iffy things abroad, they're not used to the local bacteria. Government recommendations are often a bit on the safe side, which isn't a bad thing, but you could probably eat the eggs without any problems. That being said, kitchen hygiene is a very important thing, especially if you handle animal feces. Chicken poop is a good source of contamination.

 

[donrae]

Just sayin', "the government" is also the one that says all eggs must be washed and refrigerated to be safe to eat.

I'm with vehve, we do a steady immune challenge here. I've eaten meat that's been out overnight, pizza that's been out of the fridge for days, other things that would pretty much horrify germophobes.

We're firm believers in the hygiene hypothesis and the Old Friends theory around here. Linked to that is my personal theory that your immune system is like a Border Collie

. Border Collies are smart, energetic, well-intentioned dogs who need a job to do. If you don't give them something to do, they make your life a living hell, cause they'll find something to do, just not what you want done. Same for the immune system.....if you don't give it something to fend off, it will find something to fight, and if your body is the only thing it's exposed to, it will turn on you.

Makes sense to me, anyway.....

 

[jeepguy982001]

Just sayin', "the government" is also the one that says all eggs must be washed and refrigerated to be safe to eat.

I'm with vehve, we do a steady immune challenge here. I've eaten meat that's been out overnight, pizza that's been out of the fridge for days, other things that would pretty much horrify germophobes.

We're firm believers in the hygiene hypothesis and the Old Friends theory around here. Linked to that is my personal theory that your immune system is like a Border Collie

. Border Collies are smart, energetic, well-intentioned dogs who need a job to do. If you don't give them something to do, they make your life a living hell, cause they'll find something to do, just not what you want done. Same for the immune system.....if you don't give it something to fend off, it will find something to fight, and if your body is the only thing it's exposed to, it will turn on you.

Makes sense to me, anyway.....

I agree 100%. I've ate plenty of things the next day that i forgot to put up after dinner the night before. I've never had any problems but then again everybody is different. They only thing i won't eat if it sits out is anything with mayonnaise in it. Of course i wouldn't eat that after its been out for more then 2 hrs. lol

 

[vehve]

I agree 100%. I've ate plenty of things the next day that i forgot to put up after dinner the night before. I've never had any problems but then again everybody is different. They only thing i won't eat if it sits out is anything with mayonnaise in it. Of course i wouldn't eat that after its been out for more then 2 hrs. lol

Seafood is another one I tend to be careful with.

 

[petrel]

I agree. I'm not afraid of food being left out either. I even like to age waterfowl a week, venison and hogs two weeks, and never prepare beef until it has aged past it's sell by date. Many bacteria actually enhance food quality. Furthermore, I agree that reasonable, responsible exposure to bacteria is healthier than trying to keep things sterile. However, I was trying to answer the OP's question. Since I had only limited direct experience and haven't done the science, I figured I'd do some quick internet research to satisfy my own curiosity. I posted what I found along with my own experience: a day old egg never hurt me. It wasn't an attempt to rally the pro-germ lobby.

However, since you are all touting your near vulture like abilities to consume carrion, perhaps you could put your immune system where your keyboard is: boil up a few dozen eggs, leave them out and start eating them at 24 hour intervals. Get back to us with a day count when your border collie cramps up, spikes a fever, and craps in the living room. Then the OP will have your answer.

"How long after cooked at room temperature can my hard-boiled eggs stay good for?"