Here's How Long Soft-Boiled Eggs Will Keep In The Refrigerator

Eggs are a versatile, healthy ingredient that hungry people have enjoyed since before the dawn of civilization. Although we're not cave-dwelling Neanderthals plucking eggs straight out of the nest for breakfast, people from around the world have been eating eggs for millions of years (per Incredible Egg). Whether you take your eggs sunny side up with bacon, scrambled into a stir fry, or baked into a batch of fudge, eggs are a utilitarian ingredient that simultaneously boast a wide range of health benefits.

According to Healthline, eggs are rich in many of the vitamins and minerals we need for our everyday survival. Contrary to popular belief, eggs also help boost HDL levels — our body's good cholesterol. Eggs are also linked to a lower risk of heart disease and can help aid in weight loss efforts. What's not to love?

However you employ the eggs stored in your kitchen, it's important to keep food safety in mind. As delicious as they are, you'd be surprised at how quickly soft-boiled eggs can go bad.

Soft-boiled eggs make for a hassle-free, hands-off cooking experience; not to mention you don't have to deal with stubborn egg whites sticking to the pan. To make the perfect soft-boiled egg, simply submerge an egg in a pot of cold water and bring it to a boil for four to six minutes. Once you've boiled the egg, transfer it to a bowl of ice water to halt the cooking process. From there, you can peel off the shell to unveil a decadent, runny, soft-boiled egg. But unlike most cooked meat, which Food Safety says lasts between three to four days in the refrigerator, leftover soft-boiled eggs last only two days (per MasterClass).

According to Better Homes and Gardens, because soft-boiled eggs have a runnier yolk, they're poised to spoil faster than hard-boiled eggs and meat like chicken or beef. Eating spoiled soft-boiled eggs can lead to extreme food poisoning like salmonella which causes a slew of unwanted symptoms that can last for days at a time (per CDC). In order to get the most out of your hard-boiled eggs, MasterClass says to store your unpeeled, soft-boiled eggs in the refrigerator where they're safe to consume for up to two days.