Everyone loves a good egg salad sandwich, right?
So much that sometimes we make more than we could eat.
I was in this situation a couple of times before, and since eggs don’t last that long, there’s the question of how long does egg salad lasts?
How Long Does Egg Salad Last?
There are a couple of things you should know to get an idea of how you can use the rest of the salad and how to use it correctly in order to evade food poisoning or any other discomfort.
I have a few tips and tricks that can help you, and I’m happily going to share them with you! 🙂
General food safety tips
Leftovers from any lunch should be stored and kept with care. Every food has its expiration date and a limited period of use.
On the other hand, certain foods simply cannot last very long and shouldn’t be reused at all. Some may be used for a very long period and even repeated several times.
Mayonnaise is a tasty illustration.
Everyone is aware of the short shelf life and serious gastrointestinal risks associated with mayonnaise. Although many people believe that mayonnaise itself causes us to become unwell after being out for a while, this is not the case.
Actually, the germs that thrive in diets high in protein are the health threat. Furthermore, it thrives at temperatures between 10 and 140 degrees. The danger is increased if the food is combined with potatoes, spaghetti, tuna, or eggs.
Even though these foods have that particular danger, if they are kept cool, preferably below 40 degrees, they may all be utilized without risk.
Pro tip: To prevent bacterial growth in these types of foods, add some lemon juice or vinegar. They significantly slow down and even prevent the growth of bacteria.
Must-Read: Food Safety Tips & Tech (Infographic)
Things you should know about the ingredients
First things first, to avoid any planning on how to use the rest of the salad and how long does egg salad lasts, you should plan a bit ahead. If it happens to you once that you have a lot of leftovers, then in the future, use only one egg per person; that usually is enough.
Since it has eggs and mayonnaise, egg salad gets spoiled quite fast, especially when it’s left out in the open. These ingredients are highly sensitive to hot temperatures, and you should take extra care if you bring a couple of egg salad sandwiches on a picnic.
I don’t want to talk about substitutes for eggs or mayonnaise just to extend the lifespan of the salad. Instead, I would like you to consider reducing the number of eggs used to prevent leftovers in the first place and for you to know how to store it if you end up with leftovers anyway.
Also, make sure that your ingredients are as fresh as possible. Check the expiration dates on the packages, and that will be an easy way to make your egg salad last a bit longer.
Further Reading: What Do Ostrich Eggs Taste Like
How long can you keep it out of the fridge?
Depending on how careful you will be, it can last for one day at best.
The bacteria grows quite rapidly at room temperatures, and honestly, I wouldn’t recommend you to use it after it is being left out of the fridge for more than 2 hours.
Luckily, you tell quite easily and fast if the salad is bad. You should smell the odor, and it can change the appearance, or you even mold can appear. If you notice any of these signs, do not taste it, discard it immediately.
Don’t test your luck, and put it back in the fridge as soon as you finish making that sandwich.
How does it extend its shelf life?
The logical thing to do is to keep it in the fridge. But you can extend its shelf life even more. As soon as you finish making the salad, get an airtight plastic container, and pour the salad into it. Then as soon as you can, leave it in the fridge.
By doing so, you will be able to use your egg salad, for 3-5 days.
Just keep it in that airtight container. If you add a bit of lemon juice or vinegar to the recipe, you will extend its lifespan to a maximum of 5 days. I don’t recommend you to freeze it.
Freezing and unfreezing anything that contains raw eggs can help the bacteria grow because you have to expose the food to a heat source or a warmer environment in order to unfreeze it.
Going on a picnic?
- Egg salad sandwiches are mostly found on the picnic tables. And coincidentally, it’s the place where the bacteria can grow very rapidly. You should be extra careful with foods that contain eggs and mayonnaise when you pack them for a picnic.
- Pack your egg salad in airtight containers, and here’s a little trick on how to enjoy egg salad sandwiches though out the entire picnic – bring a portable freezer with you, but only if it has the low setting, so it keeps the food cold, but doesn’t freeze it.
- If you’re bringing already made sandwiches, then pack them in aluminum foil. I like to pack almost everything this way, so my boys can get their food in the right portions. Place the sandwiches in the picnic freezer, if you don’t like the cold, you can leave them out for a bit to warm up, and they will be safe for eating.
- If you don’t have the freezer, however, try one of my simple tricks – use a regular airtight container, wrap the sandwiches in a cloth (but they have to be wrapped in aluminum foil first), and put a small frozen bottle of water. It’s a simple hack that you can use to make a homemade portable fridge.
Related: Tips on How To Find The Perfect Egg Cooker
In conclusion
There’s a lot of controversy and popular stigma around meals with eggs and mayonnaise, egg salad especially. It can go bad quite fast, and the main question is how long does egg salad last.
A good fresh egg salad can last 3-5 days based on everything we know about eggs and mayonnaise and how do they behave when left out in the warm.
If you apply some of my tricks, you will be safe from food poisoning, and your salad will have an extended shelf life.
You can apply these rules to some other meals as well, and you will always enjoy a fresh meal without the need to throw anything away!
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