How to Keep Hard-Boiled Eggs from Smelling

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Prepare and pack your eggs so they don’t cause a stink!
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Packed full of protein and nutrients, hard-boiled eggs are a perfect addition to any lunchbox meal! But, they absolutely stink. Is there a way to prevent your lunchbox or fridge from smelling like eggs? Luckily, there is! We compiled all the best tricks below to help stop that sulfurous smell from stinking up your day. Plus, we even know why hard-boiled eggs smell, so keep reading to learn more!

How do you prevent hard-boiled eggs from smelling?

Prevent hard-boiled eggs from smelling by boiling them in a vinegar-water bath, not overcooking them, and storing them with the shells intact. You can also help keep your lunchbox and fridge smell-free by storing the eggs in separate containers and wrapping them in cling wrap.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Prevent Hard-Boiled Eggs from Smelling

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  1. 1
    Boil eggs in water with a splash of vinegar. One of the best ways to prevent hard-boiled eggs from smelling is to add a small amount of vinegar to the boiling water when making them . When you add cold water over your eggs, pour a little bit of vinegar into the pot as well. The vinegar helps neutralize any smells without changing the consistency or texture of your eggs.
  2. This hack can help contain some of the eggy smell that hard-boiled eggs are notorious for. Even with a perfectly cooked egg, there can still be a slight odor. [2]
    • If you do peel your eggs ahead of time, keep them in a bowl of cold water in the fridge to help prevent smells. Just remember to change out the water daily.
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  3. 3
    Seal in odors by wrapping the hard-boiled eggs in cling wrap. Wrap your hard-boiled eggs in cling wrap to keep their odors contained. Think of the cling wrap as a forcefield around your eggs—no odor can get in or out. Once wrapped, they can be stored in your lunchbox or fridge with minimal odors.
    • This can be done before or after peeling, but the egg should be consumed the day of if peeled. [3]
    • Avoid wrapping the eggs too tightly, as this could promote yeast growth. [4]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Stop Eggs from Smelling in Your Lunch Box
    An accidental crack could make your lunchbox or refrigerator smell like eggs. Wrap the egg in a clean cloth to help prevent any accidental cracks and odor leakage. [5]
    • If you’re on the go, you may not have access to a waste bin when you finish eating. At the end of your meal, wrap the discarded eggshell in the napkin so it doesn’t get all over your lunchbox.
  5. 5
    Store hard-boiled eggs in a separate container outside of your lunchbox. If you’re packing hard-boiled eggs for lunch, consider placing them in a separate container or bag from the rest of your lunch. This way, your lunchbox and other foods won’t soak up the smell.
    • Double-decker lunchboxes can be a great solution to keeping your eggs cold on the go without stinking up the rest of your food.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Stop Eggs from Smelling in Your Lunch Box
    If you’re storing your eggs in a lunchbox to bring somewhere later, store the lunchbox in a fridge until you’re ready to eat. This may not always be possible, but the best way to keep your eggs safe and to prevent that weird eggy smell is to keep them cold. After you pack your lunchbox, stick it back into the fridge until you have to leave home. When you get to work or school, find out if there is a fridge you can use to store your lunchbox.
    • If there are other parts of your lunch that you don’t want to get too cold, put the eggs in a resealable plastic container or baggie. This way, you can move them in and out of the fridge separate from the rest of your lunchbox.
  7. This is especially important if your lunchbox will be at room temperature for more than 2 hours before you can eat. The ice pack will keep the egg (and the rest of your food) safe, and it should help prevent it from smelling too strongly. [6]
    • Hard-boiled eggs shouldn’t be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours. [7]
  8. 8
    Store hard-boiled eggs in a loosely covered container in the fridge to prevent bacteria. While this isn’t the best way to prevent odors from leaking into your refrigerator, it’ll help keep your eggs as fresh as possible. Hard-boiled eggs can last up to 7 days in the fridge if stored properly. Experts recommend storing hard-boiled eggs in a loosely covered container, rather than something airtight, to prevent bacterial growth. [8]
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Section 2 of 3:

Why do hard-boiled eggs smell?

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  1. Hard-boiled eggs smell when they’re overcooked. The sulfurous, “rotten egg” smell hard-boiled eggs often get is because of a chemical reaction that occurs when they’re boiled for too long. If a hard-boiled egg is overcooked, the sulfur in the egg whites will react with the iron in the yolks, creating a foul, gaseous smell. [9]
    • If your hard-boiled eggs are overcooked, a greenish-gray ring will be present around the yolk when the egg is cut in half. [10]
    • The best way to prevent hard-boiled eggs from smelling is to avoid overcooking them. Experiment with the boiling time of your eggs and consider using a lower cooking temperature.
Section 3 of 3:

How to Boil Eggs So They Don’t Smell

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  1. Super fresh eggs are full of moisture, and that makes them harder to peel. As the eggs get older, they lose moisture through their shells, creating a bigger pocket of air at the top. This pocket of air can make the peeling process a bit easier. [11]
    • How easy the eggs are to peel doesn’t have much to do with whether or not they’ll smell, but it does make life easier when you’re ready to eat!
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Stop Eggs from Smelling in Your Lunch Box
    Avoid stacking the eggs on top of each other. Keeping the eggs in a single layer helps them cook more evenly. If they’re too crowded, you might get some eggs that are overcooked and others that are undercooked. If you have too many eggs to cook at once, work in batches or switch to a bigger pot. [12]
    • Ideally, you want enough space for water to surround each egg on every side.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Stop Eggs from Smelling in Your Lunch Box
    Don’t use warm, hot, or boiling water. To get the best results, start with cold water that you’ll then bring to a boil. You don’t need to fill the pot with water, either. Just enough to cover the eggs from top to bottom is perfect. [13]
    • Some experts say that you should boil the water first before putting in the eggs, while others claim that the cold-water method is the best. If you’re curious, try it both ways and see which way you prefer!
    • Using the right amount of water is an important part of cooking the eggs. If there’s too much water, it’ll take longer to come to a boil, meaning that the eggs will cook for a lot longer than they need to. Overcooked eggs are more likely to give off a sulfurous scent.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Stop Eggs from Smelling in Your Lunch Box
    Use high heat and keep a close eye on the pot during this stage. While you want the water to boil, you don’t want the eggs to stand in the boiling water for too long. The sulfurous smell often comes from eggs that get overcooked during this step. [14]
    • Eggs that are cooked for too long or at too high a temperature develop a green ring around the yolk. [15] This ring causes that eggy smell. [16]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Stop Eggs from Smelling in Your Lunch Box
    Set a timer for 10 minutes—it’s really important that you don’t overcook the eggs if you want to keep them from smelling. The 10-minute cook time is assuming that you’re working with large eggs and want a firm yet creamy yolk. [17] If your eggs are a different size, adjust the cook-time accordingly:
    • Cook extra-large eggs for 15 minutes.
    • Cook medium-sized eggs for 9 minutes.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Stop Eggs from Smelling in Your Lunch Box
    Stop the eggs from cooking further by immediately submerging them in a bowl of cold water and ice cubes for 1-2 minutes. [18] Stopping the eggs from continuing to cook is important for preventing a future smell. Because they’re so hot, the eggs would continue to cook even after being removed from the pot. Cold water stops the cooking process entirely.

    Warning: Be careful when removing the eggs from the pot. Use a slotted spoon or ladle so that you don’t accidentally burn yourself.

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  • Question
    How long can I keep hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator?
    WikiCloudJumper763
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    You can keep hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator for up to a week. Beyond that, they may spoil, as eggs are perishable, especially after cooking.
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      Tips

      • Aim to eat hard-boiled eggs within 7 days of preparing them. [19]
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      • Make peeling hard-boiled eggs easier by cracking the surface and then holding it under running water while you peel.
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      Warnings

      • For the best consistency, avoid freezing hard-boiled eggs. They tend to get a weird consistency and release a lot of water when they’re thawed. [20]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.food.com/recipe/kittencals-technique-for-perfect-easy-peel-hard-boiled-eggs-259573
      2. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/eggs2.htm
      3. ↑ https://www.incredibleegg.org/egg-handling-storage-tips/#egg-handling
      4. ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/how-long-can-hard-boiled-eggs-sit-out-11703105#toc-how-to-store-hard-boiled-eggs
      5. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/the-best-way-to-bring-a-hard-boiled-egg-for-lunch-260412
      6. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/lunch-box-food-safety-tips-260081
      7. ↑ https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/How-long-can-you-keep-hard-cooked-eggs
      8. ↑ https://www.incredibleegg.org/egg-handling-storage-tips/#egg-handling
      9. ↑ https://fshn.illinois.edu/news/solved-heres-why-your-hard-boiled-eggs-have-green-yolks
      1. ↑ https://food.unl.edu/how-avoid-green-ring-hard-boiled-egg-yolks/
      2. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-boil-eggs-perfectly-every-time-video-202415
      3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/5-mistakes-to-avoid-when-making-hard-boiled-eggs-cooking-mistakes-to-avoid-216999
      4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/5-mistakes-to-avoid-when-making-hard-boiled-eggs-cooking-mistakes-to-avoid-216999
      5. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-boil-eggs-perfectly-every-time-video-202415
      6. ↑ https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/scibytes/why_do_eggs_hardboil/
      7. ↑ https://www.jessicagavin.com/overcooked-hard-boiled-eggs/
      8. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-boil-eggs-perfectly-every-time-video-202415
      9. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/5-mistakes-to-avoid-when-making-hard-boiled-eggs-cooking-mistakes-to-avoid-216999
      10. ↑ https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/How-long-can-you-keep-hard-cooked-eggs
      11. ↑ https://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes/cooking-school/can-i-freeze-eggs/

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