How Long Does Egg Salad Last In The Fridge?

Know when to keep that extra egg salad, and when to toss it.

We firmly believe that a little too much egg salad is a good problem to have—unless you're not sure whether it is still safe to eat. And, when it comes to delicious egg salad, you really don't want to rely on the "sniff test" to be the deciding factor.

According to FoodSafety.gov, if it has been properly stored, it is safe to eat the salad within four days. This rule also applies to similar mayonnaise-based salads like chicken, tuna, ham, and macaroni salads. The keywords are "properly stored." What does that mean? It's important to store any leftover egg salad in a sealed container in the refrigerator (and kept at 40°F or cooler). And also, once you've made the egg salad, remember the two-hour rule: throw out any leftovers that have sat out for more than two hours (when temperatures are 90°F or hotter, that window drops to one hour). If you plan to entertain for longer than that, put the salad bowl over ice.

Freshly prepared egg salad sandwich
Azurita / Getty Images

If you ended up with too much egg salad because you hard-cooked too many eggs, keep this handy tip in mind next time you're prepping: when making egg salad, make one and a half to two hard-boiled eggs per person. There's a little wiggle room in the number of eggs because it depends on how many other ingredients are in the egg salad. Our delicious and summery Picnic Egg Salad includes radishes, scallions, and fresh dill; some people even like to add potatoes! The number of eggs also depends on how you like to eat egg salad. You will need slightly different amounts depending on whether you serve it atop a bed of salad greens, slather it over two slices of bread to make an overstuffed egg salad sandwich, or spread it thinly over toast points.

However you enjoy this simple, satisfying dish, now you can prepare exactly as much as you need, or make a little extra to enjoy a few days later—safely.

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Sources
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  1. FoodSafety.gov. Cold food storage chart.

  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Game day food safety tips.

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