Is It Safe To Eat Leftover Easter Eggs?

Once the Easter eggs have been beautifully dyed and displayed on countertops, in baskets, or hidden in front yards, you might wonder if it's safe to eat them. After all, why throw out what could be repurposed? Before you dig in, though, take inventory of how long your eggs have been unrefrigerated. According to the Food and Drug Administration's Veronika Pfaeffle, it's only safe to eat hard boiled eggs if they've been "refrigerated within two hours of having been boiled." So, unless you've managed to decorate and pull off an Easter egg hunt in record time, they're probably not safe to eat. Even if you're able to maintain the two-hour rule, she recommends eating them within a week after cooking.

According to the FDA, harmful bacteria can begin to multiply when left at room temperature, especially if the shells have been cracked, even slightly. But, just because those pretty dyed eggs aren't safe to eat, doesn't mean you can't get your fill of hard-boiled Easter egg recipes. Instead, along with your eggs to be dyed, boil a second batch that you keep safely stored in cool temperatures. From there, the possibilities for ways to use them are endless.

Here we've gathered a few of our favorite seasonal dishes that call on hard-boiled eggs that will please everyone's palate on Easter Sunday and beyond – and leave you feeling confident you've avoided serving anything risky. Just make sure you keep those decorated eggs far from the serving table.