Freeze scrambled eggs for an easy make-ahead breakfast that saves time and money. From ingredient storage to reheating, discover how to freeze scrambled eggs safely while retaining their delicious taste and texture.
Scrambled eggs are a classic North American and European breakfast staple. Whether you like them served as an easy breakfast side with toast or mixed in maple syrup or bacon, this versatile food has remained a morning favorite for decades.
But what do you do with leftovers eggs? Or what if you want to save time and money by batch cooking them for the week ahead? Can you freeze scrambled eggs? Discover how to freeze eggs efficiently and safely with our easy storage guide. Let’s get into it.
Quick Answer: Can You Freeze Scrambled Eggs?
Yes, you can freeze scrambled eggs. All types of eggs removed from their shells can be frozen, whether they’re raw or cooked. Similarly, you can freeze food and recipes that contain eggs, like quiche, frittata, or strata. The quality of the eggs will deteriorate, losing flavor and texture, but will be safe to eat within one year, but are best enjoyed within 6 months.
What Happens to Eggs When They Freeze?
The effect of freezing on eggs depends on whether they are cooked or not. Raw eggs in their shells change their texture because the liquid part of the egg expands, which also increases the likelihood that the egg will be contaminated with bacteria. Freezing also affects the texture of boiled eggs, in particular the egg whites.
However, there are some types of eggs that you can freeze without affecting the texture.
Can You Freeze Raw Scrambled Eggs?
While experts don’t recommend freezing raw eggs, raw scrambled eggs that have been removed from the shell and whisked are the exception. That is because freezing primarily affects the texture of egg whites but whisking them with the yolks prevents this change.
When freezing raw scrambled eggs, store them in an airtight container to prevent any contamination.
How to Reheat Frozen Scrambled Eggs
Before reheating frozen scrambled eggs, they need to thaw completely first. Never thaw frozen scrambled eggs at room temperature; let them thaw in the fridge or in a bowl of cold water. Once the eggs are thawed, cook them slowly over low heat on a stovetop or even in the microwave.
Leftover Scrambled Eggs Ideas
There are a few different ways that you can use up leftover scrambled eggs. Many of these recipes are customizable so you can use up any other leftovers and adjust the recipes to your taste preferences.
Breakfast Burrito
Reheat the scrambled eggs and add any other flavorings that you like, such as tomatoes, sausage, salsa (or even leftover chili), vegetables, and plenty of shredded cheese. Reheat the scrambled eggs with the toppings, place everything in a large tortilla, and fold into the wrap for a delicious breakfast burrito that uses up all of your leftovers.
Chicken Fried Rice
Use up your leftover scrambled eggs, chunks of cooked chicken, and even cooked rice with this recipe. Cook the vegetables, chicken and rice, add the eggs and stir until combined, and don’t forget to season well with soy sauce, sesame oil, and even oyster sauce if you want an extra umami kick.
Scrambled Breakfast Hash
To make scrambled breakfast hash, start with finely chopped potatoes or even tater tots and brown them with onions and butter. Add scrambled eggs, cheese, and your choice of topping including chorizo, breakfast sausage, scallions, or vegetables and cook until set.
Quick Tips
Here are some things to keep in mind when scrambling eggs for the freezer.
Make Them Runny
Runny eggs may not sound appetizing so this may sound counterintuitive, but leaving your eggs a little runny before going in the freezer will help prevent them from turning rubbery when you thaw and reheat them later.
Divide Into Portions
Like with any food, divide the eggs into single-size portions for you to enjoy later. Wrap them in plastic freezer bags and squeeze out as much air as possible to help prevent food spoiling. Before you put them in the freeze, mark each bag with today’s date.
Avoid Freezer Burn
Proper food wrapping helps prevent freezer burn. This is what happens when exposed food oxidizes and dehydrates, thereby spoiling your food.
While this doesn’t mean your food will be unsafe to eat, it will lose much of its taste and texture, making it near-inedible. Make sure you wrap your scrambled eggs as tightly as possible.
Label Efficiently
This might seem like a little bit of a chore, but be sure to label each bag with its freezing date. This will help you identify how long each bag has been in your fridge, helping you know which one to consume first.
Thaw Evenly
Like with a lot of food that has been cooked before freezing, make sure that you thaw the eggs completely before reheating. If they still contain frozen clumps, they’ll cook reheat inconsistently and unevenly.
Pro Tip: Thaw a bag of frozen scrambled eggs in the refrigerator the night before you plan to eat them. This will allow them to thaw slowly and evenly.
How to Freeze Scrambled Eggs
Equipment
- Freezer bags
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Whisk eggs and cook in pan or skillet over medium-low heat
- With the eggs still slightly runny, remove from heat and allow to cool for 3-4 minutes
- Divide cooked eggs into portions, and put each portion into a freezer bag
- Remove as much air as possible from the bags to prevent freezer burn
- With a marker pen or label, mark each bag with today’s date
- Enjoy within 6 months. Thaw by placing in refrigerator overnight or by warming in a skillet over low heat.
FAQ
How Long Do Frozen Scrambled Eggs Keep?
Frozen scrambled eggs will keep for up to six months, just as long as they’re wrapped properly throughout the time. While they will be safe to have after that period, their flavor will start to deteriorate significantly.
How to Reheat Eggs
The best way to reheat frozen scrambled eggs is to warm them in the frying pan over low heat, until warmed through.
How to Freeze Raw Eggs
Crack your eggs into a bowl and gently whisk them (ensure you avoid overbeaten eggs). Pour the mix into an ice tray, with each mold containing approximately half an eggs. When you want to use them, simply thaw the cubes you need (e.g. thaw 6 cubes for a 3-egg omelet).
