The Right Way To Freeze Egg Whites And Yolks

Those farm-fresh eggs can be preserved for up to a year—but only if you do so correctly.

Ever end up with more eggs than you know what to do with? Maybe you accidentally over-purchased for a recipe or group of visitors, or maybe you have your own chickens that are happily laying eggs faster than you can eat them.

While eggs will last in the refrigerator for a few weeks, there are certain times when you need to keep them fresh for longer. The best way to preserve eggs is to freeze them, which might seem like a strange idea if you've never done it, but when done correctly, freezing eggs can keep your fresh eggs usable for months.

There are several ways to freeze raw eggs correctly, but there's one that is always going to be wrong: freezing them in their shells. The shells will expand and crack as soon as they freeze.

So once you remove the eggs from their shells, how should you go about freezing them? You have a choice. You can either freeze whole eggs, or separate the whites and yolks before freezing. Here's how to properly freeze eggs either way.

How To Freeze Whole Eggs

There are a couple ways to prep whole eggs for freezing, and you should choose the method that makes the most sense for how you think you'll use the eggs down the road.

Just one egg: If you typically need one egg at a time, you can use an ice cube tray to freeze individual, whole eggs. Just crack an egg into each section, cover, and freeze.

Once the eggs are frozen through, you can pop them out and transfer to a larger Tupperware container or freezer-safe storage bag. Whenever you need one or two eggs, you can easily grab the amount you need while keeping the others frozen.

Two or more eggs: If you typically use two or more eggs at a time for baking or cooking, you can freeze several eggs together in one container. Crack whatever number of eggs you want to store together into the container and then gently beat them just to the point of yolk and white being mixed. You don't want to add in any extra air by whisking too much.

Why add salt or sugar when freezing eggs?

Because yolks can get a bit gelatinous when they freeze—which can make for an undesirable texture when you thaw the eggs—it helps to add a bit of salt or sugar to the mixture before freezing.

Depending on your intentions with the eggs (baking or cooking), add a 1/2 teaspoon of salt or 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of sugar for every cup of eggs. Be sure to label your container with the number of eggs and any salt or sugar additions so you can adjust your recipe, if necessary.

Great Gear

Souper cubes are great for easily freezing small batches of eggs.

How To Freeze Egg Whites

You can easily separate egg whites and yolks before freezing if you intend to use one or the other for your recipes.

Whites can be separated into ice cube trays and frozen individually without any special attention. You can also store them in bulk in an airtight container or freezer bag. Once defrosted, they can be used as normal, including being whipped into a stable meringue.

Related: The Easiest Way To Separate Eggs

How To Freeze Egg Yolks

For yolks, you'll want to add salt or sugar as described above. Mix in the salt or sugar to a bowl of yolks, then put one tablespoon (which equals about one yolk) of the mixture into each section of an ice cube tray to freeze.

Related: Recipes to Use Up Leftover Egg Yolks Because Mama Taught Us Not To Waste

How To Thaw Frozen Eggs

To use frozen eggs, let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight, or run them under cold water. You'll want to use yolks and whole eggs immediately after thawing. Whites may beat better if you let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or so.

Recipes To Make With Frozen Eggs

Once defrosted, while still perfectly edible, frozen eggs are best incorporated into a dish instead hard-boiled or fried up on their own. Here are a few our favorite ways to put them to good use:

• Farmers' Market Frittata: This baked egg dish isn't just good for using up excess fresh produce, but is a great way to use up surplus frozen eggs.

• Breakfast Egg Muffins: These portable egg bites are a great way to turn frozen eggs into a breakfast the whole family will love.

• Cheesy Sausage, Egg, and Hash Brown Casserole: Fold frozen eggs into this hearty breakfast casserole and no one will even know you didn't start with fresh eggs.

• All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies: Baking projects are a great place to put defrosted eggs to good use, including in our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can egg yolks and whites be stored in the freezer?

Whole eggs (unshelled), whites, and yolks can all be stored in the freezer for up to 12 months, according to USDA.

Can you freeze cooked eggs?

Cooked whites tend to get rubbery when frozen and reheated, so it's best to freeze cooked eggs once they have been incorporated into a dish—for example, freezing them as part of a cooked quiche.

For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Southern Living.