Egg salad is one of the easiest salads to prepare. With only a few simple ingredients, this salad is a go-to for many lettuce lovers.
You can prepare this salad as a standalone dish or put it in a sandwich. Either way, it’s an easy and healthy meal.
Because it’s so easy to prepare, you may be tempted to freeze egg salad. If you make more than you’re able to eat, it may seem like a convenient option for future meals.
So, can you freeze egg salad? The short answer is no. Because of potential problems with consistency and ingredients, you really shouldn’t freeze egg salad.
Freezing Egg Salad
Technically, you are able to freeze egg salad like anything else. However, there are a number of reasons why you shouldn’t.
For one thing, the texture of the salad will definitely be affected when frozen. Once thawed, the creamy consistency of the salad will have irreversibly changed.
Put simply, egg salad just doesn’t taste good after freezing it.
Why You Shouldn’t Freeze Egg Salad
The two primary ingredients of egg salad- eggs and mayonnaise, do not freeze well to begin with. Hard boiled eggs in particular don’t last as long as raw eggs. This is because the removal of the outer shell takes away its protective quality from bacteria.
Mayonnaise can freeze, but it’s likely that the ingredients will separate in the freezer. You’ll be left with a weird consistency and it’s hard to mix it back together again.
For reference, other foods like custards also aren’t a good idea to freeze either. They will usually lose their nice consistency in the freezer. Because they are so moist, the freezer zaps this moisture from foods like eggs and mayonnaise.
So what can you do to save or prolong the shelf life of your favorite salad? There are a few ways you can make your egg salad last.
Other Options For Egg Salad
There are a few important things to remember when trying to prolong your egg salad’s shelf life.
Firstly, be sure to never leave egg salad out at room temperature. This allows for bacteria to grow on your salad that can cause illness and stomach problems. After preparing your salad, take out the portion you want, then immediately put the rest into the refrigerator.
Say you do decide to freeze egg salad and sacrifice the taste and texture. If you do this, you must consume the dish before the 1-2 month mark of being in the freezer. Egg salad simply doesn’t have a long shelf life, no matter where you store it.
Wondering if your egg salad is spoiled? The most noticeable sign of spoiling is the smell of your salad. This is usually due to the eggs rotting, which means you should throw away the salad immediately.
How Long Does Egg Salad Last In The Fridge?
If you end up making more egg salad than you can eat, it’s possible to store in the refrigerator.
Once you dish out how much egg salad you want, find a good container. One with an airtight lid and no cracks is best. Any air that is able to get into the container can affect the freshness of the salad.
Put the excess egg salad into the container as soon as possible and place it in the refrigerator. It’s best to plan to take it for lunch for the next day or so. Egg salad’s shelf life is around 3-5 days, so try not to forget about it before it’s too late.
Conclusion
Next time you make egg salad, you could be tempted to freeze any leftovers. However, it’s important to consider other options before potentially missing out on the flavor of your dish.
Overall, egg salad just loses what makes it so delicious when it’s frozen. The ingredients don’t freeze well, and the mayonnaise will separate. It also takes a significant amount of time to thaw any dish.
A better option is to store extra egg salad in the refrigerator. However, make sure to consume it fairly promptly. You don’t want to miss out on any of the scrumptious flavors that egg salad offers.
