Why do eggs freeze in the fridge?

Eggs are a staple food found in most refrigerators around the world. There are several types of edible eggs, but the most common one for consumption is the chicken egg.

Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods you can eat. They have a lot of health benefits. Interestingly, eggs rank directly behind breast milk as the second most nutritionally valuable food for humans.

In case you didn’t know, let me repeat it. Eggs are just about the most nutritious food available to humans. They rank 2nd and the only thing that beats eggs in nutrition is breast milk. Does it surprise you? You probably knew that eggs are nutritious, but did you know that they are THAT nutritious?

The question is, do you have problems with eggs freezing when you keep them in the fridge? Why do they do it and is there anything you can do to prevent it? Do you have to worry about the egg if it freezes?

Why do eggs freeze in the fridge?

The number one reason why eggs tend to freeze in the fridge has nothing to do with the composition of the egg and everything to do with where you put them in your fridge. The key to preventing eggs from freezing in the fridge is to keep it as far away from the freezer as possible.

Don’t worry, here’s everything you need to know about eggs, why they freeze and what to do if they do freeze, as well as some tips to prevent them from freezing.

Read on for everything you need to know about refrigerating eggs, why they freeze, and more.

The value of eggs and how to care for them

We already mentioned that eggs are incredibly nutritious, but let’s break it down a bit more and talk about the nutritional properties they contain and what makes them so good. We can tell you one thing, but honestly, the proof is in the pudding, or the egg in this case.

If you can’t or don’t want to eat eggs, or are just curious about another egg alternative, check out this article we wrote on The Best Vegan Egg Alternatives.

Eggs are a natural source of vitamin D. A good natural source of vitamin D! Also, eggs are an excellent protein. You can’t find a better protein anywhere - forget your protein powders and various protein meats, eggs are THE protein to use.

You can eat a large egg for breakfast and consume a maximum of 70 calories and only about 5 grams of healthy fat.  Eggs are packed with amino acids that we humans desperately need in our bodies. 

Having covered the nutrition of eggs, you should also be aware that eggs are not always good for everyone. There are new studies that have pointed to some specific health concerns with eggs for certain health risks in people.

These concerns do not negate the nutritional value of eggs, but rather provide information to certain categories of people to consider their egg consumption.

Here are some of the health concerns identified in relation to eggs.

• Eggs can cause high cholesterol levels if consumed in large amounts.
• Eggs could cause heart risks if you are at risk for heart disease and consume an extreme amount of eggs.
• The fat in eggs is saturated fat, which must be taken into account when determining how many eggs you should eat per day.
• Some studies have shown that eating more than 3 eggs a day could lead to a risk of prostate cancer.

Most of these assumptions are specific to certain situations. They are also facts that are beginning to evolve and be shared from recent studies. However, with that being said, you should know that the studies also state that these results are only worrisome for excessive consumption of eggs.

Studies also report that consuming 1-3 eggs a day is unlikely to have any negative side effects . However, if you are at risk for these specific factors, you may want to simply cut back on eggs. It is not necessary to eliminate them from your diet.

Why do eggs freeze and how to work with frozen eggs

It seems that no refrigerator can get the right temperature to prevent freezing of the eggs. Or maybe it comes down to a lack of training and general information for the population to know where in the fridge they can keep the eggs so they don’t freeze.

Whatever the case, there is a definite question when it comes to protecting refrigerated eggs from freezing. How does it affect your eggs? Are they still safe to use?

Yes, your eggs are protected only by a thin shell . I am sure that this protection is greater than that of many items that you put in the refrigerator. The question is, where do you normally keep your eggs in the fridge?

Here is the hard news on this subject.  The best location for eggs in the fridge depends on several factors.  For example, if you have a refrigerator that has the freezer drawer at the bottom, the lower levels of the refrigerator will be the coldest.

Do you understand what we mean? This can get confusing quickly. But let’s break it down and point you in the right direction to properly store your eggs and prevent them from freezing.

So how do I prevent my eggs from freezing?

This is the first advice. Egg trays in refrigerators are usually in the door or on the top shelf. In some cases, this is the ideal place to place the eggs in the refrigerator. However it is not always so.

To prevent your eggs from freezing in the fridge, keep these tips in mind. Here we have broken down the information as best we could. 

1. Determine where the fans are in your fridge. Make sure the location of your eggs is not directly in front of the fan.
2. Where is your freezer? One of the key points in determining the best place for your eggs is to place them as far away from your freezer as possible. Despite the separation between the fridge and freezer, the closer you are to the freezer, the colder the temperature tends to be.
3. If your freezer is on the bottom, place the eggs on the top shelf, but away from the fan or ice maker, if you have one of those on the doors. If the freezer is on top, move the eggs to the center, away from the fans. And if you have a side by side, the center is a good place too: on the far side of the freezer, or on an egg tray in the door.
4. You’ll notice we never said the bottom shelf. Cold air from the fridge tends to sink to the bottom, so the bottom shelf is extra cold too. If all else fails, use the center shelf.

If your eggs freeze

While you are getting an idea of where to store your eggs, it is inevitable that you will have problems with frozen eggs. Even if you find the best place, your eggs may freeze depending on the temperature of your fridge.

If your eggs are frozen, don’t worry too much. As long as the freezing hasn’t caused the eggs to crack, you can continue to use them as normal. Although it is recommended not to let fresh eggs freeze, you can still work with them.

If the shell cracks from freezing, you should discard the egg.  However, if the shell is still intact, the egg is still good. You don’t need to thaw the eggs right away or anything like that. Let them remain frozen until you are ready to use them.

You can let them thaw in the fridge for a couple of hours in another area or at room temperature for about 30 minutes.  But ultimately, you can use them without thawing them. You can just proceed to use them as normal if the shell hasn’t cracked.

Related questions

We hope you found the information in this article useful regarding egg freezing and what can cause it to happen, as well as some tips to potentially avoid freezing your eggs.

We invite you to consult the questions section for additional information.

Can I store my eggs at room temperature?

You can store the eggs at room temperature, but it is not recommended. Eggs stored in the fridge can last up to 5 times longer.

How can you clean the yolk when you drop an egg?

If you drop your egg on the carpet or a surface you can’t simply clean it off, you can sprinkle a generous amount of salt on the dropped egg and yolk. This helps absorb the sticky raw egg so you can easily wipe it off.