Crack Eggs Into an Ice Cube Tray and Put Them in the Freezer: Here’s Why You Should Try This Simple Trick

We all know the convenience of cracking an egg for a quick breakfast, but have you ever found yourself with leftover eggs or a sudden surplus after a big grocery haul or cooking project? Instead of letting them go to waste, there’s a surprisingly simple and effective method for preserving eggs—by cracking them into an ice cube tray and freezing them. This might sound unconventional at first, but freezing eggs in this way can actually offer several benefits, especially for those who want to save time, reduce waste, or store eggs for future use.

In this article, we’ll explain the step-by-step method for cracking eggs into an ice cube tray and freezing them, the benefits of freezing eggs, and the best practices for making the most of this technique.

Step 1: Understanding the Benefits of Freezing Eggs

Before jumping into the method, let’s explore why you might want to freeze eggs in the first place.

1. Prolong Shelf Life

Eggs typically have a relatively short shelf life, with an expiration date that’s about 3–5 weeks from the date they were packaged. By freezing eggs, you can extend their shelf life for up to one year. This makes it a fantastic way to keep eggs on hand, especially if you find yourself buying them in bulk or if you don’t go through eggs quickly enough before they spoil.

2. Convenience for Meal Prep

If you meal prep regularly or need to quickly assemble dishes like omelets, baked goods, or scrambled eggs, having frozen eggs in ready-to-use portions can save time. Simply pop out the number of egg cubes you need, thaw them, and cook. It’s quick, easy, and eliminates the hassle of cracking and scrambling eggs each time you need them.

3. Prevents Wastage

Sometimes, we buy eggs only to end up not using them in time. If you’re running out of time to use your eggs before they go bad, freezing them is a smart way to avoid throwing them out. Freezing eggs before their expiration date ensures that you won’t waste food, saving both money and resources.

4. Great for Baking

If you’re a baker, you know that recipes often call for specific amounts of egg whites or yolks, and sometimes you may only need part of an egg for your recipe. Freezing eggs in an ice cube tray allows you to separate and store eggs by their components (whites and yolks) for future use, making it easier to bake or cook later without having to crack open a new carton every time.

Step 2: The Method – How to Crack Eggs Into an Ice Cube Tray and Freeze Them

Now that we understand the benefits, let’s break down the simple process of cracking eggs into an ice cube tray and freezing them.

What You’ll Need:

• Fresh eggs (preferably still in their shells and within their expiration date)

• An ice cube tray (silicone or plastic works well)

• A clean bowl or cup for cracking the eggs (optional, but useful for separating yolks from whites)

• A spoon or whisk (optional, for beating eggs)

• Freezer-safe storage bags or containers (for long-term storage)

Method:

Step 1: Prepare Your Ice Cube Tray Start by setting your ice cube tray on a flat surface. Make sure the tray is clean and dry. If you want to store individual egg whites and yolks separately, consider using separate ice cube trays or use the compartments of the tray to divide the egg whites from the yolks.

Step 2: Crack the Eggs Carefully crack the eggs into a bowl or cup. This ensures that you don’t accidentally get any eggshells in the tray, which can make it difficult to remove the eggs later. If you want to separate the yolks and whites, you can do so at this stage by gently transferring the yolk from one half of the eggshell to the other, letting the white drip into the bowl while keeping the yolk intact. Alternatively, you can use a fork or spoon to gently scoop out the yolk.

Step 3: Pour the Eggs Into the Ice Cube Tray Once you’ve cracked the eggs, pour them directly into the ice cube tray compartments. If you want to freeze whole eggs, simply pour one egg per compartment. If you prefer to freeze just the egg whites or yolks separately, you can distribute them across the compartments, placing only whites in some and yolks in others.

Step 4: Optional: Beat the Eggs If you prefer scrambled eggs, you can beat the eggs lightly with a fork or whisk before pouring them into the tray. Beating the eggs ensures that the yolks and whites are fully combined and creates a uniform consistency when frozen. This is especially useful if you plan to use the eggs in cooking or baking, as they will be easier to blend in recipes.

Step 5: Freeze the Eggs Place the ice cube tray in the freezer, making sure it’s level so that the eggs freeze evenly. Depending on the size of the tray and the number of eggs, it may take 3–4 hours for the eggs to fully freeze. If you’re in a hurry, you can leave the tray overnight to ensure complete freezing.

Step 6: Store the Frozen Eggs Once the eggs have frozen solid, remove the ice cube tray from the freezer. Gently pop the frozen egg cubes out of the tray and transfer them into a freezer-safe storage bag or container. Label the bag with the date, so you know how long the eggs have been frozen.

You can store these frozen egg cubes in the freezer for up to one year. The freezing process preserves their freshness, so you can use them whenever you need eggs without worrying about expiration.

Step 3: How to Use Frozen Eggs

Now that your eggs are frozen, here’s how to use them when you’re ready to cook or bake.

1. Thawing Frozen Eggs

To thaw frozen eggs, simply remove the number of egg cubes you need from the storage bag and place them in a bowl. You can let them thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours, or if you’re in a hurry, you can place them in a warm water bath for a quicker thawing process. If you froze scrambled or beaten eggs, you can thaw them and cook them right away without any further preparation.

2. Using Frozen Egg Whites and Yolks

If you froze egg whites and yolks separately, use them according to your needs. For example:

• Egg whites: Perfect for meringues, angel food cake, or recipes that require just the whites.

• Egg yolks: Ideal for recipes like custards, mayonnaise, or certain sauces that require only the yolks.

3. Cooking with Frozen Whole Eggs

If you froze whole eggs (not separated), simply break the frozen egg cubes into a bowl and scramble them lightly with a fork. The consistency will be slightly different than fresh eggs, but they’ll work perfectly for scrambled eggs, omelets, or baking.

Step 4: Best Practices for Freezing Eggs

To make sure your frozen eggs stay fresh and usable, follow these best practices:

1. Avoid Freezing Expired Eggs: Only freeze fresh eggs before their expiration date to ensure they freeze and store well. Freezing eggs after they’ve already expired may affect their texture and quality.

2. Use Silicone Trays: If possible, use silicone ice cube trays. These are flexible and make it much easier to pop the egg cubes out without breaking them.

3. Don’t Overfill the Tray: Be sure to leave a little room in each compartment for the eggs to expand as they freeze. This prevents the eggs from spilling over.

4. Label Your Storage Bags: When storing frozen eggs, be sure to label the bags with the date they were frozen. This helps you keep track of how long they’ve been stored and ensures you use them within the recommended one-year period.

Conclusion: Why You Should Crack Eggs into an Ice Cube Tray and Freeze Them

Cracking eggs into an ice cube tray and freezing them is an incredibly practical and efficient method for preserving eggs, saving time, and preventing food waste. This method helps extend the shelf life of eggs, makes meal preparation easier, and ensures you always have eggs on hand for baking, cooking, or breakfast. By following the simple step-by-step method outlined above, you can freeze eggs with minimal effort and enjoy the convenience of pre-portioned, ready-to-use eggs at your fingertips. Whether you want to store them for long-term use or just need to make meal prep a bit easier, freezing eggs is an excellent solution.