Learn how to make freeze dried eggs for short and long-term storage. This is the best way to preserve eggs for long periods of time.
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This year we got a freeze dryer, and let me tell you, it is a game changer. That thing has basically been running 24/7 since.
Freeze drying food makes food preservation super simple, it can last up to 20 years, and it’s one of the best ways to keep nutritional value.
Eggs are one of those things that are a little harder to preserve. You can freeze them for a few months, water glass them up to 18 months, or make homemade pasta which lasts about a year.
But the only way to store them long term is to freeze dry them. This method will make the eggs last for up to 20 years.
And if you are a homesteader that doesn’t like to add artificial light to your hens during the winter, then this method may be right for you.
The best part is, they are easy to store and don’t take up much space (especially precious freezer space.)
Tips:
- Blend the eggs before placing them into the trays. This is due to the fat content.
- Freeze the trays with the eggs in them before placing them into the freeze dryer. This makes the process go much faster and waste less electricity.
- After the freeze dried eggs are done processing in the freeze dryer, transfer them right away. If you let them sit out very long, they may start absorbing the liquid in the atmosphere around them.
- For easy clean up, you can line the trays with parchment paper.
- If you have older eggs that you aren’t sure of the date they were laid you can do the float test to make sure they are still good. Fill a bowl of water and add eggs. If the eggs float they are bad.
Ingredients:
Eggs: That’s it.
Tools:
Freeze dryer: I have the medium Harvest Right Freeze Dryer
Blender
FAQ:
How long will freeze dried eggs last?
There are a lot of differing opinions here. I’ve seen some places say 5-10 years, while others say 20+ years. My theory is this: I want to use the food I’m storing, so I’ll be storing them for a while and using them up as I go.
Can you freeze dry raw eggs?
Yes. Raw eggs or cooked eggs can be freeze dried. I prefer to blend my raw eggs first, then I place them in the freeze drying trays, stick them in the freezer until frozen, and then place in the freeze dryer.
Are freeze-dried eggs healthy?
Yes! Almost all of the nutrients remain in eggs that have been freeze dried. Freeze drying is one of the healthiest food preservation methods because it maintains the majority of the nutrients.
How To Freeze Dry Eggs For Long Term Storage
Push start of the freeze dryer. It will give you the prompt to allow the vacuum chamber to cool for 15 minutes. Also, make sure the valve is closed at the bottom.
Crack eggs and place into a blender. Blend until smooth. This can also be done with a large bowl and a whisk. I like to make a dozen eggs at a time.
Pour into the freeze dryer pans and cover. The pans will fit a dozen eggs per pan.
Place into the freezer and freeze until solid. You can skip this step and go straight into the freeze dryer, but this saves about 8-10 hours in the freeze dryer and wastes less electricity.
Add the trays into the freeze dryer. Close the door, and seal.
Sit and wait for the freeze dryer to work its magic. This takes anywhere from 16-24 hours, depending on the amount of eggs you use per tray.
Once the freeze dryer turns off, check the eggs. If they still feel wet, place them back into the freeze dryer and do the process again. Hit the “more time” button.
Take the eggs out of the trays and transfer them into glass jars (for shorter term storage) or into mylar bags with oxygen absorbers for long term (up to 20 years) storage.
How To Make Powdered Eggs:
To make powdered eggs, transfer the freeze dried eggs into a high speed blender. Make sure the blender doesn’t have any moisture in it or else the eggs will absorb it and they can go bad.
Blend until they turn into a powder.
Store in a glass jar for short term storage or a mylar bag with an oxygen absorber for long term storage.
How To Use Freeze Dried Eggs:
One egg equals 2 tablespoons of freeze dry mixed with 2 tablespoons of water. These can be used in any baking recipe, or rehydrated and used to make scrambled eggs.
Find More Egg Recipes:
- Mini Quiche With Einkorn Crust
- Best Deviled Eggs Recipe
- How To Make Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
- Sourdough Breakfast Strata
- Sourdough Dutch Baby Pancake From Scratch
If you make this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone with your delicious creation.
Freeze Dried Eggs
Learn how to make freeze dried eggs for short and long-term storage. This is the best way to preserve eggs for long periods of time.
Ingredients
- Eggs- up to 48 eggs with medium sized freeze dryers
Instructions
- Push start of the freeze dryer. It will give you the prompt to allow the vacuum chamber to cool for 15 minutes. Also, make sure the valve is closed at the bottom.
- Crack eggs and place into a blender. Blend until smooth. This can also be done with a large bowl and a whisk. I like to blend a dozen eggs at a time.
- Pour into the freeze dryer pans. The pans will fit a dozen eggs per pan.
- Place into the freezer and freeze until solid. You can skip this step and go straight into the freeze dryer, but this takes less time and wastes less electricity.
- Add the trays into the freeze dryer. Close the door, and seal
- Sit and wait for the freeze dryer to work its magic.
- This takes anywhere from 16-24 hours, depending on the amount of eggs you use per tray.
- Once the freeze dryer turns off, check the eggs. If they still feel wet, place them back into the freeze dryer and do the process again. Hit the "more time" button.
- Take the eggs out of the trays and transfer them into glass jars (for shorter term storage) or into mylar bags with oxygen absorbers for long term (up to 20 years) storage.
Notes
Blend the eggs before placing them into the trays. This is due to the fat content.
Freeze the trays with the eggs in them before placing them into the freeze dryer. This makes the process go much faster and waste less electricity.
After the freeze dried eggs are done processing in the freeze dryer, transfer them right away. If you let them sit out very long, they may start absorbing the liquid in the atmosphere around them.
For easy clean up, you can line the trays with parchment paper.
Anonymous says
Hi Lisa,
I have been freeze drying eggs since May and put 18 on a tray. So I am able to do 6 dozen per load. Thought this information might help you when you are in prime laying time.
Blessings!
Susan
Lisa says
Thank you Susan!
Emily says
Why don’t the eggs last just as long in glass jars as Mylar? If you put oxygen absorbers into the jars, would they seal and last longer? Thank you! What is your favorite way to use freeze dried eggs?
Whitney S says
*following for respose
Cheryl S says
Hi Emily,
Based on all my research for preserving food, I have learned that the 3 enemies to all foods preserved are: (1) oxygen (2) heat and (3) LIGHT. The jars are allowing in light and most likely also holding more heat in the glass. Just the light alone will reduce the life of the product.
Deborah says
Great! Im really thinking about getting a FD and was hoping you would have a video on your opinion of its value. We love freeze dried fruit and would love to fd my eggs for over winter use, but im just wondering how worth it it will be in the end. I was also gonna see if you had any special offers on it. ☺️
Michelle J says
Beware of Harvest Right brand. Quality is very sketchy. Be prepared to FIX IT upon recieving. We bought directly from Harvest Right and my husband spent 3 months with majority of his free time to get it completely sealedand ready to work. No help fromHR.
Georgia Ernst says
We have purchased 6 HR freeze dryers and never had a problem with any of them. One of them is shared and is transported and used frequently. They have a warranty, and if I were to receive one that did not seal, it would be going back. Interesting that you didn’t get help, because the gentleman wo is sales rep is always prompt and helpful.
Geoff Robinson says
For liquid, like eggs, thich soups or Chilli, I use 4 cup Rubbermaid tagalongs, which are rectangular containers as molds. Freeze a dozen eggs each mold. Two mold bricks fit on 1 shelf in your medium harvest right freeze dryer. Don’t put molds in freezeer, just the frozen egg brick. That obsession the freezedryer capacity up to 8 dozen eggs. You will likely need a bit of an extended drying time, but a few hours extra drying beats a complete batch!
Geoff in Fort Collins
שלום
Geoff Robinson says
Edit to above…
increases, not obsession
I hate auto spell checking.
BTW … if you use molds for soups, make sure you only fill the mold to a depth of about 1.5 inches when frozen. You need about 0.25 to 0.5 inches above your food for proper air circulation while drying.
Lisa says
Great tip. Love that idea.
Ron Ratzlaff says
I always scramble the eggs just to the point the liquid is gone. THEN put them on the tray take the spatula and chop up in smaller pieces so the moisture can escape easier. Can get way more eggs per tray and no mess spilling. Just did 15 dozen eggs that froze in the barn during a recent cold spell. Have the large dryer. Have couple hundred hen running in our old dairy barn Would go out at 7:30 to get the first ones but the single egg nests just dont last long
Cheryl S says
Hello everyone,
Just want to add a quick comment about the egg float test. In the TIPS sections, this article says, “If you have older eggs that you aren’t sure of the date they were laid you can do the float test to make sure they are still good. Fill a bowl of water and add eggs. If the eggs float they are bad.” That comment is not quite accurate. The float test is more of a freshness indicator. Not all eggs that float are bad, just not as fresh. I have used eggs that float many times and they were not bad. The true indicators of bad eggs have more to do with texture, appearance, and smell. Here are two articles that will help you understand it better.
https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/healthy-tips/2020/02/how-to-tell-if-an-egg-is-bad
https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2012/10/the-float-test.html
Happy prepping!
RawBearToe says
What do you consider short term? Great information! Thank you.
Lisa says
Less than one year.
Annie Watson says
Hi, I don’t own a freeze dryer. In our country they are very expensive! I do have an Excalibur Dehydrator. Can I use it to dehydrate eggs? Thank you.
Lisa says
I have never tried it, so I’m not sure.
Nanette says
Where did you get those tray lids?
Thank you,
Nanette
Lisa says
From Harvest Right