Egg Ideas You'll Love: 12+ Recipes & Tips - Shelf Cooking (2024)

What do you do when your eggs are about to expire, and you need to use them STAT? Well, you've got tons of options, and we're about to shell out some of our favorite egg ideas!

Egg Ideas You'll Love: 12+ Recipes & Tips - Shelf Cooking (1)

There's no reason to let perfectly good eggs go to waste. Sure, you could boil them, make egg salad, or whip up a quick batch of deviled eggs, but been there done that, right?

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Beyond the obvious, we've rounded up some of our favorite ways to use eggs! From breakfast to dinner and desserts, there's something for everyone. You ready? Let's get cracking!

TRY ONE OF THESE EGG-SQUISITE BREAKFAST IDEAS

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No, we're not going to tell you to scramble a big batch and call it a day! We won't mention omelets, either. Let's think outside the egg carton for a bit. Here are five fun ways to use up your eggs and make a killer breakfast:

  • Mini German Pancakes – Have you tried our mini German pancakes? They're ready in minutes, barely make a mess, and everyone LOVES them!
  • French Toast Sticks – French toast sticks are a perfect make-ahead breakfast and a great way to use up extra fruit, too.
  • Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Burritos – We've been known to whip up a month's worth of breakfast burritos in an hour! And you can use a TON of eggs in the process, so why not?
  • Egg Muffin Cups – If you're bored of scrambled eggs, try this easy twist on the breakfast staple. Egg muffin cups are as easy as can be!
  • Freezer Waffles – You'll never buy the frozen kind again! Make a quick batch of our delicious freezer waffles.

Pro Tip: Make all these recipes on Saturday morning, and you'll have breakfast for weeks! Get more of our meal prep tips and learn all about the beauty of batch cooking.

EGG IDEAS THAT WILL MAKE DINNER A BREEZE

Egg Ideas You'll Love: 12+ Recipes & Tips - Shelf Cooking (3)

So, you need to use up some eggs, and you're also looking for new meal ideas? Well, you can't go wrong with any of these easy dinner ideas:

  • Crockpot Lasagna – This crockpot lasagna recipe calls for six eggs! It's also SO easy and incredibly delicious, so there's that.
  • Fried Rice – No matter how crazy your day is, there's always time to make a quick batch of fried rice! And you can use whatever you have. Toss in a little shredded chicken, shrimp, salmon, or make it vegetarian. Have eggs to use up? Fry them up and toss them all in!
  • Quiche – You can use up a ton of eggs pretty quickly if you make a quiche, but you can also throw in just about any ingredient! Use up those fresh veggies and grab some meat from the freezer.
  • Bibimbap – Bibi, what?! Oh, if you haven't tried it yet, you are in for a TREAT! We've got a bibimbap recipe that's a shelf cooking dream.
  • Baked Italian Sandwiches – Our family LOVES these Italian sandwiches, and they freeze beautifully, so go ahead a make an extra batch. Our other site, Fun Cheap or Free, has the recipe!

If you have a little time for meal prep this weekend, go ahead make extra sandwiches or rice to make dinnertime a heck of a lot easier.

5 SUPER SWEET IDEAS TO USE UP EGG

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If you've got a sweet tooth and a fridge full of eggs to use, you are in luck! These sweets are hard to beat:

  • Ooey-Gooey Bars – In our opinion, this ooey-gooey bar recipe is the best way EVER to use some eggs. Go ahead and make a few batches! They're SO good, you guys. If you have leftovers, we'll take 'em!
  • Cake Mix Cookies – If you have a box of cake mix in the pantry, you're in luck! These cake mix cookies are amazingly delicious and easy–double or triple the recipe to use more eggs.
  • Egg Custard – Have you ever made egg custard? It's so simple! Grab this baked egg custard recipe from Allrecipes.
  • Cinnamon Rolls – These homemade cinnamon rolls from our sister site, Fun Cheap or Free, are EVERYTHING! Need an excuse to make a bunch? If you triple the recipe, you'll use half a dozen eggs. You're welcome.
  • Cupcakes – We like making these adorable cupcakes from Fun Cheap or Free around Easter, but they're good enough to eat all year long!

Is your mouth watering now? Before you go, let's cover a few quick freezer tips! Yep, you can freeze eggs. Keep reading for the deets!

CAN YOU FREEZE EGGS?

Egg Ideas You'll Love: 12+ Recipes & Tips - Shelf Cooking (5)

While we totally think you should make every single recipe from this post, we bet you're also wondering if you can freeze eggs. Well, wonder no more! Here's the skinny on saving your eggs for later:

  • Hard-Boiled Eggs – You can freeze hard-boiled eggs, but you have to peel them and separate the yolks first. When frozen, yolks expand, so for every four yolks you freeze, add either 1/8 teaspoon salt or 1 1/2 teaspoons of sugar. Label so you know which yolks to use for which recipes!
  • Whole Eggs – Want to freeze the whole dang egg? Crack and beat them first, add them to a freezer-safe container, and label with the date and number of eggs.
  • Scrambled Eggs – It's so simple to freeze scrambled eggs! Just cook a big batch, toss them in a freezer bag, then thaw in the fridge overnight before you're ready to use them.
  • Freeze Recipes with Eggs – Just about every recipe we shared here is freezer-friendly! When in doubt, check out this post that has a running list of items you can freeze. And take a peek at our tips for preventing freezer burn, so your leftovers don't go to waste.

No matter how you prep and freeze them, be sure to use your eggs within one year!

DO YOU HAVE EGG IDEAS TO SHARE?

Now you know what to do if you have extra eggs! Whether you freeze them or whip up a few of these recipes, you've got way too many options to let those eggs go to waste.

What's your favorite way to use up eggs before they go bad? Leave us a comment or join the conversation in our Shelf Cooking Facebook group!

Egg Ideas You'll Love: 12+ Recipes & Tips - Shelf Cooking (6)

Looking for more tips and tricks?

  • Learn how to make the perfect hard-boiled egg.
  • These shelf cooking tips will save you major time and money.
  • Grab our favorite leftover rotisserie chicken recipes. They make meal prep so easy!

Break an egg, peeps!

Egg Ideas You'll Love: 12+ Recipes & Tips - Shelf Cooking (2024)

FAQs

What are the 12 ways to cook eggs? ›

Boiled, scrambled (soft or hard), poached, baked, basted, fried, shirred, coddled, pickled (as in quail eggs) and used to make omelets, quiche, frittatas, and soufflés. Eggs go into cake batters, quiches, breakfast burritos, toads-in-a-hole, and are used to make mayonnaise and hollandaise.

What are the 100 ways to cook an egg list? ›

So the story goes that the 100 folds in a chef's hat represent the 100 ways to cook an egg, but is this true? Well, let's see... there's scrambled, over easy, over medium, over hard, poached, shirred, soft boiled, hard boiled, pickled, baked, sunny side up; in an omelette, quiche, or frittata; etc, etc, etc.

What can I do with lots of eggs? ›

If you have an abundance of whole eggs on your hands, here are some great egg recipes to use them up:
  1. Quiche. ...
  2. Frittata. ...
  3. Strata. ...
  4. Shakshuka. ...
  5. Sheet Pan Hash. ...
  6. Roasted Eggs for a Crowd. ...
  7. Poached Eggs Over Lentils. ...
  8. Huevos Rancheros.
Aug 30, 2019

What are 2 rules to remember when cooking eggs? ›

If you apply too much direct heat, the egg will overcook, causing the sauce to break and curdle. Over-boiling an egg is another common mistake. Going a few minutes too long will draw out the iron and sulfur, turning the yolk into a nasty grey color with a green ring.

How to make eggs interesting? ›

11 things to add to eggs
  1. A teaspoon of chopped, fresh stronger herbs like oregano, tarragon, or thyme.
  2. 1 tablespoon chopped fresh milder herbs like parsley, chives, chervil, basil, or mint.
  3. Tabasco, Worcestershire, or other prepared sauce, to taste.
  4. A quarter cup grated or crumbled cheddar, goat, or other melting cheese.
Mar 23, 2020

How do you cook eggs on Tiktok? ›

To boil eggs, place them in a pot of cold water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 6-8 minutes for soft-boiled eggs or 10-12 minutes for hard-boiled eggs. To fry eggs, heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and add a small amount of oil or butter.

How are 100 year old eggs edible? ›

Century eggs can be eaten without further preparation other than peeling and rinsing them – on their own, or as a side dish. In central China, they are sliced into pieces and drizzled with black vinegar and served as a side dish.

What to do with a lot of eggs that are about to expire? ›

Even though refrigerated eggs stay fresh for several weeks beyond their sell-by or expiration date, they don't last forever. So use the surplus eggs for something practical, like whipping up a drool-worthy frittata for your next breakfast or baking a cake for your upcoming neighborhood potluck.

What to pair with eggs? ›

Some healthy side dishes that go well with eggs include:
  • roasted or sautéed vegetables, such as bell peppers, spinach, or mushrooms.
  • a simple green salad.
  • avocado or guacamole.
  • a grain-based salad, such as quinoa or farro.
  • a side of whole grain toast or English muffin.
  • fresh fruit, such as berries or a sliced banana.
May 6, 2023

Can I freeze eggs for later use? ›

According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), you can freeze eggs for up to one year. When you're ready to use frozen eggs, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or under running cold water. Use egg yolks or whole eggs as soon as they're thawed.

What is a fried egg with a broken yolk called? ›

Over hard or over well. Cooked on both sides all the way through, with the yolk broken (immediately after the egg is cracked). Sunny-side up. Cooked on one side only, until the egg white is set, but the yolk remains liquid.

What is a hard fried egg called? ›

Sunny side up: The egg is fried with the yolk up and is not flipped. Over easy: The egg is flipped and the yolk is still runny. Over medium: The egg is flipped and the yolk is only slightly runny. Over well: The egg is flipped and the yolk is cooked hard.

What is huevos al gusto? ›

"Huevos al Gusto", literally, "eggs to your pleasure", but really "eggs to order". Don't make the mistake of a one of our visiting friends and say, "I'll have the huevos al gusto." The waiter will have to ask you again how you want them prepared. 2. "Huevos Estrellados", or eggs, sunnyside up.

How many types of egg cooking are there? ›

Scrambled, over-easy, poached, soft-boiled and so, so many more. By the time the server finishes the list, you've forgotten what was at the beginning of it. Not to mention, you don't actually know what half those ways of cooking an egg even are.

What are 7 different roles eggs can play in a recipe? ›

The Functions of Eggs in Baking and Cooking
  • Structure.
  • Leavening.
  • Tenderizing.
  • Moisture.
  • Wash.
  • Emulsifying.
  • Flavor.
  • Color.
May 15, 2019

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