The Major Signs That Your Egg Salad Has Gone Rotten

Egg salad is one of those dishes you can eat over and over without getting bored. In its simplest form, it consists of hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. You can also try this classic egg salad recipe, which calls for additional ingredients like Worcestershire sauce, fresh parsley, and pickles. Avocados, capers, radishes, apples, garlic, tomatoes, or bell peppers can enhance its flavor, too.

This versatile dish differs from country to country, but all recipes call for eggs and mayo-based dressings, Greek yogurt, or other ingredients with a short shelf-life. For this reason, you should always store egg salad in the refrigerator and consume it within three to four days. Since it contains mayo, it also doesn't freeze well.

The question is, how can you tell your egg salad has gone bad? For starters, you could sniff it, but even a week-old salad can smell perfectly fine if stored in proper conditions. Luckily, there are several other signs to watch out for so you can avoid food poisoning.

Freshly made egg salad has a smooth and creamy appearance, a mild aroma, and balanced flavors. Its taste shouldn't be excessively salty, bitter, or sour. Unfortunately, this classic dish can go bad quickly, especially if stored for too long or at the wrong temperature. When that happens, you may notice changes in its color, flavor, texture, and smell.

A spoiled egg salad will emit a sour or sulfurous odor and may also become slimy or watery, which can be an inditication of bacterial growth. Eventually, it can develop mold, dark spots, and other visible signs of spoilage. Stay on the safe side and discard the salad, even if there's just one moldy spot. If your egg salad looks good but has a sour or bitter taste, it's best to throw it away. In some cases, you might notice small bubbles or fizzing when stirring the salad. These are telltale signs of microbial growth. Refrain from tasting the salad, and discard it immediately.

As a rule of thumb, discard the salad if it has been kept in the fridge for longer than four days or at room temperature for longer than two hours. You should also throw it away if it was left out at temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit for more than one hour. Beware that eating spoiled hard-boiled eggs may cause diarrhea, vomiting, and other digestive symptoms. The same goes for spoiled mayonnaise, which can lead to food poisoning. 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, hard-boiled eggs are more vulnerable to spoilage than their fresh counterparts because they no longer have their protective coating. Therefore, they can easily be contaminated with bacteria and cause foodborne illnesses. Egg salad also contains yogurt or mayo, so it's even more susceptible to spoilage. Contrary to popular belief, adding vinegar or lemon juice won't prevent bacterial growth. These ingredients can destroy some, but not all, germs.

The best thing you can do is make egg salad in small batches and eat the leftovers as soon as possible. To keep it fresh for longer, store it in airtight containers or ziplock bags and then refrigerate it. Alternatively, wrap it in aluminum foil to protect it from humidity and bacteria. 

Use the leftovers in sandwiches, wraps, or breakfast burritos, or as a filling for baked potatoes, omelets, and stuffed avocados. If you're feeling creative, you can try these egg salad recipes from around the world to diversify your cooking. You can also mix the salad with cream cheese and spices to make a flavorful dip for chips, crackers, and veggie sticks. Another option is to spread it on toasted baguette slices and garnish with parsley or dill. For a low-carb snack, wrap the egg salad in nori or lettuce leaves and enjoy whenever hunger strikes.