Hard-boiled eggs are delicious on their own, as a protein addition to salads, or in an egg salad sandwich, but they don't last forever.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hard-boiled eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for seven days.

When boiled and peeled, the egg's natural protective barrier is washed away, allowing bacteria to eventually enter the porous surface if the eggs sit for too long.

Once cooked, hard-boiled eggs should be refrigerated within two hours to minimize the risk of food-borne illnesses caused by bacteria like salmonella.

Hard-boiled eggs can either be stored with their shells still on or peeled off. Boiling only a few eggs at a time helps you get through a batch faster before it goes bad.