mac

We have all talked about this before: How to make hard boiled eggs that are easy to peel

I used the instructions from America's Test Kitchen, using freshly laid eggs that I had gotten from a friend that raises chickens. These are America's Test Kitchen instructions:

Bring 1 inch water to rolling boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Place eggs in steamer basket. Transfer basket to the saucepan. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook eggs for 13 minutes.
When eggs are almost finished cooking, combine 2 cups ice cubes and 2 cups cold water in medium bowl. Using tongs or spoon, transfer eggs to ice bath; let sit for 15 minutes.

I was really shocked at how well this recipe worked. Not one pock hole in any of the eggs. The shells peeled so easily, they practically slipped off. I have since done this about a half dozen times and each time the shelled beautifully.

Just a side note from my experience: When peeling the eggs, I always crack the egg all around and then I start at the top of the biggest part of the egg. That is where the air pocket is and starting from there helps you to get the membrane separated from the white right off the bat.

QuiltnNan

thanks for your tips

Roberta

I saw a hint on making hard- boiled eggs in one of my foodie newsletters. The hint was to insert a thumb tack in one part of the egg and then boil as normal and it should help the shell come off easily. I thought it was a strange idea that I just had to try and sure enough, they peeled very easily and the thumb tack didn't melt in the hot water.

I now keep several tacks in a small jar in the kitchen so I can use them again.

Wanabee Quiltin

I just boiled eggs for the holiday and had no problems. I generally prefer older eggs for boiling but will boil fresh ones too. I put mine in cold water completely covered, bring to a boil and turn off stove. Let it sit for 30 minutes or so and then eventually put them in cold water. I have no problems at all doing this way.

bneuen

I never used to have trouble peeling eggs and in the last couple of years, I can hardly peel them. I wonder why the difference. Very frustrating!!

llong0233

I will cherish this technique if it works for me. I have such bad juju when it comes to hard boiling eggs I usually sub-contract to my sister who makes beautiful, tender eggs! I have not tried this method and I want to be able to make good ones like my sister! Thanks for the tip.

P.S. Are the eggs directly from the refrigerator or room temperature?

NZquilter

I always just put about a tablespoon of baking soda in with the water to boil before I put the eggs in; I can liturally crack the shells and they come off in two halves!

mac

Yes, you put them in straight from the refrigerator. This is the explanation that America's Test Kitchen gives:

Boiled eggs that start in cold water are hard to peel because the proteins in the egg white set slowly, which gives them time to fuse to the surrounding membrane. When you try to remove the shell, parts of the white cling to the membrane, and the surface of the egg is unattractively pockmarked. Instead of a cold-water start, we place cold eggs directly into hot steam, which rapidly denatures the outermost egg white proteins, causing them to form a solid gel that shrinks and pulls away from the membrane. The shell slips off easily to reveal smooth, unblemished hard-cooked eggs.

Daffy Daphne

Thank you for this great tip! I have previously tried so many things that didn't work.

I couldn't find my steamer basket, so took a chance on sliding the eggs from a slotted spoon into the boiling water. Was afraid they'd crack, but they didn't. They peeled perfectly!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]574015[/ATTACH]

Daffy

tranum

Mom raised chickens - she used lots of eggs. She made angel food with egg whites and "Sunshine Cake" using yolks. We ate egg salad on open face sandwiches, deviled eggs, jelly rolls with lemon filling, potato salad and a personal favorite: fried egg sandwiches. She sold eggs to a place in town and the price was terrible so she said "we eat what's cheap".

As was said earlier, fresh eggs don't peel nicely, I use them for fried eggs or baking and use older eggs for hard boiled.