by Melissa Caughey of Tilly’s Nest
Tis the season for a plethora of hard boiled eggs. Easter is upon us. Did you know that there are a few things that you too can do to achieve the perfect hard boiled egg? Over the years I have had plenty of opportunity to perfect the art and today I would like to share with you the technique that I have been using for a while now.
 |
| Spring is here and the eggs are abundant! |
1. Old eggs are best. Fresh eggs can be very difficult to peel. Set aside some of your fresh eggs for a week or two to help them become better hard boiled eggs.
2. Start off with cold eggs in cold water. This helps to prevent cracking.
3. Use a large pot. Eggs that are crowded have the potential of bumping into each other are more likely to crack.
4. Cover the eggs completely with water. This helps to ensure even cooking.
5. Gently bring the water up to a gentle simmer. Again, we don’t want to crack the eggs. We want to cook them slowly and gently.
 |
| This is how my eggs look inside once hard boiled. |
6. Let the eggs gently simmer for 5 minutes.
7. Remove the pot of water from the stove top, place it on a trivet, and cover with lid.
8. Set it aside, covered for 25 minutes to complete cooking.
9. Gently remove the eggs one by one from the hot water. I use a pair of silicone tongs.
10. Set them aside to cool.
11. Once you are able to comfortably handle them, peel and enjoy!
 |
| Click here for my egg salad recipe shown here. |
Craving more from Tilly’s Nest? You can visit me on my blog and on Facebook. Stop on by for some more fun!
Photo Credits: Tilly’s Nest
23 Comments
ALL these different ideas! I’m not sure where to start or which ones to try;)
Hard to believe people are still boiling their eggs! Steaming is the only way to go. 12 minutes for small to medium and 15 minutes for large. Cover the steamer. Rinse them in cold water and peel–Voila–no more funky half-peeled eggs and no need to wait!
I use fresh eggs from the hen house and have perfect hard boil eggs. Bring water to boil, gently ease eggs into water with a spoon, continue to boil for 30 mins. They have been perfect now for over 2 years
high amounts of salt in the water makes coming to a boiling point longer. don’t see how salt water would permeate the shell if it is not cracked.
While I have not tried it, a recent cooking show on tv recommended adding salt to the water for easy peel eggs. They said the mistake most people make is adding too little salt, as if you were cooking pasta. According to the hosts you need to add LOTS…they didn’t specify, they just dumped a bunch in, but it looked like maybe 1/4 cup..???
I have a question about what to do for my chicken’s broken middle toe? Do I put a splint on it? Someone please send their info cmstrupp@gmail.com
I will send you some splinting information to your email later today. Poor chicken 🙁
last but not least (hopefully)… I’ve also heard of putting baking soda in the water before boiling which changes the PH and is supposed to give you easy to peel eggs every time. I’ve tried it once and it worked.
Very cool!
I have heard that adding salt and/or vinegar to the water makes fresh eggs easier to peel. I tried that but didn’t have a lot of success. Then I read this past week a new technique and it worked perfectly.
COld eggs in cold water, bring up to a boil slowly for 5 minutes. Then remove from heat, pout off the hot water, add cold water and lots of ice. Let them sit until the eggs are cold. Then remove the ice, bring up slowly to a boil, cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and dump in ice water again for just a few minutes.
You end up with super fresh, hard boiled eggs that are WAY easy peelers.
Thank you for sharing this too! Ice huh? Will give it a go! Always up to try new things.
I have tried every technique for hard boiled eggs I have come across and no had any luck with any of them. I have discovered a way to salvage eggs when they won’t peel smoothly. Gently crack the shell long wise around the center of the egg. Once you complete the crack, continue to cut the egg in half. I rinse the halves then scoop out the the egg with a soup spoon (like you would do an avocado). Not quite as pretty but it works.
Thank you for sharing. There is nothing more frustrating than sticking peels.
A tablespoon of vegetable oil in the water you are boiling eggs in will make for the slickest peeling eggs ever. New or old…
Yes I use oil too. Get the water boiling, add a good splash of oil. Also I poke a small hole in the wide end of the egg with a push pin. Add eggs, cover and turn off heat. Wait 17 minutes and cool in ice bath. Works every time
This is Stoneage info at best. Steaming is the only way to go.
If you steam the eggs you can use them fresh from the hen house and have a perfect peeled egg.
http://challengedsurvival.blogspot.com/2013/03/i-will-never-boil-another-egg.html
Yes, I sometimes do not have the time to wait for my eggs to age to boil them and have found that if you steam the fresh eggs for 12 minutes, they will peel perfectly.
Love this idea! Definitely will have to try it. Thank you.
I’ve been steaming my eggs for years now. No need to let your fresh eggs get old. Eggs laid that morning peel perfectly.
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2012/01/hard-steamed-eggs.html
I recently heard something really interesting! I heard that an hour before boiling your eggs, turn them over, and the yolk will be in the center! I was really impressed with that!
Very interesting! Thank you for sharing!
get a pot and strainer fill pot with water and not touch strainer put in the fresh eggs let water come to a boil then put the lid on and set timer for 30 minutes, then put eggs in ice cold water for 4 or 5 minutes and they will not only peel great but to me they even taste better than boiled.