help getting membrane off boiled eggs please

gothchiq
gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I peel boiled eggs under running water, yet sometimes that membrane still will not come off. I hate it. It squeaks under my teeth. Does anyone have a foolproof, or even just fairly reliable way to get rid of this stupid membrane without ripping off half the eggwhite also?
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Replies

  • French_Peasant
    French_Peasant Posts: 1,639 Member
    Ugh. Following.
  • Mithridites
    Mithridites Posts: 600 Member
    Your eggs are too fresh
  • French_Peasant
    French_Peasant Posts: 1,639 Member
    Mithridites wrote: »
    Your eggs are too fresh

    I've had this problem with eggs that are a month or two old as well. Although they were dead fresh out of a chicken's caboose when I got them, as opposed to what your get at the store, which are not the freshest.
  • hawkmancody
    hawkmancody Posts: 63 Member
    I have never had that problem with any of my hardboiled eggs. Do you like your eggs boiled soft or hard?
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    These were from the good ol' Food Lion. I've heard they peel better if you put vinegar in the water when boiling, which I guess I could try, but that membrane just makes me crazy lol.
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    Hawkman, I boil them hard so I can transport them to work for snacks without creating a mess.
  • mgookin
    mgookin Posts: 92 Member
    I boil my eggs with vinegar and some salt and dont have any issues. Ever rare once in awhile I get a stubborn one. I just cut it in half, remove the membrane and eat that egg the same day.
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    Vinegar and salt. Got it, thank you. Will do this tomorrow AM when getting my lunch ready.
  • girlwithcurls2
    girlwithcurls2 Posts: 2,281 Member
    One trick I learned that almost always works is to tap a spoon onto the fat end (where the membrane pulls away from the shell inside) so that it creates a little dent. It's even OK if it sort of cracks because you're just giving it a quick whack. Boil as usual, rinse in cold (I dump ice on mine to speed it up). They should peel better. I get my eggs from a guy at work who has chickens, and this works really well for fresh eggs. Maybe it will work for you? :smile:
  • Erik8484
    Erik8484 Posts: 458 Member
    I got better results when I:
    1. put my eggs in the saucepan from the get-go, rather than waiting for the saucepan to boil, and then dropping the eggs in
    2. dropped the eggs in cold water after.

    I don't think that change elimited the problem alltogether, but it did reduce how often it happened.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited January 2019
    gothchiq wrote: »
    I peel boiled eggs under running water, yet sometimes that membrane still will not come off. I hate it. It squeaks under my teeth. Does anyone have a foolproof, or even just fairly reliable way to get rid of this stupid membrane without ripping off half the eggwhite also?

    First, make sure your eggs are not real fresh. I like to buy mine at least a week before I hard cook them. This is especially important if you are making deviled eggs, The yolk of older eggs will be more in the center of the egg rather than closer to the air sac. The membrane is more likely to cling to the shell.

    Second, poke a pinhole with something like a darning needle in the large end of each egg before cooking it. It helps prevent cracking if you use a boiling water start but it seems to help in peeling too.

    I have tried vinegar, salt, baking soda, etc in the water and none have helped.
  • bishopjulia
    bishopjulia Posts: 205 Member
    As a cook l boil eggs all the time. I usually run them under cold water for a while (5min) then the peel usually comes off smooth. Once in a while you just get a stubborn egg ☺️, otherwise it works eggsellent 😂
  • MIpiccolo
    MIpiccolo Posts: 65 Member
    Do you have an instant pot? Every egg I’ve cooked in there comes out beautifully and peels easily, including the membrane
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Has anyone tried these? Because I am tempted! I hate peeling hard-boiled eggs.

    z3cuh3jf8oqk.jpg
  • hawkmancody
    hawkmancody Posts: 63 Member
    gothchiq wrote: »
    Hawkman, I boil them hard so I can transport them to work for snacks without creating a mess.
    Hardboiled cut in half with a little salt is my favorite.

    I boil my eggs by putting cold water in a pot along with however many eggs i need than i put it on the stove till it starts boiling,i start a 15 min timer after it starts to boil. After 15 min i take the boiling pot and put it in the sink. I then turn on the cold water and let it run till the eggs are cool.
  • amfmmama
    amfmmama Posts: 1,420 Member
    ice bath
  • foamking4u
    foamking4u Posts: 12 Member
    I put salt in the water. After it boils put eggs in for 20 minutes.. take off and run under cold water.. when its not too hot to hold crack and peel. Never fails me
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    I just started using one of these. So far, all the eggs I have cooked in it peel really easily. I do cool them in an ice bath immediately after cooking.
    z4b4a2ubzfui.jpeg
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    I use the hot-start method followed by a 15 minute or so ice bath and have no issues with peeling or membranes, even with fresh eggs. I don't use salt, vinegar, or poke holes.

    https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/05/the-secrets-to-peeling-hard-boiled-eggs.html
  • manderson27
    manderson27 Posts: 3,510 Member
    I put eggs in cold water heat up and boil for 10 mins then run under cold tap for at least 5 mins. Under cooked warm eggs don't peel easily.
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I use the hot-start method followed by a 15 minute or so ice bath and have no issues with peeling or membranes, even with fresh eggs. I don't use salt, vinegar, or poke holes.

    https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/05/the-secrets-to-peeling-hard-boiled-eggs.html

    I use this method too. Perfect eggs, and no yucky grey ring around the yolk!
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    Has anyone tried these? Because I am tempted! I hate peeling hard-boiled eggs.

    z3cuh3jf8oqk.jpg

    It gets pretty poor reviews and ended up on several "Worst "as seen on TV" 2018" lists. I was tempted too but it was a big "nope" for me.
  • margbarco
    margbarco Posts: 128 Member
    The trick is to boil the water first, then add the eggs.

    I lower them into the pot with a spoon so they don’t crack. Good luck :)
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,092 Member
    Steam 'em. Bring water to boil, put eggs in steamer basket.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
    I just started using one of these. So far, all the eggs I have cooked in it peel really easily. I do cool them in an ice bath immediately after cooking.
    z4b4a2ubzfui.jpeg

    Yes, steaming is perfect. Used one of theses in a bnb on vaca and every egg peeled perfectly. I finally came up with my own hack because I didn’t really want another appliance. I use a metal veggie steamer basket in a large pan so it spreads out nearly flat. Put water in pan up to bottom of the basket. Put in eggs. Cover and turn on high for about 15 min. Cool and peel. Perfect eggs every time for 2 years. I’ve tried all the other methods described above and this is the ONLY one that works consistently for me.
  • jamlace
    jamlace Posts: 3 Member
    I just got this for Christmas and it is awesome! You put the egg in, cover with water, close and shake for 15-20 seconds. The ridges on the inside allow the shell to crack and allow water between the egg and the shell. Works like a charm every time and it is very inexpensive.

    https://www.amazon.com/Iprimio-Hard-Boiled-Peeler-Cracker/dp/B077TX6N2H/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1547822471&sr=8-6&keywords=hard+boiled+egg+peeler
  • Susieq_1994
    Susieq_1994 Posts: 5,361 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I use the hot-start method followed by a 15 minute or so ice bath and have no issues with peeling or membranes, even with fresh eggs. I don't use salt, vinegar, or poke holes.

    https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/05/the-secrets-to-peeling-hard-boiled-eggs.html

    I use this too, and haven't had a hard-to-peel egg even once since I started cooking them this way.
  • Crafty_camper123
    Crafty_camper123 Posts: 1,440 Member
    Age your eggs.
    Store bought eggs- age them for about 3-4 weeks and you'll never have an issue. Farm fresh eggs? You could probably get away with 6-8 weeks or longer. (Since your store bought eggs are usually 2-3 weeks old by the time you buy them anyways). The older your egg is, the larger the air space between the shell and the membrane. That's what makes them easier to peel.
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    Thanks to all! I'll be trying the suggestions here.
  • whathapnd
    whathapnd Posts: 1,304 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
    I just started using one of these. So far, all the eggs I have cooked in it peel really easily. I do cool them in an ice bath immediately after cooking.
    z4b4a2ubzfui.jpeg

    Yes, steaming is perfect. Used one of theses in a bnb on vaca and every egg peeled perfectly. I finally came up with my own hack because I didn’t really want another appliance. I use a metal veggie steamer basket in a large pan so it spreads out nearly flat. Put water in pan up to bottom of the basket. Put in eggs. Cover and turn on high for about 15 min. Cool and peel. Perfect eggs every time for 2 years. I’ve tried all the other methods described above and this is the ONLY one that works consistently for me.

    This is the method I've used for about eight years. The only difference is I set timer for 18 minutes. I then plunge in an ice bath using tongs to get each out. Eggs are always perfectly cooked and easy to peel.

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