How to Hard Boil an Egg?

wutamunkee
wutamunkee Posts: 440 Member
I know this seems like a dumb question... but I cannot get it right... and googling has so many theories its ridiculous... I spend 45 minutes peeling shell off my eggs and take half the egg with it... and its getting annoying!

Any tips?
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Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    i just make sure i tap it on the counter top loads, so the shell is all broken up before u start peeling it off!
  • sophjakesmom
    sophjakesmom Posts: 904 Member
    Put the eggs in cold water. Bring to boil. Turn off heat and cover. Leave for 15 minutes. Then put in sink and replace hot water with cold water with a whole tray of ice cubes.

    The cold bath causes the egg inside the shell to contract and then you can take the shell off very easy.
  • gel91
    gel91 Posts: 309
    I think the colder they are the easier they peel??

    Or maybe the other way around lol, when do you usually do them, maybe wait a little longer
  • JoHola
    JoHola Posts: 43 Member
    I tap it on the work top and then peel it under running water. Seems to work for me :happy:
  • vsyates
    vsyates Posts: 373 Member
    I've always heard that if the egg is very fresh when you boil it the shell sticks to the egg when peeling it. I put my eggs into the water, bring to a boil, remove from heat, and let them sit in the hot water for 20 mins. I use extra large eggs and this works for me.
  • I eat them all the time. I know how you feel. I havent figured anything out except the fact that when I first buy eggs they are the hardest ones to peel. So I try to stock up on eggs and boil the oldest ones. I know that sounds bad but I dont mean expired eggs just the ones in the fridge that I have had the longest and they peel very well. Sorry Im not much help but I will follow this so I can maybe get some ideas mysylf!
  • NaomiLyn15
    NaomiLyn15 Posts: 388 Member
    Putthe egg in a pan
    Fill so water covers the egg
    Place on high burner
    Immediately set a tuner for 20 min
    When 20 min is up, rinse eggs under cold water until they are warm to the touch
    Peel eggs

    They should be perfect everytime. The key is to cool them until they are just warm, not cold
  • mamax5
    mamax5 Posts: 414 Member
    OK...try this put your eggs in cold water and once they get to a rapid boil cover and remove from heat and let set for 18 minutes. Then put your eggs in ice cold water and then try to peel them. If your still having trouble peeling the shell run it under a light stream of cold water. That should work!
  • BeLightYear
    BeLightYear Posts: 1,450 Member
    Put the eggs in cold water. Bring to boil. Turn off heat and cover. Leave for 15 minutes. Then put in sink and replace hot water with cold water with a whole tray of ice cubes.

    The cold bath causes the egg inside the shell to contract and then you can take the shell off very easy.

    Works perfect every time!
  • NaomiLyn15
    NaomiLyn15 Posts: 388 Member
    Putthe egg in a pan
    Fill so water covers the egg
    Place on high burner
    Immediately set a tuner for 20 min
    When 20 min is up, rinse eggs under cold water until they are warm to the touch
    Peel eggs

    They should be perfect everytime. The key is to cool them until they are just warm, not cold

    Timer not tuner. Silly auto correct
  • i boil until i get a crack in the shell. then i put them in cool water while i work on peeling. i make sure to bang mine on the counter until its all broken as well. peels off very nice. (i dont leave any piece of shell bigger then a penny) also, i peel them under water.
  • jfinnivan
    jfinnivan Posts: 360 Member
    Boil a pot of water. Once it starts boiling, drop in the egg(s). Using a kitchen timer, wait 13 minutes. When the time is up, drain the boiling water out, and fill the pot with cold water. Crack the eggs so water gets under the shell. When the egg has cooled enough to handle, roll it on the counter so it cracks all the way around. Hold the egg in the water in the pot, and peel the shell off.
  • cold water always does the trick. if yuo have fresh eggs though, they are the hardest to peel, regardless of what you do. After I soak mine in cold water, I hit 1-2 times on counter to crack the shell, then I roll the egg on the counter with a little force to 'shatter' the rest of the shell.
  • radicalreader
    radicalreader Posts: 207 Member
    Put eggs in saucepan with just enough cold water to cover.
    Bring to a roiling boil.
    Boil one minute.
    Cover and remove from heat.
    Let eggs sit for 20 minutes in the hot water.
    Immediately drain the hot water. Fill the pan with ice and then top off with cold water.
    Let sit until eggs are totally cold. I usually forget about it and come back later.

    Also, older eggs peel easier than fresh eggs. Trust me, grew up on a farm.
  • MJLavaty
    MJLavaty Posts: 72 Member
    http://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes-and-more/recipes/basic-hardboiled-eggs

    This works great. Make sure its a rapid boil before you cover or add an extra minute on the time. Sometimes I find a tiny amount of yellow that isn't cooked through to my liking. Best boiled eggs ever though and no gray!
  • I've always been told that the older the egg is, the better it works. Bring to a boil, I boil for a few minutes and then leave them in the water for a while. I always add vinegar to the water before boiling too.
  • bada_bing
    bada_bing Posts: 128 Member
    I've always heard that if the egg is very fresh when you boil it the shell sticks to the egg when peeling it. I put my eggs into the water, bring to a boil, remove from heat, and let them sit in the hot water for 20 mins. I use extra large eggs and this works for me.

    New fresh egg always stick to shells, buy and wait for 3 or so days before boiling!!

    dk
  • Kelly_Wilson1990
    Kelly_Wilson1990 Posts: 3,245 Member
    I salt the water when I am going to boil eggs. I bring the water and eggs to a boil for one minute. Then remove from heat and cover with a lid until the water cools. You get perfect eggs. To peel, I smash the big end and then run them under cold water while peeling.
  • stresco
    stresco Posts: 354 Member
    Put the eggs in cold water. Bring to boil. Turn off heat and cover. Leave for 15 minutes. Then put in sink and replace hot water with cold water with a whole tray of ice cubes.

    The cold bath causes the egg inside the shell to contract and then you can take the shell off very easy.

    I agree... This is the best way to do it. Going from very hot water to very cold water quickly causes the egg to contract and pull away from the shell.
  • ZebraHead
    ZebraHead Posts: 15,207 Member
    Water to boil. Drop in eggs. Reduce heat to slow boil. Cook for 16 minutes. Fill pan in sink with cold water. While eggs are still hot with water running crack shell hold under running water and pop shell with thumb pressure (slight squeeze). Shell should come right off.

    Works for me everytime.

    Good Luck getting at those lovey protein bombs... :flowerforyou:
  • MzMiller1215
    MzMiller1215 Posts: 633 Member
    Put the eggs in cold water. Bring to boil. Turn off heat and cover. Leave for 15 minutes. Then put in sink and replace hot water with cold water with a whole tray of ice cubes.

    The cold bath causes the egg inside the shell to contract and then you can take the shell off very easy.

    Thanks for this info. I can never get it quite right.
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    I put them in a pot and cover with cold water. I set the timer for about 19 minutes and leave them alone. When the time goes off I immediately dump out the hot water and fill them with cold - drain and do it again.

    They do seem easier to peel when cold. But I have had issues cold and hot.

    I've also read to crack the egg when finished but before dumping the hot water.

    Just blame it on the egg. :wink:
  • I don't have a suggestion..useless post I know:ohwell: ...BUT I just thought this was hilarous since this morning I was cursing at my eggs cause of this very thing. I told myself when I got to work I was going to post and find any suggestions but you've beat me to it...BLESS YOU!!! But I am going to try the tricks that all of you were so nice to offer up. Cheers to eggs! :bigsmile:
  • whispiri
    whispiri Posts: 43 Member
    I was taught by a professional cook once that was a roomate of mine years ago. He said they crack and role the egg on the counter until most of the shell is broken. Usually the shell peels off easily. But you need to get under the skin that separates the egg from the shell. Once under that skin, the broken shell pretty much slides off then. I usually find that end of that skin somewhere on the ends of the egg. And sometimes older eggs (ones closer to the due date) are a little harder to separate the skin and shell.
  • End6ame
    End6ame Posts: 903
    I make four hard boiled eggs three times per week to eat for breakfast at work after the gym, I have become quite proficient at it.

    - Place eggs in cold water, and bring to boil.
    - Remove from heat, cover for 10-12 minutes (depending on how you like the inside, I like mine softer to I go with 10.)
    - Remove eggs from pan and run under cold water for a minute or two.
    - Tap narrow end on counter to crack and peel from there.

    Typically the air pocket collects at the wide end of the egg. If you start peeling at the wide end you run the risk of not peeling the skin away along with the shell. Starting at the narrow end, ensures that you are peeling the skin as well, which will make peeling much easier.
  • PJilly
    PJilly Posts: 22,186 Member
    Put the eggs in cold water. Bring to boil. Turn off heat and cover. Leave for 15 minutes. Then put in sink and replace hot water with cold water with a whole tray of ice cubes.

    The cold bath causes the egg inside the shell to contract and then you can take the shell off very easy.

    Works perfect every time!
    This is how I do it as well. I recently read that salt in the water helps make peeling easier, so I started adding 1 teaspoon of salt to the water. It seems to make a diference. Also, I use my oldest eggs for hard boiling.
  • sophjakesmom
    sophjakesmom Posts: 904 Member
    I have to add the reason this works for me is the heat is off. Sooooo, if I forget and leave them on the stove for say, 40 minutes, I don't have pop eggs. (yup, eggs will pop open and send yolk all over the kitchen if you boil all the water down. :ohwell: )

    So when someone told me to do it this way, I was really happy it worked. :laugh:
  • wutamunkee
    wutamunkee Posts: 440 Member
    Thanks everyone for the advice... I will be trying small batches over the weekend until I figure it out, me thinks :p

    THANKS!!
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I put the eggs in the water, bring it to a boil for 15 minutes, then run cold water over them to cool them before I peel. They turn out perfect.
  • 1953Judith
    1953Judith Posts: 325 Member
    My technique may sound silly, but it works for me. I bring the water to a light boil. I poke a needle through the shell at the tip of the egg. I put the egg(s) in the boiling water (you see tiny bubbles coming out of the needle hole which always makes me laugh so it is worth doing for that alone). Boil for 10 plus minutes. Rinse in cold water. Crack and peel.
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