Do your hard-boiled eggs make you want to scream?
The solution to gaining the perfect hard-boiled egg is simpler than you think. All you want is the perfect hard-boiled egg that’s easy to peel. Instead, you get cracked shells, hard to peel, not cooked long enough, rubbery, etc.
Let me give you a few secrets that will help you make easy to peel hard-boiled eggs. Plus, less cracked shells and done just right – pretty much all the time.
Freshness
Eggs you buy from the store aren’t super fresh, but this is okay when making hard-boiled eggs. If you get your eggs fresh from your yard or someone close, you can still make your hard-boiled eggs perfect.
If you eat fresh eggs, eggs less than a week old, try waiting 2 to 3 days before hard boiling them. In an older but good egg, the white membrane of the egg shrinks from its original size. This shrinkage allows for air to enter the shell and the membrane loosens from the shell easier.
But don’t worry, this hard-boil hack has worked on 2-day-old eggs.
Egg Color – Does it matter?
The color of the egg means nothing, except what type of bird laid the egg. Eggs can be white, light to dark brown, blue, pinkish, green, and an assortment of other shades and speckles. It all depends on the genetics of the hen.
So no, the egg color has no bearing on the perfect hard-boiled egg.
Too Many Cracked Eggshells
I don’t mind 1 or 2 cracked eggshells when I make hard-boiled eggs, because then I have to eat them. But it is really a pain when you don’t want any shells cracked during hard boiling.
Eggs crack for three reasons.
- When you set the egg into the water, you accidentally drop the egg too hard. Even though there’s no physical sign of breakage, the shell has been weakened. When the egg heats in the water, the weakened shell cracks and splits.
- Eggs have a small air bubble in the bigger round end. When the egg heats up, this air bubble pushes and cracks the egg.
- The egg shell is weaker or thinner that it should be. It may feel hard to the touch, but the outer shell is actually thinner. These eggs can also split during cooking.
The first issue can happen for many reasons. Usually it’s from the water boiling and you dropping the egg a little too hard trying not to get burnt. Or the egg slides off your spoon too quickly. Or you drop it instead of setting it in the pot. The second issue happens more often when you set cold raw eggs into boiling water. The third cause of broken eggshells, you have no control over. If you are mindful of the first two issues, you’ll have fewer issues if the shell is thinner.
The Perfect Easy to Peel Hard-boiled Egg Hack
Needed Materials:
- A pot large enough to boil the number of eggs you want with 2 to 3 inches of water over them. Make sure none of the eggs are laying on top of each other. Doing layers of eggs can cause more bouncing and cracking.
- Eggs: Place them on the counter to bring them as close to room temperature as possible. If you get fresh eggs from your farm or someone else’s, do not wash them until you need to use them. And leave them on the counter in a cool area.
- Baking Soda: Organic or non-GMO. Make sure it doesn’t contain aluminum.
- Salt: Any type of salt will work. 1 teaspoon salt.
- Cold water or water with ice cubes.
Directions
- Fill the pot with room temperature water. Make sure you have enough water to cover the eggs at least two to three inches of water. Make sure you’re using a large enough pot that water doesn’t boil out.
- Rinse your eggs in room temperature water.
- Add the desired number of eggs to the water.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
- Add 1 teaspoon salt.
- Bring water to a full boil
- Keep water boiling for 12 minutes. Once the water is at a full boil, turn down the heat, while still keeping the water slightly boiling. You don’t want to over boil; it causes the eggs to bounce more, causing cracks. Plus, it’s easier for water to splatter out.
- After 12 minutes, dump boiling water out of the pot.
- Add cold water or water with ice cubes to the pot. Your goal is to cool your eggs as fast as possible. As soon as the cold water or water ice combo is warm, change the water to cold again. I run our cold water in the sink, over the eggs, until the water no longer warms up. Then I dump the water and add more cold water.
- Let your eggs sit in the cold water until they are no longer warm to the touch. Change the water if it warms up from the eggs cooling.
- Slightly crack and peel your egg. Some people like to peel their eggs under running cool water.
Your egg is now ready for eating or using in your favorite recipe. If you like your egg slightly warm, you can peel them before the egg is completely cool. If you don’t want to use the hard-boiled eggs right away, leave them in their shells and refrigerate.
And don’t forget to label your eggs as hard-boiled. It’s always a little messy when you mistake a raw egg for a hard-boiled one.
There you have it – a hack for making easy to peel hard-boiled eggs.
Leave a comment below on what you did with your hard-boiled eggs or how it worked for you.