Eggs - Boiling them Soft or Hard

• need to cover with cold water, with about half egg space of water above eggs
• add salt to water to stop broken or cracked eggs from breaking or oozing
• bring to a boil, uncovered, about 12 minutes
• cover at boil, and reduce heat to low
• set timer for 12 minutes for hard boiled eggs - yolks will be hard and crumbly
• set timer to 4 minutes, for soft boiled eggs - yolks will be soft, but not runny

• water should be cool or cold, not hot water
• water should cover the eggs by about an inch
• water should be brought to a boil, usually 12 minutes
• after boil is reached, pot should be covered and heat reduced to low
• set timer for 12 minutes for hard boiled eggs
• a watched pot never boils, isn't true, but feels true

• salt is necessary to coagulate whites if they emerge from an egg that has a crack
• a teaspoon of salt is enough

• remove most of hot water
• add cold water
• drain cold water
• add additional cold water
• feel egg with palm - you can feel if it is cool
• when cool, place in box, cover, and put in refrigerator -eggs smell like sulfur if they are not covered

• older eggs peel better than new eggs
• tap boiled egg on hard surface on flat end of egg
• remove broken shell from end, look for egg membrane between egg and shell
• gently slide thumb in between egg and membrane
• loosen egg
• remove shell

I have a few recipes that use boiled eggs:

1. deviled eggs
2. egg salad
3. pickled eggs
4. smoked eggs
5. chipped beef on toast
6. Easter eggs for coloring
7. Soft boiled eggs are good in a bowl, chopped up with butter, salt and pepper

• discard shells in trash
• crumble shells and place on soil in house plants
• place egg shells in garden
• place egg shells in compost pile