How do you get hard boiled eggs to turn out perfectly and be easy to peel?

1. 37

   ChristinSposted 10 years ago

   How do you get hard boiled eggs to turn out perfectly and be easy to peel?
   
   I suspect my eggs may be too fresh, seeing as how they are straight from the coop and only a few days old.  I've tried removing from heat and steaming, adding salt to the water and my eggs are still always hard to peel and some of the egg comes off with the shell.  Not bad for salads, but I want to make a tray of deviled eggs for a party tomorrow and I am panicked the eggs will not be exactly right.

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2. 72

   Thief12posted 10 years ago

   My wife gave me a tip that has worked so far for me... at least in terms of how well they end up. Put eggs in water, and then turn heat on High. Once the water starts boiling, cover the pot and turn the heat off. Leave them in for 10 minutes, covered, with the stove turned off, and they should turn out perfectly.

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   1. 37

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Thief - that does work like a charm to prevent overcooking doesn't help with peeling them though unfortunately.

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   2. 72

      Thief12posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, I know. Sorry :-D

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   3. 37

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      no need to be sorry hopefully someone else will see this advice on how to cook them well

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3. 92

   peeplesposted 10 years ago

   I boil mine then immerse them straight into ice (more ice than water) water. It works for me every time, but then again I have store bought that are probably weeks old by the time they get to me.

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   1. 37

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I've done an ice bath but not more ice than water, I will give that a whirl.  I do suspect it is because our eggs are fresh.  I hate to buy some when I have them, but I may just do that.

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4. 66

   Lady Guinevereposted 10 years ago

   Add about a teaspoon of Baking Soda to the water and then boil it for 3 minutes and then cover and turn off the water and let them sit for 1/2 hour.  Then immerse them into ice water.  They peel perfectly.

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   1. 37

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      let them sit before the ice bath - I'll try it thanks I was told to put them immediately in the cold bath to "shock" them away from the shell, but it didn't work. I'll let them rest then shock them.

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5. 82

   Patsybellposted 10 years ago

   Never boil another egg. Learn how to peel eggs perfectly every time. Use eggs as a protien source to complete lighter seasonal meals. read more

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6. 79

   pattyflorenposted 10 years ago

   Have you tried boiling the water and then put the eggs in this boiling water for l5 minutes.  I get good peel almost every time.  If the eggs are old, not so much.

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7. 91

   IslandBitesposted 10 years ago

   True; the fresher the eggs, the harder to peel.

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8. 80

   Diana Leeposted 10 years ago

   When boiling fresh eggs more salt is needed in the water to make them peel good.

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9. 82

   peachpurpleposted 10 years ago

   i put half pot of water with the fresh eggs inside. Boil them for 10 minutes. Once you see the shells begin to crack, turn off heat and scoop up the eggs, dip into tap running water before peeling them

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10. 90

    sangreposted 10 years ago

    I add a teaspoon of vinegar to my water, then I boil the water. Once the water is boiled I then add the egg to the boiling water.
    
    Once the eggs are done I add them to ice cold water in a bowl. I leave them there till the water is totally gone cold. Then I remove and roll the egg on the counter. Then I peep the shell off.

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11. 61

    Aussie cookposted 10 years ago

    I put my eggs into cold water and add about 1/2 cup brown vinegar and bring to the boil. Boil for about 5 minutes and then run the pot with the eggs in it still under cold running water. I find this helps to prevent them cracking open when cooking and the shock of cold water prevents that gray ring around the yolk. To peel them I tap the larger rounded end until it cracks, then tap all the egg shell until it cracks, put it back into the cold water until you have cracked them all. I then start peeling from that larger rounded end under running cold tap water. 99% of the time I get a perfectly peeled egg.

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