I just threw away a dozen jumbo boiled eggs. Argh....

[realdocBBQ]

After trying to peel them, I got 2½ eggs in and was so frustrated and P.O.'d I just chucked the whole bunch of them. Screw that.

These were the worst I've ever tried to peel. They were literally falling apart and SHREDDED by the time I would get done with one. F that.


I know, I've tried every damned technique I could find on the interwebz for supposedly "easy to peel" eggs....


Fresh eggs
Aged eggs
Farm fresh (non-supermarket) eggs
Put in tepid water from the fridge
Put in tepid water from room temp
Put directly in already boiling water from fridge
Put directly in already boiling water from room temp
Let them sit in the pot after boiling for 10 minutes
Bring directly to a boil, turn off heat, let sit for 10 minutes, then immediately ice bath
Add salt to water
Add vinegar to water
Peel under running water
Let set in shells overnight in fridge before peeling.
Gently crack and roll between hands to separate shell from egg
Roll between hands while running under running water

The only thing I haven't done is steam them, because I don't have one of those steam tray things.

Whatever I've tried, dozens of methods over the years, the one think I have absolutely found without fail:

All this crap is inconsistent and you can NEVER repeat the results when you have a batch that's easy to peel.

Next time, do exactly the same thing - and they'll be 180º the polar opposite of what you did last time.

If I didn't love me some devilled eggs... <sigh>.


I guess I'll just leave it to The Wife again this year. Dammit.

[Starsky]

After trying to peel them, I got 2½ eggs in and was so frustrated and P.O.'d I just chucked the whole bunch of them. Screw that.

These were the worst I've ever tried to peel. They were literally falling apart and SHREDDED by the time I would get done with one. F that.


I know, I've tried every damned technique I could find on the interwebz for supposedly "easy to peel" eggs....


Fresh eggs
Aged eggs
Farm fresh (non-supermarket) eggs
Put in tepid water from the fridge
Put in tepid water from room temp
Put directly in already boiling water from fridge
Put directly in already boiling water from room temp
Let them sit in the pot after boiling for 10 minutes
Bring directly to a boil, turn off heat, let sit for 10 minutes, then immediately ice bath
Add salt to water
Add vinegar to water
Peel under running water
Let set in shells overnight in fridge before peeling.
Gently crack and roll between hands to separate shell from egg
Roll between hands while running under running water

The only thing I haven't done is steam them, because I don't have one of those steam tray things.

Whatever I've tried, dozens of methods over the years, the one think I have absolutely found without fail:

All this crap is inconsistent and you can NEVER repeat the results when you have a batch that's easy to peel.

Next time, do exactly the same thing - and they'll be 180º the polar opposite of what you did last time.

If I didn't love me some devilled eggs... <sigh>.


I guess I'll just leave it to The Wife again this year. Dammit.

I've had the best luck with older eggs and using vinegar. And I use a small spoon to remove the shell

[fzxdoc]

I hard boil mine in the Instant Pot. 6 minutes on Low Pressure, 6 minutes on Natural Pressure Release before releasing the pressure completely, then 6 minutes in ice bath. Usually by then the shells practically pop off in two pieces.

Kathryn

[Alan Brice]

InstaPot, Kathryn is spot on. On my first cool water rinse, I bounce the pan to crack all the finished eggs at the same time. After the ice bath they practically fall out of the shell.

[Bkhuna]

realdocBBQ The IP revolutionized making hard boiled, soft boiled and everything in between.

https://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/pressure-cooker-soft-hard-boiled-eggs/

[treesmacker]

Yep - instant pot. I do 12 minutes on low pressure and then quick release and into ice bath. https://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/...d-boiled-eggs/

[Red Man]

I typically don’t have much trouble peeling. I go from fridge, into pot of cold water. Bring to a boil then turn off heat, leave the lid on, for 8-10 minutes depending on desired doneness, then dump the water, pour in cold water and fill pot with ice. Let sit for a little while. I give them a few whacks on the side of the sink and they almost always peel easily.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

I don't have one of these, but a friend swears by it. https://www.amazon.com/EZ-EGGS-Boile.../dp/B083XH825D

I use the blow method if the eggs are just for me and my wife, but if for other people I suffer through and just know I'm gonna likely lose 2 eggs per dozen sticking to the shell, unless I used my instantpot like fzxdoc said. But I often smoke my eggs when I'm making something for others.

[Jerod Broussard]

I buy boiled and peeled eggs from wolly world. They got Great Value (sealable bag) near the eggs in cartons and another brand (non sealable) near some salads.

[CHNeal]

He’s right you know!

[Jfrosty27]

Yup. We do this too. Too many failed boil cook at home eggs. All the same issues mentioned in the OP.

[WayneT]

I’m not the greatest at peeling HB eggs either. Anyone tried SV eggs and peeling them? If I don’t have to buy an Insta-Pot, I can still have a full life.

[Red Man]

I’ve tried SV a couple times and they didn’t peel well at all for me.

[DavidNorcross]

Were these fresh eggs or did you buy them at the store? Fresh eggs are hard to peel. Best technique is to remove them from the hot water and put them right in ice water as cold as you can get it. They peel great.

[WayneT]

I will attest to that claim. Our neighbor keeps us in fresh eggs and while they are great for cooking and baking they're a PITA to peel.

[realdocBBQ]

These were from the store, bought today. I've tried aging them a few weeks, though - maybe they were slightly better... but not amazing to my remembrence.

[ssandy_561]

My go to method is put a pot of water on the stovetop to boil and take the eggs out of the fridge. We always buy Eggland Best Eggs (I think they taste better). Once the water is boiling rapidly I’ll slowly lower the eggs into the boiling water with a plastic slotted spoon. After the desired cooking time I’ll drain off the boiling water and then refill the pot three separate times with cold tap water. The last time I’ll leave the water in the pot and set the pot in the sink. The eggs are still quite warm. I’ll crack the egg on the inside of our sink and roll it there until the shell is cracked all the way around then I’ll peel them in the water in the pot in the sink. I can’t remember the last time I had a shell stick. It’s been years. I usually hard boil eggs once every other week.

[klflowers]

+1 on eggland's best

[Mosca]

This is pretty close to what I do as well.

[DavidNorcross]

These girls produce awesome eggs for boiling

[DavidNorcross]

Ha..Yes. 7 chickens and 2 large gardens. Man, I had to dig that suit out of mothballs for that photo. Death and The Pit are the only two reasons to wear a suit!

[radshop]

Nice. I've got 2 Barred Rocks and 3 Rhode Island Reds.

[DavidNorcross]

Love Barred Rocks. I have 6 Barred Rocks and only 1 Red.

[CaptainMike]

This never fails me: https://www.seriouseats.com/the-secr...rd-boiled-eggs

[realdocBBQ]

This was one of the main places I went to try things out - I can't get that to work, either. I'm apparently pretty bad, as everyone here but one has told me how simple it is.

But not for me.

[GolfGeezer]

Well, I do have one of those very cheap steamer kizmos we got as an Xmas gift at one of wife’s office Xmas exchange. Couldn’t cost more than $20. 22:30 minutes on the timer from the start with cold water. Took awhile to get that timing. Then into an ice bath for 15 minutes, I make 1/2 dozen every 6 days as I eat them every morning to meds with food. Works like a champ for 3 years now.

[Mosca]

15 minutes in boiling water, then rest in cold water. Then I tap the big end and peel under running water. Gotta get under that membrane!

Every now and then I have one that gives me trouble, but that’s rare.

[Bkhuna]

Boiled for 15 minutes? We're making eggs here, not golf balls.

[Mosca]

I know, right? Mrs Mosca can’t have any hint AT ALL of dark yellow, and I won’t do them until the yolks are green. But really, anywhere from 12 to 15 is about the same.

She boils them until the water is almost gone, she’s actually burned them a few times.

[Dadof3Illinois]

I tried the mason jar trick and it actually worked! Boil and cook the eggs, add a couple of inches of water to a mason jar, put in egg and shake…peeled egg comes out…I found this trick on YouTube.

[Reds Fan 5]

I used to struggle with this, too. Jacques Pepin saved me. 12 mins in boiling water, 15 in ice bath. When ready to eat, gently crack the egg all over with a spoon (I just crack in on the counter). Peel it under running cold 100% success but 85-90%