Easy Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
After years of googling how to boil eggs, I finally wised up and learned the best way to make easy peel hard boiled eggs. This recipe for easy peel hard-boiled eggs breaks down the best way to boil eggs so they’re easy to peel every single time.
These are also the perfect tips and tricks to making the best boiled eggs if you’re getting ready to decorate eggs for Easter, or if you’re planning on preparing deviled eggs for an appetizer.
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The Best Hard Boiled Eggs
When Madeline was little, around 2 years old, she was pretty fascinated with eggs. Perhaps bordering on obsession.
She was always asking to hold one when I had eggs out. And unfortunately, she didn’t seem to understand that one wrong move with a raw egg in her hands would crush it.
So I found myself making eggs a lot, but I’ve never been able to figure out the best way to boil eggs.
Madeline never really got into eating them. She just wanted me to open the hard boiled eggs up and remove the white so she could find the “baby egg” (the yolk) inside.
I used to hate cooking hard boiled eggs, even though I enjoy eating them by themselves for a snack or chopped up on top of a salad. Why did I hate making them? Because I would either under or overcook the egg.
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Perfectly Cooked Hard Boiled Eggs
Overcooked hard boiled eggs are just gross, in my opinion. Soft boiled eggs have never appealed to me. The same way I’ve never really liked over easy eggs. I have never been a fan of a runny yolk.
For whatever reason, eggs are just one of those foods that I’m particularly particular about. Rather, I like my eggs perfectly done. Not over cooked, not undercooked.
Perhaps I’m like Goldilocks in that way. For me, my eggs have to be just right.
On top of the doneness issues, the shells were hard to peel away without removing chunks of the white with it, and that was sort of a drag. I mean, how do you peel an egg without the shell sticking? It shouldn’t be that hard!
Thanks to Madeline’s obsession during her younger years, I finally figured out how to make easy peel hard boiled eggs.
I learned that this is just as much about the method as it is the question of how long to boil eggs, so I thought that I’d share my method (thanks to lots and lots of trial and error!).
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Tools Needed for Easy Peeling Hard Boiled Eggs
Youโll need a few kitchen tools to prepare these perfect hard-boiled eggs. Hereโs what I recommend having on hand before getting started:
- Saucepan or Large Pot – to cook the eggs in.
- Slotted Spoon – helpful for carefully removing cooked eggs from the hot water after cooking.
- Large Bowl of Ice Water – an ice water bath will quickly cool the eggs and prevents them from over cooking.
How to Boil Eggs
Follow these simple instructions for easy peel hard boiled eggs. The following set of instructions have proven to be the best way to boil eggs perfectly every time.
- Put the egg(s) in a pot with cold water that completely covers the egg, plus a little extra water to spare. About an inch or so. The eggs should be in a single layer, so if you plan to boil a lot of eggs make sure your pot is large enough.
- Add one teaspoon of salt to the water.
- Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Let the egg boil for a minute or two.
- Turn the heat off, remove the pot from the burner and place it on an unheated burner or on the counter with a hot pad under it (so as not to damage your countertops) and cover it with a lid.
- Let rest for 10-15 minutes. Letting the egg rest in the hot water cooks the egg evenly without overcooking.
- Remove the hard boiled eggs from the hot water with a slotted spoon. When cool enough to handle, peel the egg.
Hard boiled egg cook times:
Here are my recommendations for how long to cook hard boiled eggs based on how you like your eggs:
- Runny Yolk: runny egg yolks and barely done whites – cook for 5 to 6 minutes.
- Soft-Boiled Eggs: white is cooked but soft and yolk is jammy – cook for 8 minutes.
- Medium Boiled Eggs: white is fully cooked and firm, but center is not dry – cook for 10 minutes.
- Hard Boiled Eggs: white and yolk are both cooked through and firm – cook for 12 to 13 minutes.
The above is simply a quick summary of this tutorial. Check out the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions for making perfect hard boiled eggs easy to peel.
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How to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
Now that you’ve learned the best way to boil eggs so you’re left with easy peel hard boiled eggs, it’s time we discussed the best way to peel hard boiled eggs. Here’s what I’ve learned about peeling hard boiled eggs:
- Once cool, gently roll the hard boiled eggs on your countertop to create lots of small cracks.
- Then, peel the eggs under cold tap water.
- Once peeled, rinse and dry the eggs and set aside.
Some people like to use a metal spoon to slip between the shell and egg white to help remove the shell, but I find the above way easier.
Tips for Making the Best Hard Boiled Eggs
Everyone has their tips and tricks for making the best hard boiled eggs. Some might be old wives tales, and some actually work. For best results, follow my favorite tips and tricks for perfect hard boiled eggs:
Use Older Eggs When Making Hard Boiled Eggs
Have you ever wondered why is it hard to peel boiled eggs? Me too! The #1 reason is that white’s pH is low. The low pH causes it to stick to the shell membrane.
What can you do? The first thing you should do is plan ahead. That means, when you want to make hard boiled eggs you should begin by buying your eggs about a week in advance of when you’d like to prepare them is best.
If you purchase farm fresh eggs, you might want to consider more than a week in advance.
Cook Eggs in Cold Water
Don’t pre-boil the water when you are making hard boiled eggs. Boiling eggs starting in cold water allows the egg to gradually warm up and prevents over cooking.
Another benefit to starting with cold water when making hard boiled eggs is that the water’s gradual warming will help prevent cracks from forming in the shells when compared to adding eggs to a pot of water boiling rapidly.
By the time the water reaches a rolling boil, the egg will already be partially cooked and much more stable against cracks.
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Add Baking Soda to the Water
Adding 1 teaspoon of baking soda to the water results in easy peeling hard boiled eggs.
Salt the Water
Don’t want to remove chunks of the egg white with the shell when you are peeling it? Adding salt (and using less fresh eggs) also helps with easier peeling of your hard boiled eggs.
Don’t ask me why, but adding the salt to the water definitely helps, so I always boil my eggs this way.
Let the Hard Boiled Eggs Cool Before Peeling Them
Cool the eggs before peeling so they are easy to handle without burning your hands, and then make sure you peel them under cold water โ this also helps make the peeling easier.
If I don’t need the boiled eggs right away, I like to transfer them to a colander to cool, but you can peel them quicker if you cool them in cold water.
To speed the cooling process, you can add the hard boiled eggs to a bowl of cold water to cool.
Or, if you are making many eggs at once for use through the next several days you can place them in the refrigerator and peel the boiled eggs when you plan to use them.
Other Hard Boiled Egg Tricks
I haven’t personally tried these tricks, but some people swear by them!
- Add a teaspoon of vinegar to the water.
- Use a needle to poke a hole in the bottom of the egg before cooking.
- Crack the eggs all over after boiling, then put them in an ice bath.
I would love to hear any of your special tips for perfect hard boiled eggs, or hear about your experience if you try any of the about methods that I haven’t tried
Hard Boiled Egg Recipe FAQs
Got questions about this recipe for easy peel boiled eggs? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and Iโll respond with answers.
Why is the shell sticking to my hard boiled egg?
Due to the lower pH levels in fresh eggs, the egg white proteins form strong connections to the keratin in the shell membrane while cooking. This makes it difficult to peel the eggs without bits of white sticking to the shell.
Why does baking soda make hard boiled eggs easy to peel?
Baking soda makes the water more alkaline which will help the egg whites loosen from the shell, making the peeling process much easier.
Adding baking soda to the water increases the alkalinity and softens the keratin. The result is a weaker bond between the white and the membraneโwhich means easy-peel eggs!
Will this work with farm-fresh eggs?
Farm fresh egg whites are more acidic. This causes the white to stick to the shell’s membrane which makes it more difficult to peel the eggs.
If you are using farm fresh eggs, you’ll want to let them age in the refrigerator until they’re older and/or add baking soda to the water to increase the pH of the boiling water.
How long should I cook hard boiled eggs?
Wondering how long to boil eggs on the stove?
How long you should cook hard boiled eggs depends on a few factors, especially the size of your egg (medium, large eggs, or extra larger) as well as how done you like your egg.
Using this method with a large egg, I found that the perfect time for me was around 12-13 minutes for a perfectly done, cooked all the way through yolk.
Since everyone has their own preferences, always recommend starting with cooking 1 egg to figure out your personal perfect cooking time for hard boiled eggs.
That way you aren’t cooking a whole batch of hard boiled eggs and finding that you prefer them cooked differently.
Why did my hard boiled eggs crack?
Eggs typically crack for one of these reasons:
- Adding eggs to a pot of water at a full rolling boil can cause the eggs to knock against each other and crack.
- Eggs can also crack due to the shock in temperature change when placing a cold eggs from the refrigerator into a pot of boiling water.
- Another reason the eggs can crack when adding them to a pot of boiling water is because you’re dropping them into the water to avoid the hot water. The eggs can crack from being dropped.
- The pot you’re using is too small, causing the eggs to crowd and bang into one another while cooking.
For these reasons it is recommended to use a pot with plenty of room and to boil eggs using a cold start for the cooking process.
Should hard boiled eggs be peeled immediately?
No, it is recommended to let eggs sit in an ice bath until completely cooled.
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How long do hard boiled eggs last?
Wondering how long can you keep hard boiled eggs? These easy peel hard boiled eggs can be stored in the refrigerator โ peeled or unpeeled โ for up to 1 week.
So, if you’re a regular hard boiled egg eater, feel free to make a batch of eggs at the beginning of the week!
How should I store hard boiled eggs?
When storing pre-cooked hard boiled eggs, I recommend storing them in a sealed airtight container or sealed zip top bag in the refrigerator.
Cooked eggs, especially already peeled eggs, can cause odors in the refrigerator. Keeping them sealed helps keep your refrigerator smelling fresh.
If you do find yourself with some smells in your refrigerator, try these tips for deodorizing in your kitchen.
Try this Recipe at Home!
Next time youโre wondering how to make hard boiled eggs peel easily, give these tips a try!
Did these simple tips help you make easy peel eggs? Leave a comment below and give this tutorial a review for others to see what you thought of it.
On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. Iโd love to see your hard boil egg successes!
More Easy Egg Recipes:
Check out some of these favorite recipes, or browse the recipe index archives for even more great recipe ideas:
Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad is a delicious twist on the traditional cobb salad. This is a delicious recipe that uses these easy peel hard boiled eggs!
In this Chorizo and Eggs Scramble, scrambled eggs are combined with fresh spinach, cilantro, and spicy chorizo sausage.
These Southwest Breakfast Bowls are a great way to enjoy a protein-packed breakfast on busy weekday mornings.
I love making Baked Eggs with Sausage and Kale during the holidays! It makes for a hearty breakfast or brunch the whole family adores.
It doesn’t get better than this classic Quiche Lorraine Recipe. Homemade quiche is easier to make than you’d expect!
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Is making hard boiled eggs tricky for you? What is your favorite tip for perfect eggs?
Easy Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
This recipe for easy peel hard-boiled eggs breaks down the best way to boil eggs so they're easy to peel. Follow these simple instructions for hard boiled eggs that turn out perfectly every time.
Ingredients
- 4 Large Eggs
- Water
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
Instructions
- Put the egg(s) in a pot with cold water that completely covers the egg, plus a little extra water to spare. About an inch or so. The eggs should be in a single layer, so if you plan to boil a lot of eggs make sure your pot is large enough.
- Add one teaspoon each of salt and baking soda to the water.
- Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Make sure it is a strong, rolling boil. Let the egg boil for a minute or two.
- Turn the heat off, remove the pot from the burner and place it on an unheated burner or on the counter with a hot pad under it (so as not to damage your countertops) and cover it with a lid.
- Let rest for 10-15 minutes. Letting the egg rest in the hot water cooks the egg evenly without overcooking.
- Remove the hard boiled eggs from the hot water with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a bowl filled with ice water.
- When cool enough to handle, peel the egg. Peeling the hard boiled eggs under cold water helps make the peeling easier.
Notes
Hard Boiled Egg Tip
Purchase your eggs about a week in advance of when youโd like to prepare them.
Hard boiled egg cook times:
- Runny Yolk: runny egg yolks and barely done whites โ cook for 5 to 6 minutes.
- Soft-Boiled Eggs: white is cooked but soft and yolk is jammy โ cook for 8 minutes.
- Medium Boiled Eggs: white is fully cooked and firm, but center is not dry โ cook for 10 minutes.
- Hard Boiled Eggs: white and yolk are both cooked through and firm โ cook for 12 to 13 minutes.
Make Ahead Tip
If you are making many eggs at once for use through the next several days you can place them in the refrigerator.ย ย Cooked hard boiled eggs will last in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 72Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 186mgSodium: 2195mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 6g
JayJay says
*** I find that the particular brand of brown organic eggs I purchase has thicker shells and that makes it easier to separate from the cooked egg.***
That is because the farm fresh eggs aren’t fed the same feed, arsenic, antibiotics, etc. the other chickens are fed??
Just my theory.
Danielle says
I have always used a little vinegar in my water as it boils. It was a trick my friend Melissa showed me when we were cooks. They peel so easy with just a little bit of vinegar. I assume it works like the salt and increases the PH to a acidic water and so it makes the shell which is calcium break down and be more able to be peeled easier.
Cynthia says
Thank you so much for this recipe. My husband loves pickled eggs. I usually buy the pickled eggs from Sam’s Club. After we eat them, I boil three dozen eggs and put them in the same solution. My husband thinks my eggs are even better than the store bought eggs. The eggs are a great low calorie snack, especially when you don’t want anything heavy. Thanks so much for this.
Wendy says
I tried this very technique of yours for boiling eggs without losing all the egg whites and it worked pretty good for me. I only had eggs that were 5 days old at the most (I have my own chickens and my son sells the eggs) and they peeled easily as long as I went slowly and peeled the egg bit by bit. When I tried to peel it in big chunks, that’s when the egg whites would come off. Thank you for this and I wish you all the best! ๐
-Wendy
adrienne says
Here’s the trick. Put the eggs slowly into boiling water. If you put half the egg in for a second or two it will allow the shell to expand from the heat, and it won’t crack in the water. Boil 12-15 mins. Drain water, add cold water and ice for 5-10 mins. Peel. To make the egg easy to peel it has to have heated then cooled, just like blanching a tomato makes the skin come off easy. You just have to be careful putting the egg in the boiling water, like I say, half way at first.
sasha says
Salt doesn’t work, but baking soda does.
Jamie says
I am guessing that I am one of the rare men to read these blogs, and even rarer to comment in them. ๐
I really enjoy experimenting in cooking, as is the case 99% of the time, as a male, I never took Home Ec in school growing up, so basic things like hard-boiling eggs was learned later.
In any case, I am looking for work after moving to the West Coast from VA last summer where my contract job ended; and Carol & I got married in November…a “Golden” wedding — she is 55 & I am 58. So, because I am home, I am doing all I can to support Carol with help and taking care of her. I normally make a lunch for her each day, and we have both desired making more healthy diet changes. So, packing numerous baggies with salad fixin’s (she & I both hate mixing it all ahead of time and have a wilted, soggy salad at noon), one thing drove me to your website: I HATE hard-boiled eggs where the peeling is tedious and the white pulls off in chunks all the way around.
Anyway….I just now came back from my rubber-meets-the-road test. I boiled 20 eggs in a Cook’s Tri-Ply (copper exterior) Dutch Oven. Once to a rolling boil, I let it cook for 90 seconds, shut off the heat & put a lid on it for 12 minutes.
While the cooking started, I filled a large bowl with ice & water. The ice all melted just before the 12 minutes “rest” was done, and I added another dozen or so cubes to the water.
I then transferred the eggs to the ice water, deliberately pulling 4 of them aside & cracking both ends on each of the four before adding them to the ice water. I let all 20 sit about 15 minutes in the ice water & then proceeded to de-shell them.
I read several different advice blogs about this process, so I tested several things. I deshelled a couple uncracked eggs under cool water & two cracked eggs under cool water. I also did two of each without doing so under water. I found that, for me, they all had about the same degree of success. Under water, they MAY have come off slightly faster, but not appreciably. Nevertheless, I preferred deshelling over a plate instead of under water, because I did not want to deal with the shells in the sink.
Out of 20 eggs, I only had three that even had the slightest “divot”. It was fantastic! I did notice that as I went along, they seemed to come apart slightly easier, which may mean a little extra time in the cold water helped. On average, it took me 10-12 seconds to completely deshell each egg. I imagine many of you ladies can do it faster, but I was pleased with the speed for myself.
So, let me end this with a couple questions:
1. If I had dumped the cold water after 20 minutes and put the pan (or a bowl or bags) in the frig for a couple days, would the eggs have been more resistent to deshelling?
2. Once deshelled, like mine are now….how long will they be good for in the frig either in a bowl with a plastic sheet cover or in airtight zip-lock bags as opposed to the length of time they will stay good hard-boiled within the shell?
Summary: this was a rousing success! Thanks for making deshelling angst a thing of the past!!
Dani McMann says
Thanks so much for the tips on easy hard boiled eggs!!
Lois Hall says
Finally! They came out perfect for the first time. Thanks so much!
Kristin Carlbom says
Bless you! Have struggled with deviled eggs for years and this worked PERFECTLY!!
Kim says
It sounds crazy, but we find peeling is easiest when we steam our eggs. Just put your old eggs on a tray in a rice cooker for ~20 mins, shock them in ice water immediately after to stop the cooking, and then they peel amazingly well. Try splitting your next batch between steaming and boiling, and see which is easiest!
Christine says
These came out perfectly ๐
Thank you!!
phil says
I love hard boiled eggs and i’ve allways added them to boiling water ..and yes they have cracked ..i shall do as you say and put them in cold water and bring to the boil then let stand and see the differance..thanks for the tips
Sharon says
What if I don’t want to peel the eggs right away?
Katie says
Store the eggs in the fridge until you are ready to peel them.
Tristin says
Worked out beautifully!! thank you!
Bo Lee says
It worked! Thanks so much for such clear and useful tips! My salads are going to get kicked up a notch!
Pleasantly Peeling,
Bo
Maury says
To improve peeling, I simply run the cold egg under hot water which causes condensation inside the shell. This will make the shell much easier to remove.
Sarah says
That worked wonders for me in cooking eggs. It was easier to hold them under cool water and peel. Thanks!
Gwen says
I have destroyed so many eggs over the years until this evening! Perfect boiled eggs after following your directions. I am so grateful. Thank you!!!!
shalom says
My Home Ec teacher in the late 70’s taught us how to boil eggs & it has worked perfectly all these years. She said to start the eggs in cold water, bring to a rolling boil on high then boil for 10 minutes. I have never had a green ring around the yolk & they are always perfectly done. Once they are done I pour the hot water out, add cold tap water & let them sit to cool. She didn’t address the peeling aspect. Since then I have figured out that it takes about 7 minutes to come to a rolling boil so I set my timer for 17 minutes when I turn the heat on. The 7 minutes is based on the pan & amount of water I use for 1-6 eggs.
Marjorie says
How long can you keep hard boiled eggs refrigerated..
Katie says
I usually only keep them in the fridge for about 3 days.
Shawna says
I didn’t know about the salt, but my peeling trick is to actually tap the “side” of the egg onto the counter to start the crack, then roll the egg, (using some pressure) to crack all around the middle… you should then be able to pull off two halves (top and bottom) of shell, since the membrane is still intact, but the “hold” of the shell is broken. Works wonders for me! I’m going to try your cooking method right now though, because I always forget how to hard boil eggs ๐ I hope it’s great!
michael says
more worthless science nerd trivia… letting eggs sit for a week or so before boiling allows air/oxygen to permeate the shell. this oxidation thickens the membrane between the shell and white, thus making them easier to peel. thanks for the tip!!!
Elissa says
What is the timing when boiling 15 eggs together in one pot? I’m assuming they need to be in the water longer because there’s more of them? Please advise.
Katie says
I do not cook that many in one pot, but rather do two pots with smaller number eggs.
Julie says
Thank you! I’ve just unpeeled some of my first GORGEOUS hard-boiled eggs.
Charlsye Miller says
Hope you don’t mind that I pinned this post on Pinterest. I know many people out there would love these tips. Thanks!
vonny says
My worst nightmare WAS peeling eggs. Thanks!!
elise oras says
I do something similar. I pretty much follow all of your steps, but then at the end I use the “bumper eggs” method, where I smash the eggs against each other and they easily peel without effort. I have a video demo on my blog:
(http://www.elisesaidso.com/2012/03/how-to-make-perfect-hard-boiled-eggs.html)
Min says
Perfect!! I wish I knew this earlier!
Emile says
Taking it immediately from the hot water and putting it in really cold water makes the egg contract inside the shell, which pulls it away and makes it much easier to get the shell off in as few pieces as possible.
Jen says
Thank you for posting this, it came up in my search for an easy way to make hard boiled eggs. My mom showed me, but like you said the “yucky green” inner egg is nasty. Thanks a bunch!
Renee says
In addition to the salt, keeping the egg warm right up until peeling works well too. Since a cold egg shell will shrink and adhere to the egg itself, particularly that pesky membrane, I will drain the eggs as soon as they are done (using the cooking method you use), then fill the pot with cold water. After a few minutes, the cold water will cool the eggs enough to be handled, but the eggs will warm the water. This creates the perfect temperature for handling and peeling, since the warm shells peel right off.
To peel, I gently crack the entire surface of the shell with the back of a spoon.
Vicki says
I didn’t read other comments – this may already be there. When eggs are done, I exchange hot water for cold covering all the eggs. Put lid on pan. Shake it!!!!! The shells will shatter and peel the rest of the way SO easily when you handle them.
Bonnie Boudreaux says
Having the great advantage of ALWAYS having fresh out the chicken eggs since we raise our own is GREAT. But my husband and I LOVE soft boiled (not completely runny but not solid neither). I have tried every “tip” to get them to peel without having almost just yolk and have yet to find the solution. Vinegar, salt, cold water, hot boiling water. for me NOTHING has worked to get the perfect soft boiled egg PEELED with ALL WHITE intact.
Katie says
This is unfortunately a common problem with fresh eggs. Older eggs seem to be part of the key to nicely peeled eggs. Not sure why.
Maggie says
Just made the most perfect hard boiled eggs! and on my first try ever! yay for google and yay for your help!
maybe i have potential in the kitchen after all
Katie says
Congratulations! Glad I could help. ๐
Terry says
Iโll try this but I have also found an easy way to peel them if the membranes are sticking. I put some water into a micro-wave safe dish and heat it for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Put the hard-boiled egg in the water for about 5 minutes, long enough to heat it all the way through and the shell peels off super-easy.
Mary says
…continued, but much better and easier than not soaking the second time.
Hope this helps other with fresh eggs!
Mary says
Followed your directions and they work great! Sometimes I have to use right-from-store fresh eggs and have solved the peeling problem…at least it works for me.
After letting eggs stand in the ice cold water, crack all eggs all around like getting ready to peel, but put them back into ice water and let sit for another 10 minutes.
Then peel…for the really difficult ones peel in the water.
Some pock marks appear b
Adrienne @ Whole New Mom says
I’m going to give this a try. We just made hard boiled eggs yesterday but I am hating throwing away so much of the white! I was doing most of what you suggested but not all of it — so here goes!
Denise says
The salt likely acts in the same manner as baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and changes the PH which prevents adhesion.
Linda Baker says
Ok…….it did not work for me…….the eggs could have been to fresh as I got them straight from the store and not out of my fridge.
Question………
How do you get the yolk to stay centered for deviled eggs??????????????????
Katie says
I don’t know how to get the yolks centered. Sorry it didn’t work out for you, the eggs were probably too fresh as you said. Next time, keep them in the fridge for a few days before trying.
Barb says
I read online that a good way to get your yolks centered for deviled eggs is to store your carton of eggs on its side for 12 hours in the fridge before you boil them. That way, the yolk isn’t sitting near the bottom of the egg. I think I got that from Martha Stewart. Seems to work for me, I have only tried it twice though.
Sandra Retzlaff says
Just put cooked eggs into ice water and they peel extremely well.
Deborah Dowd says
So glad to see this post! Even though I am a good cook, boiling eggs is like roulette- will the white be runny or will the yolk be cooked through? I am forwarding this link to my son who also struggles with boiling eggs.
Sally says
I always have trouble peeling my eggs. These are awesome tips. Thanks! Egg salad sandwich anyone?
Jennifer says
This is a great article, thanks for sharing! I am big on deviled eggs so this is perfect!
Heather (Gluten-Free Cat) says
I’ve been cooking the life out of my poor little hard boiled eggs! I’m definitely going to try your method.
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction says
Great tips! I never make hard boiled eggs, but now I am feeling inspired. Some egg salad sounds amazing.
Suzanna says
Use an egg piercer/needle/pin/sharp knife. Shock the eggs with cold water. That’s 2 of your problems solved.
Kristen says
We love hard boiled eggs around here – one of those things that are always in our fridge!
Mom's Many Projects says
Wonderful! I always make hard boiled eggs as you described, but never added salt. Now I know how to get the shells off without destroying the egg! Thanks!
Michelle says
The science behind why salting the water helps with peeling is due to osmosis. The water outside the egg wants to be at the same salinity (salt content) as the water inside the shell. So the process of osmosis pulls some of the water inside the egg through the shell. Therefore, the volume of water inside the egg will decrease slightly and the egg will pull away from the shell.
If you’re in the mood for a little science experiment, take an egg and put it in a cup and fill the cup past the top of the egg with vinegar and put in the refrigerator overnight… After about a day, check on the egg. Hopefully the shell has completely dissolved and you’re left with an egg held together just by the membrane… If it hasn’t fully dissolved, carefully pour out the liquid and refill with more vinegar and back into the fridge overnight.
Once you have your shell-less egg, carefully pour out the vinegar and replace with very salty water (or corn syrup) and back into the fridge. Over time (about 24 hours), the egg will shrivel as the water is pulled out of the egg.
Poet says
Have used an egg piercer for years. pierce the round fat end and do as is posted. When you suspect they are done pull one out with a spoon. Will dry very fast when done. To peal them put the pot in the sink carefully pot holders or oven mit are good ideas. Run cold water into the pot with the sink drain clear and open. When you can comfortably put a finger in the water they should be cool enough to handle. Put a container nearby for your shelled eggs. Bang those fat ends inside the water in the pan. Roll them around to break the shells gently, while under the cool water peal them and over 90 percent will be whole. The clear membrane is what we are working with when you pierce them. The water also aides in the pealing afterward.
Katrina (gluten free gidget) says
Would you believe I have never hard-boiled eggs? I’m intimidated by it, for some reason!
Jamie | My Baking Addiction says
This post is helpful, Katie! There is nothing better than a perfectly cooked hard boiled egg!
Carol says
the green ring will be avoided by chilling immediately when done. Run cold water. To help peel i drain all the water and shake the eggs to crack each one. Helps a lot
Maria says
Very helpful post! Thanks! I love that egg crate too! Beautiful photos!
April says
adding salt to the water has another purpose too- if the shell cracks while boiling, the salt helps clot the white quicker.
Ann says
I always add a splash of any ole vinegar which prevent the egg from leaching out into the water should (heaven forbid) one of the eggs cracks.
Ann3Angels
Brook Owens says
This is good information. I feel like my eggs always turn out different every time I boil them. My parents have chickens so we get a bunch of REALLY FRESH eggs and I’ve noticed with those I lose most of the white when peeling them! Good to know! Thanks!
Christina says
Great advice! My mom is a champion at the whole hard-boiled egg thing and this year I was lucky enough to make the eggs for Christmas with her. She actually keeps the eggs for at least a week but she thinks they are best if they are a day or two from expiration for peeling purposes. She also centers the yolk with a really cool trick. Once the water starts to boils she stirs the eggs a couple of times so they all swirl a bit so that the yolk will be better centered. Something you might want to try too. Thanks for the hints and tips!!
Jennifer says
I believe the egg crate is from Anthropologie… I found it on their website.
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?navAction=jump&id=973774
Katie says
Yes, that’s where I got it.
Jen says
Another tip: Stir the eggs gently while they are in the boiling water or just after removing it from the heat. This helps to center the yolks within the whites. This tip was given to me (a food writer for a local paper) by a sweet 90+ year old woman who had been making the hardboiled eggs for her Navy League meetings for 50 years!
Lisa@Smart Food & Fit says
Great post. We go through at least 2 dozen hard boiled eggs in my house!
Adding salt or vinegar has an affect on the pH of the water. In college I had a food science class and remembering the professor commenting on the salt/vinegar tip. Also Alton Brown has tips on his website with the food science behind hard boiling eggs.
http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/10/the-food-lab-science-of-how-to-cook-perfect-boiled-eggs.html
Garnet says
TFS I had directions once but have not seen them in a long time.
Marcia Furman says
YES! Finally! I’m so excited to try this. I’m the worst at hard boiled eggs.
Mary says
I have chickens and hard boiling really fresh eggs is very difficult! I wait several weeks before even trying to hard boil them. Eggs from the store are sometimes too “fresh” to hard boil. Check the expiration date.
Kim B. says
LOVED this post!! My 10 year old LOVES hard boiled eggs and this is an easy print out for him to follow. (He enjoys cooking things himself when it’s something easy) Thanks for sharing!!
Kathy @ House of Hills says
GREAT post! Thanks so much for sharing it!
Carma says
Bento egg molds are fun for children (and adults, too!) Also, the fresher an egg the more difficult it is to peel. Since I buy eggs from the farmer I leave them on the counter overnight to “force age” them before making deviled eggs.
somavenus says
great tips! I will have to try the salt trick. Another trick to easily peel eggs (especially if you’re doing a batch of them) is to put them all in a pot once they’ve cooled, and gently shake the pot to let the eggs hit each other and the sides of the pot. That will create lots of fine cracks that allows the egg to be peeled easily! Also peeling them under cold running water helps ๐
Suzi says
Try this little bit of magic. Save your yellow onion skins and toss them into the water next time you make hard boiled eggs. The onion skins “dye” the eggs yellow. The more skin the richer the color. Of course, white eggs work best.
You could also draw a picture on the egg before boiling it in the onion skins and poof, just like magic, the invisible becomes visible.
leah says
What do you draw on the egg with before boiling?
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
Ok, I am saving this. Every time we try to hard boil eggs it is a disaster!
Charlene {Inspired Gal} says
Love this article! Since we don’t eat meat often, eggs are a huge staple in our house.
Charlene (PS: Your feeds are beautiful! :0)…)
Anu Menon says
Another way to avoid the ring around the yolk is to add vinegar while boiling the egg!
Anna says
This is such a good post – eggs are supposed to be the easiest thing to cook, but they aren’t, in any of the ways they can be cooked. To make peeling even easier, use a teaspoon, slide it between the shell and the egg, it slips right off.
Donna says
Whoa! Love the spoon tip, Anna! Now I know why I boiled an extra egg this morning… just to try this! The eggs came out perfect, by the way. Thanks Katie.
Melanie Flinn says
Too funny! I just did a post like this a few days ago! Ha ha! Love it.
Kate says
This is my method too- I used it all summer at work for my weekly Deviled Egg making. They came out perfect every time. I find that shocking the eggs with cold water and an ice bath helps with peeling too, and like the salt trick, I don’t know why. It just does.
Lisa@Smart Food & Fit says
I do the same thing with my hard boiled eggs, I add running cold water and ice too.
Sandra says
I don’t use salt but I cook them the same way. After I drain them I immediately jiggle the pot a little to get a few cracks in the shells…then I shock them with ice and water. When cool enough to handle I peel them in the ice water. Unless the eggs were just-laid the shells will peel right off.
bridget {bake at 350} says
Great tips….and I love your pictures!
Alysa (Inspired RD) says
Thank you so much for the tips! I am the same way, love hard boiled eggs, hate to make them. Can’t wait to try your tips.
amy says
Thanks for the help! I actually just tried boiling eggs the other day and pretty much ripped off all the egg white. Haha. I’ll try this!
Michelle (What's Cooking with Kids) says
Now that it is winter, our chickens aren’t laying eggs right now. I miss them… I am horrible at peeling hard boiled eggs – maybe the salt would make it easier ๐ Thanks for the tip!
Tori says
Hi Michelle, you can get your chickens to lay in winter by providing a white light (60 watt will do) in their coop to make up for the shortened days. Total light must be at least 12 hours (including daylight) per day. Our 5 hens lay 5 eggs per day all year long, even in the northwest where we only get 7 hours of daylight in the deep of winter.
Nikki (Pennies on a Platter) says
Thank you!! I’ve tried some other tips I’ve found on the web for hard boiled eggs but none have been perfect. Maybe this is THE one? ๐
Lauren from Lauren's Latest says
Great tips! I always seem to forget one or two steps, so this is a great refresher!
Shaina says
My kids love hard boiled eggs for lunch. It’s definitely one of our go-to ideas, especially when we haven’t been to the store in a while. Love the egg crate. It’s gorgeous!
sally says
Thanks so much for the tips! I’ve bookmarked this post for the next time I make hard boiled eggs. I’m looking forward to perfect eggs.
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i am absolutely bookmarking this post…i have made hardboiled eggs a million times but always forget how at the last minute!
Cookbook Queen says
I really REALLY love this post. I have struggled with getting my eggs just right, and often felt stupid for having problems!!
I am totally using these tips…so excited!! Thanks!!
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos says
This is exactly what I needed…last week ๐ But now I know. Thank you so much for sharing these great tips!
Mindy says
Thanks for the tip about the salt! My four year old is obsessed with hard-boiled eggs, and the only part I hate about it is peeling them. I’ll definitely try the salt trick next time I make them!
megan @ whatmegansmaking says
great tips! I never knew that about the salt. I always thought it had to do with the age of the eggs. I’ve heard older eggs are easier to peel and newer eggs are harder.
Sarah says
The reason the salt works has to do with chemistry. (in case anyone was actually wondering.)
Salt is NaCl, and Egg shells are made of Calcium. the Cl (Chlorine) in the salt bonds with the Calcium, making Calcium water. But of course, this is not a perfect reaction. but what is left over after you take your eggs out is a very rich Calcium Water. its good for your plants. ๐
Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama} says
Thanks for the great tips. Where did you get that adorable egg holder? I love it!
Katie says
Hi Maryea,
I got the egg crate from Anthropologie. You can find it on their website too.
Sarah says
I thought she meant your daughter. ;-D
Jeannie says
?? ย Does anyone know if White gets too tough if you peel and refrigerate for 2days ahead of cutting for deviled eggs?