Hard Boiled Eggs?

[Bigmallly]

Eggs are boiled for 5 to 10 mins. They are then cooled in cold water, dried & stored in the fridge until ready to use.
When I peel them, the egg sticks to the shell leaving big holes.........I've tried all methods I can think of regarding shelling but no joy.

What am I doing wrong?

[Scarlet]

You'll get loads of advice on this one! Use slightly older eggs, fresh eggs are much harder to peel, start off in hot water not cold, use a little bicarbonate in the water.

[Bigmallly]

Thanks for the advice Scarlet, I start in cold water so will change that. What is the purpose of the Bicarb?

[DannyK]

Found this. Looks like we've got to use older eggs!

"Now that you�ve mastered the art of hard-boiled eggs, how do you peel the eggs without making a mess? Very fresh eggs can be difficult to peel. To ensure easily peeled hard-boiled eggs, buy and refrigerate them a week to 10 days in advance of cooking. This brief �breather� allows the eggs time to take in air, which helps separate the membranes from the shell.

Hard-boiled eggs are easiest to peel right after cooling. Cooling causes the egg to contract slightly in the shell.

To peel a hard-boiled egg: Gently tap egg on countertop until shell is finely crackled all over. Roll egg between hands to loosen shell. Starting peeling at large end, holding egg under cold running water to help ease the shell off."

Tips on How To Hard-Boil Eggs| Incredible Egg

[Scarlet]

What is the purpose of the Bicarb?

It's what my Nan used to do!

This explains it...not sure it makes much of a difference! Are Hard-Boiled Eggs Easier to Peel If You Add Baking Soda to the Water?

[happyhumph]

Think the main thing as others have said is use an older egg. Then I sometimes roll it around on a hard surface for a bit before peeling.

[Bigmallly]

I use eggs that are about 2/3 weeks old. I was wondering whether to peel them once cooled but am not sure if they will store in a fridge then.

[DannyK]

I use eggs that are about 2/3 weeks old. I was wondering whether to peel them once cooled but am not sure if they will store in a fridge then.

That site says up to week in shell, but use on the day if peeled.

[Bigmallly]

Cheers Danny, I thought that would be the case............unless I made a boatload of egg mayonnaise...........

[Jungle Jane]

Have you tried,after you crack the egg to start peeling,dunk it in water so water can get between the membrane & the egg & then peel? I did a few years of flight catering when I was younger & they had peeled eggs stored in some kind of water in the fridge in a tub,I don't know what it was but it was delivered like it,someone in the catering industry might know what the preserving liquid is,didn't smell of vinegar or eggs,it was quite smell-less.

[DannyK]

Interesting Tweak to hard boiled eggs



Chinese Tea eggs. Recipe atHow To Make Chinese Marbled Tea Eggs

Just using plain tea gives the effect. Other effects can be done with food dyes.

[Snadger]

Lime, sodium silicate or oil...............none of which I've tried, or intend to!

[Snadger]

Isinglass was use before and during the WW2 to keep eggs from going of in storage.Not really relevant but i just remembered seeing it somewhere!

[veggiechicken]

.....With isinglass curtains they could pull right down.............

(name that tune!)

[Bigmallly]

Sometimes I do worry about you lot.............................not often, just sometimes.........