Why is it easier to peel boiled eggs when they are hot, as opposed to when they are cold?

Answer 1

Hot eggs contain vapour,this vapour is stuck up between the shell and actual egg,if egg becomes cold,the vapour might have all gone out,thus making the shell fall back on the egg and stick together.
That's what I thought.

Answer 2

It is easier to peel boiled eggs when they are cold. If you are making them for salads or deviled eggs, and need a lot of eggs, try this. After the eggs are boiled, pour hot water off, run cold water over them (still in pan), crack each egg shell by taping on side of pan, fill with cold water and you can add ice. Let sit a few minutes, peel under cold running water. It is true that older eggs peel better than super fresh ones. This way shells slide right off, and you don't have tore up eggs.

Answer 3

No that is incorrect it is easier to peel an egg if it is cold try it next time you have a hard boiled egg just keeping the eggs in the pan used,and sit in the sink underneath cold water for a minute or two,and believe me the shell comes off without a problem and it will come off in one or two pieces ive found that not doing it this way ie; hot,took me longer to peel and the egg shell actually stuck to the egg and there were more pieces as opposed to one or two large pieces.

Answer 4

I have peeled while hot and cold with no difference.

Also there are people out there who will swear that fresh eggs peel harder than older eggs... I did an experiment and took some eggs from our chicken's hind end, and boiled them with some eggs marked close to expiration. They peeled no differently. Why? Who the heck knows but what works for me, I have noticed does not work for others so perhaps I lead a charmed cooking life.

Did you know that in some countries they don't refrigerate eggs ? While visiting Finland, I learned they have their eggs in the middle of the aisle no where near refrigeration... and here in the u.s.a. we have people flip out if their eggs are out for an hour...

Happy egging... : )

Answer 5

They peel much better when cold as the cold causes the egg to shrink away from rather than cling to the shell. Cool your eggs down immediately after boiling them too.

Answer 6

I always peel them when they are cold. Tap them all around (crack it all over), then roll the egg between your hands. This loosens the shell. Then peel away! It almost always comes off in 1 piece! Good luck! Hope this helps!

Answer 7

did not know that. I like to run them under cold water right after they are done boiling and then crack them all the way around and then peel. works pretty good!

Answer 8

depends on brand of eggs i put salt on my eggs while they are boiling and it makes it easier to peel

Answer 9

I don't know - I do know that if the eggs are not fresh they peel easier!@

Answer 10

it is easier because the hotness and temperature loosen up the shell there for making it easier to peel