Why do cooked eggs discolour silver cutlery?

Answer 1

Eggs contain sulfur. Silver is tarnished by sulfur-containing materials, particularly hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Silver undergoes a chemical reaction with sulfur-containing substances in the air. Silver combines with sulfur to form silver sulfide, which is the black tarnish you find on silver. The most common tarnish-causing elements are wool, felt, food (eggs, onions, mayonnaise), fossil fuels, rubber bands, latex gloves, carpet padding, and certain paints.

If there is no tarnish present on your silver, use a phosphate-free detergent to clean it after use. Silver that is used, then gently washed and dried immediately, will require infrequent tarnish removal. When hand washing, do not allow your silver to come into contact with a metal sink: it will scratch.

Tarnish is easily removed when first noticed (usually a yellowish tint), and will become increasingly difficult to deal with as it turns to light brown and eventually black. Frequent light cleanings (washing the object with a phosphate-free detergent may be all you need) are preferred to waiting until the tarnish gets so stubborn that more abrasive polishes have to be employed.

Remove the silver sulfide, and the silver is bright again. The easiest way to remove the tarnish is a chemical reaction that converts the silver sulfide without removing any of the silver. Using baking soda, aluminum and boiling water is one way to do it. When the aluminum is oxidized, the silver gains the electrons. Depending on the amount of tarnish, the silver will be bright and the aluminum foil may be brown with tarnish. The silver tarnish is "transferred" to the aluminum via a chemical reaction.

Bonus Tips....Basic Silver Care Advice:
>> Clean your silver only when you don't feel rushed, because that's when things break. .
>> Dishwashers will eventually turn silver white from heat and harsh detergents, causing the silver to require professional refinishing.
>> Silver flatware used on a daily basis will require little or no polishing.
>>Salt is extremely corrosive to silver; always empty shakers and wash them when not used on a regular basis.♥

Answer 2

Sulphites, they discolor the cutlery, and are contained in the egg yolk.

Answer 3

use vinegar in the water this stops the tarnish, also salt in the water does the same thing
Vicki r

Answer 4

sulpher in them