What's the best way to peel a hard boiled egg?

Question

If I'm making egg salad I can peel them perfectly, but when I'm making deviled eggs, they look like crap - go figure. Is it best to peel them when they are still hot? Or should I wait till they get cold?

Answer 1

After draining them I give them a good shake in the pan while running cold water over them. I mean a good hearty shake! After they cool off a bit, the peels should practically slip right off.

Answer 2

This is absolutely fool proof .. I've never had an egg get stuck to the shell or fall apart ...

Put the eggs in cold water with 2 tablespoons of salt. Cook for exactly 15 minutes from the time you put it on the stove (medium-high heat). Run under cold water and peel. The salt does something to the shell that makes it come right off.

Answer 3

I used to have the same problem until I read "How to boil an Egg" in the cookbook "Just a matter of Thyme" by Among Friends... This works everytime!

1. Place eggs in a saucepan. Cover with cold water.
2. Bring to a rapid boil. Immediatley place the lid on the pan.
3. Leave the pan on the burner, but turn the burner off. Let set for 15 minutes.
4. Drain off hot water. Cover cooked eggs again with cold water. Let set for 2 minutes.
5. Drain off cold water. Leaving the eggs in the pan, shake pan back and forth several times, so that the eggs bump against each other and crack. The shells should slide off easily now. Rinse under cool water and store in a covered container or plastic bag until use (within 3 days)

Answer 4

After I finish boiling mine eggs I let them sit in ice water until I can handle them. Then I peel them. I also always make about 3 to 5 extra eggs so that if they do come out looking crappy, I've got a few spare ones. And if all of them come out looking good, you have some left over for egg salad. Yum. :)

Answer 5

The thing is when you buy your eggs make sure that they are fresh. a fresh egg peels perfectly every time after some chilling. Crack and roll between hands until shell is loose and you will have perfect eggs every time.

Answer 6

My mom always said, rinse the egg underneath cold running water. When I'm making tuna it works. It's fast and easy, so next time your making deviled eggs try it out.

Answer 7

Chill the eggs completely before you peel them. They conract from the sheel and don't come off in chunks when you peel the shell off. Also, roll the egg accross a hard surface once you crack it. This gets the shell to crack evenly.

Answer 8

I cool mine down in ice water then I roll them on the counter so they crack all around then the shell comes right off

Answer 9

Hi, shotqueen!!
Here you go:
http://www.deviledeggs.com/step1_how_to_hard_boil_egg.html