How to keep the shell from sticking to hard boiled eggs?

Question

I have to make over a hundred deviled eggs for a baby shower, and I need to know how to keep the shell from sticking to the egg after its been boiled. I always have problems peeling the eggs and I hope you have some advise. Thank you

Answer 1

Don't use fresh eggs. Put eggs in the pot, cover eggs with water, bring to a boil, let boil for one minute, turn off heat and let the eggs sit in pot for 10 minutes, drain water and fill pot with cold water and keep the water cold, meaning drain it when it gets warm and put in more cold. When eggs have cooled, drain water, let eggs dry. Hit eggs on counter and then roll gently to crack the shell all over, the peel should come off pretty well at that point.

Don't listen to the "add salt or vinegar" it doesn't work. But one sure fire trick that does, and it sucks that you have 100 eggs to do but if you stick a needle into the bottom of the egg (the bottom of the oval, so to speak) where air is for some reason putting a hole here (it doesn't get into the inside of the egg) makes them peel like a charm.

Answer 2

Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

Makes 1 dozen

12 large eggs, room temperature

1. Place eggs in a large saucepan. Cover them with cool water by 1 inch. Slowly bring water to a boil over medium heat; when the water has reached a boil, cover and remove from heat. Let sit 12 minutes.

2. Transfer eggs to a colander; place under cool running water to stop the cooking. Eggs can be peeled and served immediately. Remaining eggs, with shells on, may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Answer 3

Boil old eggs.

When eggs are very very fresh, they always stick to their shells. If they have sat for a few days, the contents, especially the amnion, shrink a little. Use eggs that are a week to 10 days old. Also older eggs have a different pH from new eggs, which researchers say affects peeling.

And then of course there is the temperature factor.

Temperature is crucial when boiling eggs.
When you start to boil them, put the cold eggs in cold water. (add salt and/or vinegar) With cold water they are less likely to crack.

The best way to make easy-to-peel hard-boiled eggs with pure yellow centers is to place the eggs in a pot of cold water and add a teaspoon of salt. Place the pot on the stove and bring to a boil. Cover the pot and remove from heat and let sit for 13 minutes. Drain the eggs and immediately place in an ice bath until completely cooled.

Cooling eggs immediately after cooking in an ice bath makes them easier to peel.
And then there's the video of this guy who blows into his eggs (I don't recommend it)

Answer 4

Put one layer of eggs in a pan and cover with about an inch of water. After the water comes to a boil, remove the pan from the heat and let eggs sit in the water for about 15 minutes. Remove the eggs from the pan and move them to a big bowl full of ice water to stop the cooking process.

Boil them a day in advance, just-cooked eggs are harder to peel.

Answer 5

Oh I know it is so annoying and that always happens to me - I was told that you should use eggs that aren't as fresh. And I think if you over boil them that makes the shell stick to it. I boil the eggs for 20 minutes and let them soak in cold water for about 10 - 15 minutes and they seem to peel right off. Good Luck!

Answer 6

for starters, if there's time, buy your eggs a month in advance. Older eggs come loose from the shell easier than the freshest eggs. Second, boiling for the right amount of time is important (I place my eggs in a collapsible steamer over boiling water for 13 minutes then dump them into ice water to chill - and they come out perfectly [Alton Brown on Food Network] )
Starting at the wide end, start tapping your cooled egg on the counter, then roll gently under your hand till the entire shell is cracked all over. Then, under running water, start peeling gently away from the wide end, working toward the pointed end. The shells should not fight you if you follow these simple guidelines.
Good luck
Clarkie

Answer 7

boil the water while the eggs are in the water, once the water is boiling cover the pot and turn off the heat and let sit for 13 minutes, then put the eggs in cold water, the best eggs to use are ones that are about a week old, not a week after the expiration date but a week or so after you bought them, the shells will come right off

Answer 8

I eat hard boiled eggs everyday. After your done boiling them let them sit in "cold cold" water away from the burner you had them on. Make sure they are cooled down before peeling the shell. I prefer Brown shelled eggs the yolk come out better tasteing to me. Experiment with both white and Brown shelled eggs for yourself. Hope this helps. Good Luck. :)

Answer 9

I boil water and add a little vinegar and then add the eggs carefully. Make sure they are not cold out of the fridge. I then boil them for 15 min, take them off the stove and run cold water over them. I peel them when they are still warm. I have found this works for me.

---------------------------

The vinegar is to seal the shell incase of any cracks, it doesn't really help in the peeling of the egg.

Answer 10

Once they are boiled you have to dunk the eggs in cold water. The colder the better. The cold water will cause the boiled eggs inside to shrink and pull away from the shell.