Why do my hard boiled eggs not peel nicely, sometimes? I cook them the same way each time.?

Question

Even though I boil my eggs the same way each time, sometimes the eggs peel nicely, and sometimes they don't. I am thinking that maybe it is the age or quality of the egg.

Answer 1

No matter what anyone tells you.....it's the age of the egg that makes it easy to peel.
Nothing you can add to the water will help in any way. The older the egg the easier it will be to peel when boiled.

I grew up on a dairy farm and we also raised chickens and sold eggs. I have had plenty of experience in boiling eggs. A fresh boiled egg is impossible to peel with out tearing it up.

Answer 2

It's the age. In fresh eggs the albumen sticks to the inner shell membrane more strongly than it sticks to itself because of the more acidic environment of the egg. If you wait a couple of days it should be much easier to peel. If you wait a week the whole shell will come off with easy as if you pulled it off in one piece.

Answer 3

It's not the age or the quality of the egg. Hard boiled eggs peel easier when they're still warm. The heat loosens the membrane that holds the shell to the egg and when that membrane cools, it tightens again causing the shell to break off in small (insanely annoying) pieces.

When you boil eggs, bring them down to handling temperature in some cold water until you can peel them without burning your hands. They should still be quite warm.

The shells will come off easily in large pieces.

Answer 4

I had found after a few days in the fridge hard boiled eggs get very hard to peel. I was keeping them in a cardboard egg carton in the fridge. Switched to keeping them in an airtight Tupperware box with a slightly moist paper towel in the bottom. Now they eggs stay easy to peel! The shells are porous and dry out with time. So keep they moist and they will peel nicely

Answer 5

It's the age. I learned it from a farmer who gave me fresh (from the hen) eggs. He said to let them sit in the fridge for a week or two if I wanted them to cleanly peel. I didn't believe him so I boiled some up and they just shredded and were unusable. I tried it again (same eggs) in a couple weeks and the shells slid right off. Ever since then I "age" my eggs for deviled eggs. Like buying eggs that are near the expiration date. I don't know why it works, but it does.

Answer 6

Put a Tablespoon of salt in the water before you start to boil, it will not change the taste of the egg but it will make the shells tough and they come off easier.

Answer 7

You need to use your oldest eggs or buy eggs and let them sit for awhile before you hard boil them. They will peel easier.

Answer 8

You could try putting a little salt or cream of tartar in your water when you boil them, they will peel nicely after that. Also, I've heard a few drops of vinegar in the water will do the same.

Answer 9

It is probably the age of the eggs. Fresh eggs are harder to peel.

Edit - by fresh I mean - right from the chicken.

Answer 10

put your hard boiled eggs under cold water