Egg experts! I need advice on how to peel eggs without losing half the egg.

@mentalward (14690)
United States
June 21, 2008 12:09am CST
I dread hard-boiling eggs because I always lose a lot of the egg when it sticks to the shell when I peel it. Are there any secrets you know on how to do this without taking egg with the shell? I'm desperate! I want to make deviled eggs tomorrow for company and I want them to look pretty. They always look kind of sickly when so many chunks of egg white are missing! I have never been able to do this well. I might get one or two "perfect" eggs out of a dozen, and that's on a good day! Help! I'll try anything!
19 people like this
46 responses
@michael13 (160)
• China
21 Jun 08
I love to eat eggs, I don't know on what is hard-boiling or middle-boiling eggs, I eat one egg by 5 minute boiled eace day, and it is easy to peel it from shell, it is not sticks to it's shell, I don't know why, but just to do so.
2 people like this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
21 Jun 08
I just read about hard boiled eggs and how to prepare them in this website: http://homecooking.about.com/cs/atozfoodindex/ht/How_Cook_Eggs_S.htm What they are saying is that we should NOT boil the eggs! Just bring them to a boil, then cover and let sit for 15 to 17 minutes. Now that's something ELSE I'll have to try. I've always boiled mine just like my mother did... for 15 to 20 minutes.
2 people like this
• Canada
21 Jun 08
I have always brought my eggs to the boiling then turn stove off and let eggs sit for 15 to 20 minutes. That will stop the dark line around the yolk but trust me I've still had the egg stick like crazy to the shell.
2 people like this
• China
22 Jun 08
I boiled eggs for 5 minutes, then cool them for 5 minutes, it is easy to peel it from shell.
2 people like this
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
21 Jun 08
I have so many times had the same thing happen so I'll be watching this post real good for advice also. Some say this happens when the eggs are real fresh and others say No no this happens if the eggs are old??? I'm glad you thought to post this. Thank You.
2 people like this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
21 Jun 08
Oops, I meant "as mentioned BELOW". LOL It's the post after yours.
2 people like this
@shogunly (1397)
• Libya
21 Jun 08
Hi thank you for this discussion I always wondered whether people have trouble peeling their eggs anyway what I do although it doesnt always work is put the egg while its hot under cool water . I usually cant tell from the start if it's going to be a "smooth peel" or if I'm going to end up with an egg that looks like it has leprosy if I find the thin membrane under the outer shell then I know I can get the rest of the shell off easily but if that thin membrane skin thing doesn't come off easily then big parts of the egg will come off with the shell . Happy boiled egg peeling !
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
21 Jun 08
Thanks! I'm giving it another shot later today, using the suggestions above. But I just read an article in About.com (http://homecooking.about.com/cs/atozfoodindex/ht/How_Cook_Eggs_S.htm) and they are saying not to boil the eggs at all! Just bring to a boil then let them steep for 15 to 17 minutes! Geesh! I'm so confused!!!!
2 people like this
• United States
21 Jun 08
I cool mine down just enough to handle them then peel them right away. I have also found that the fresher the egg the easier that inner membrane is to peel away from the egg, but definitely fast peeling after a quick cool down works.
2 people like this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
21 Jun 08
I did that last night. I put cold water in the pot right after boiling, then dumped that and added cold water again. They were still warm inside. Same horrible results. BUT, the eggs were at least a week old. I'm getting fresh ones today and trying it again. Thanks for your help.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
21 Jun 08
I find that if I do not get them thoroughly chilled the shell will stick to the egg . so get them really really cold and the shells will just pop off as clean as a whistle without sticking to the egg and losing some egg with the shell. this really does work.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
21 Jun 08
See my above response about how I did my eggs last night. So, you're saying that I should put them into the fridge first and make sure they are really cold? I'll have to try that today. Yeah, I'm going for another dozen. LOL Thanks for your help.
2 people like this
• Canada
25 Jun 08
mentalward, look for my comment a couple pages ahead....See if that works for you!
• United States
21 Jun 08
Put some salt in the water. Try not to overcook them. Then put them in cold water. Then knock the small end of the egg first. There is an air bubble there that gives you a better start when peeling. Usually if you get a good start they turn out better. Good luck!
2 people like this
@patgalca (18345)
• Orangeville, Ontario
23 Jun 08
Yes, I have an egg piercer. It's like a needle that punctures a small hole into the end of the egg. And I also put salt in the water. The shell comes off easier that way. I learned that one from Oprah's aunt!
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
21 Jun 08
You should have sucess if you put your boiled eggs in a bowl of really cold water. Don't use the the same pot you cooked them in, it will still be warm. Also eggs that have been in the fridg for a few days work better than completely fresh eggs. I have some friends who used to have laying chickens. I could never get the day old eggs to peel right. My friends told me completely fresh eggs are hard to peel.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
21 Jun 08
I've heard this about fresh eggs. The ones I tried last night were about a week old, and I got only two "perfect" eggs from the lot (of 12)! I will try your method of cooling them after boiling. Thank you for the tip!
1 person likes this
@scapula (760)
• Jordan
21 Jun 08
I think there is a way to easily peel the eggs, you put some salt in the water while boiling the eggs, it ease the peeling and you won't loose half of it.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
21 Jun 08
You are the third person to mention salt. I will definitely try it. Thank you!
1 person likes this
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
21 Jun 08
The fresher the eggs the harder they stick to the shell. So hold your eggs in the frig for a week before boiling. Then start with cold water when you put them on to boil. That should help a lot.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
21 Jun 08
Starting with cold water is something I've never done! I usually put the eggs in when the water is not quite to the boiling point. I will try this today. Thanks so much!
1 person likes this
@julievy (593)
• United States
21 Jun 08
Very fresh eggs are harder to peel when they're boiled. If you can, you'll be better off using eggs that are at least a week old.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
21 Jun 08
Thank you! That's been mentioned several times, so it must be true! I'll do that.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Jul 08
OK! As soon as you are done cooking the eggs, pour out the boiling water and fill the pan up immediately with VERY cold water and peel them by rolling the shell around one time sideways on a paper towel and THEN peel. The cold water right on the hot shell makes the egg shrink inside and then the peel comes off clean and your egg will be intact.
1 person likes this
@taface412 (3175)
• United States
24 Jun 08
OOOOOH I feel your pain...I love making my mom's deviled eggs, but I hate peeling them because I guess I have a little OCD complex when it comes to serving food to others...you know a little Martha Stewart comes out in me and I have been known to throw an egg or two in the kitchen....feels good to throw it, but gross to clean it so I do not suggest it. But my mom gave me this tip. Set your carton (or however many you are making) out on the counter until they are close to room temperature (not right from the fridge cold) and place them in a pan of room temp water and then bring to a boil....I have used every kind of tip out there from putting salt in the water, etc. And my mom's tip was the best.....also I do let them sit out of water until they are cooled. I would give you her recipe, but I have been sworn to secrey on the ingredients....so I hope I will have a daughter one day or I'll have to teach my niece how to make them to pass it on. I think this is a little late for your company to enjoy, and I hope some of the other tips helped you out.
2 people like this
@1richgirl (126)
• United States
22 Jun 08
The secret is not very "green" but take them our of boiling water and get them under very cold water immediately. If you can keep the cold running over them or just keep them in "cold' water for about 4-5 minutes before you peel them. If you want to conserve water put them in a bowl of ice water and when the water warms up put more ice in it. Good luck- my mother taught me this and it always works as long as the eggs are fully boiled!
• India
21 Jun 08
It mainly depends on how you peel the egg and the size of the nail the size of the nail must be medium and shell should be removed careful
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
21 Jun 08
Nail? What do you do with a nail? I've never heard of this.
1 person likes this
@silkyt34 (324)
• United States
22 Jun 08
after you put them in water add salt to them directly on the egg not just in the water boil for 8 to 10 minutes and when you take them off of the stove run them under cold water until they are cold enough for you to hold they should peel very easily that has worked for me for years i learned it when i had my own resturant
1 person likes this
@ashlee67 (95)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I hard boil the night before, then refrigerate overnight. When it's time to peel them, I simply tap the bottom of the egg on the countertop, then start to peel from there. This is usually the spot that is a little hollowed. If I have any trouble after that, I peel them while holding them under cold running water. (Although my fingers get cold quickly!) This usually results in being able to peel off larger pieces of shell, which leads to less to no "picked at" spots.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Jun 08
The easiest way that i have found to peel eggs, is while boiling them, saturate the water with salt and add some oil. Then after they have boiled, put them in cool water, if possible put some ice over them.. hope this helps
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Jun 08
My Mother-in-law is a head cook in a nursing home, and she always advises me to put the eggs in the water cold and then let it come to a boil. When they come to a boil put the timer on for 10 minutes. After the timer goes off immediately cool them under cold water until they feel cool to the touch. Possibly draining them repeatedly. I often forget for a bit after I have them cooled and they seem to work alright for the most part. Occasionally I'll have trouble with a couple in a batch, but my husband seems to be able to peel them better than I do. I think it's because he bangs them around more than I do when I'm peeling them. I will have to try the salt in the water bit, though. Anything that helps.
• China
23 Jun 08
boil them for about seven minutes and put them into cold water.then press on the table lightly to make every small piece break,and then open from the side where there are more air. There is a very thin layer under the hard shell,peel that try to not to tear,try to get the whole layer. In this way,peeling eggs will becomes very easy.
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
23 Jun 08
boiled eggs with medium fire about 15 minutes or eggs boiled, and then off the stove. Replace boiled water with new water(not hot), at the same time, shake soft, and peel eggs from the shell. Do it still in the water.
1 person likes this