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Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Everything Egg - How to Boil the Perfect Egg

"Just doing our best" is great for most things in the home, but not for boiling eggs. In my opinion, this is one area where we need to get it right or the results will be unpleasant. There are lots of methods that work and sometimes, you just need to try a few to see which one works best for you. For quite a while, I was inept in the egg arena, but finally found a method that worked for me.

This is how I boil the perfect egg:

Place the eggs into a large pot and salt the water. (Salt will raise the boiling temperature of the water.)

Place on the stove and heat just until they start to boil.

When you see they are beginning to boil, cover and remove from heat.

Let them sit for 20 minutes.

At the end of 20 minutes, drain the water and refill the pot with cold water and ice to stop the cooking process.

I usually peel them immediately, but this is a personal preference.

Refrigerate after the eggs have cooled in the ice water.

Trouble peeling the eggs?

Fresh eggs are the hardest to peel. Use these for cooking and the oldest eggs for boiling.
Eggshells are porous, so you can add a drop or two of vegetable oil to the water as they cook. The oil will soak through the shell which will allow easier peeling. I tried this and it really works. I added too much oil though and it was a mess, so play around with the amount of oil you need as compared to the size pot you are using. I would not recommend this for the eggs you will be decorating since the decorations probably will not stick.

This is what works in my kitchen. Have you found any egg-related tips that work for you?

You will find this post and many other tips at:

Works for Me Wednesday hosted by We Are THAT Family.

*****If you enjoy family game night, head to my main page and scroll down for information on how to you can win one of two games that will be given away this Friday. ****

Labels: Everything Egg, food, recipes, tips

# posted by Heather@justdoingmybest @ Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Comments:

I've got to try the oil...thanks for the tip!

# posted by

Holly : April 7, 2009 at 11:45 PM

Thanks for the tip! I have been googling hard boiled eggs all night trying to find the best way to do it.

I need to boil 4 dozen eggs on Friday and I don't want them to be underdone!

# posted by

Jenny : April 7, 2009 at 11:50 PM

Cool tips! Thanks. Boiling an egg is not as easy as it seems it should be ;)

# posted by

Kirsty : April 8, 2009 at 12:08 AM

I never heard of putting oil in the water. Thanks! I still need to boil our eggs for decorating.

# posted by

Raise Them Up : April 8, 2009 at 12:21 AM

Huh. I posted on the same thing yesterday, but my method is a bit different: http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/04/perfect-boiled-eggs.html

# posted by

UnfinishedMom : April 8, 2009 at 7:45 AM

Thank you for the tips! I'm making some angeled eggs for Easter. I need to go ahead and get the eggs now. :D

# posted by

Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet : April 8, 2009 at 9:21 AM

I've never heard of putting oil in the water to help with peeling, but I will have to try that. Thanks for the tip.

# posted by

Amanda @ Mommy's Idea Book : April 8, 2009 at 9:29 AM

We've been raising our own chickens for little over a year now, and I had a TERRIBLE time boiling and peeling those fresh eggs. I finally found out that store eggs have been sitting for a week or more and my eggs were fresh and that's why I couldn't peel them. Wow, so how old are those store eggs???

# posted by

Noel : April 8, 2009 at 10:46 AM

I was just thinking last night I needed to figure out how to boil eggs. I was just winging it and so sometimes they were over done and sometimes just right.... NOW I am going to try your method and amaze my family! LOL My 8 year old loves to take a boiled egg in his lunch... he is going to be thrilled!

# posted by

Annikke : April 8, 2009 at 11:49 AM

I really needed those peeling tips! Mine always seem to stick.

# posted by

MediMonsters : April 8, 2009 at 1:01 PM

Thank you so much for the boiling tips. I'm going to be boiling mine tomorrow.Do you find you can do a double layer (like stacked eggs) or do you always do a single layer? I read something about that somewhere, but wondered what your opinion was? Also if you tap to crack the egg, then gently roll the egg around on the counter with the palm of your hand with slight pressure (like if you were rolling playdough into a ball) hey peel easier too. Bu old eggs are definitely the real difference!

# posted by

Anonymous : April 8, 2009 at 4:15 PM

Good tips!

:)

# posted by

Niki Jolene : April 8, 2009 at 9:59 PM

Wherelifebecomesart,

I have not tried a double layer. I usually do not boil more than a dozen and my pot will allow a single layer. Having said that, I would be willing to guess the method I mentioned would be one of the easiest for a double layer because the eggs never get to a rolling boil and never really move, so they would probably be ok. I would be hesitant to experiment for the first time if you are boiling these for a special event. :) Thanks for reading!
Heather

# posted by

Heather@justdoingmybest : April 9, 2009 at 10:40 PM

i added the oil based on the same tip from another site...just as I was pouring some in I thought about the possibility that they will not dye properly. Now I am looking for advice on that..have 3 dozen oily eggs to dye. Any ideas on should I attempt to clean them? or see if they turn out marbely?

# posted by

buttercuprx : April 10, 2009 at 9:39 AM

Michele,
I know that oil added to dye cup would create a marble effect, but I'm not sure about how it would turn out before hand. I suspect the color would still take, but of course none of the decals, stickers or crayons would work. Perhaps you could make sure you use the dye that require vinegar. Maybe that would help? Good luck!
Heather

# posted by

Heather@justdoingmybest : April 10, 2009 at 9:47 AM

Wow what great tips! I will definitely have to remember this next time I boil eggs!

# posted by

Stephanie : April 17, 2009 at 9:03 PM

Just Doing My Best

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Just Doing My Best

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Everything Egg - How to Boil the Perfect Egg

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