For Hard Boiled Eggs That Peel Easily Every Time, Steam Them (2024)

FAQs

For Hard Boiled Eggs That Peel Easily Every Time, Steam Them? ›

Drop the eggs into boiling water. Eggs added to a pot of boiling water rather than brought to a boil along with the cold water will be easier to peel. Plus, this method allows for more precise timing.

Drop the eggs into boiling water. Eggs added to a pot of boiling water rather than brought to a boil along with the cold water will be easier to peel. Plus, this method allows for more precise timing.

Adding a small amount of vinegar or salt to the water may help strengthen the egg whites and reduce the chances of cracking. Use about a 2 teaspoon of vinegar or a half teaspoon of salt per two cups of water. Gently pierce the rounded end of the egg with a pin or a needle before boiling.

Egg Peeling Method #1: Boiling Eggs with Baking Soda

The higher pH of older eggs allows the whites to separate from the inner shell membrane, which makes them easier to peel.

It's not necessary to add anything to the water. Some people also swear that adding a bit of salt, vinegar or even baking soda to the boiling water makes eggs easier to peel and/or makes them taste better. We, however, prefer the simplicity of plain ol' water.

Add 1 inch of water to a large pot. Place steamer insert inside, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add eggs to steamer basket, cover, and continue cooking, 6 minutes for soft-boiled eggs or 12 minutes for hard-boiled. Serve immediately if serving hot.

Eggs in General

Hard-cooked eggs may be difficult to peel if they are very fresh. This is because an egg shrinks inside during storage, which pulls the inner membrane away from the inside of the shell. For this reason, a hard-cooked egg will peel more easily if it has been stored for 1 or 2 weeks before it is cooked.

You might have heard that you should drop your eggs into room temperature or cold water and then bring the water to a boil. This is a myth. In our tests, bringing the water to a boil first and then lowering the eggs into the bath made for easy peeling and more accurate timing.

Steaming eggs makes perfect sense. It is always a risk to drop eggs into a pot of boiling water, between scalding splash back and the risk of cracking, not to mention that eggs can crack just bashing into each other with the boiling action. Steaming is a much gentler approach.

The longer you cook the egg, the more likely you are to end up with a rubbery white and a green yolk. Why does the yolk turn green? The green-gray color (and the whiff of sulfur smell that often accompanies it) comes from the reaction of iron in the egg yolk and sulfur in the egg white.

How do you cook boiled eggs so they peel easily? ›

Bring to a boil, then cover the pot and turn off the heat. Let the eggs cook, covered, for 9 to 12 minutes, depending on your desired done-ness (see photo). Transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water and chill for 14 minutes. This makes the eggs easier to peel.

How much time is needed to make hard boiled eggs? Hard boiled eggs should be cooked for about 10-12 minutes. This timing avoids a powdery, dry yolk that comes from overcooking while keeping it solid enough for applications like devilled eggs or egg salad.

Before steaming, prepare the dish by greasing with a small amount of oil. Make sure to spread the oil all around the bottom and walls of the dish. Additionally, don't overcook the egg. Overcooked steamed eggs are more likely to stick and cling to the plate.

Tip #1: Use warm chicken broth or water

Most of us will be using eggs straight from the fridge. Because the eggs will be cold, using warm chicken broth (or water) is key to help bring the eggs to room temperature, which ensures that the eggs steam more evenly and produce a smooth, silky texture.

So it's the same thing with the eggs. That acid from the vinegar. helps to break down the Calcium on the eggshell, thus making it softer, easier to peel.