Update: We tested YOUR methods and now have a part 2!
Check it out here!
Have you ever had problems peeling hard boiled eggs?
Please say that you have, because I can’t be the only one who has had issues peeling eggs.
Every once in a rare moon I get a good batch, however, in general, it’s always a disaster.
So this time I decided to call upon the experts.
The moms, and pinterest.
Because, you know, everything you see and read on pinterest is true and moms always have tried and true methods.
Before I tell you the real way to boil an egg, I must say that my 3 year old LOVED this experiment.
Not because she likes eggs.
She doesn’t.
And she’s not allowed to use the stove either.
She did however LOVE coloring all the eggs I made.
Art project for her, food project for me! A win-win!
So the 4 methods I used were:
1. Boil for 15 minutes
2. Boil, remove for 15 minutes
3. Boil, remove for 15 minutes with pinhole
4. Bake @ 325°F for 30 minutes
Method 1:
I placed 4 eggs in a pot of cold water. Turned the heat to medium and brought it to a boil. I then boiled the eggs for 15 minutes. I removed the pan from the heat and immediately placed eggs in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes. The results were this:
Method 2:
I placed 4 eggs in a pot of cold water. Turned the heat to medium and brought it to a boil. I then removed pot from heat and let eggs sit for 15 minutes. I removed the eggs from the pan and placed them in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes. The results were this:
Method 3:
Using a push pin, I pricked a hole at the bottom of each of my 4 eggs (wider end). I then placed eggs in a pot of cold water. Turned the heat to medium and brought it to a boil. I then removed the pot from the heat and let the eggs sit for 15 minutes. I removed eggs from the pan and placed them in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes. The results were this:
Method 4:
I placed 4 eggs in a muffin tin (1 egg per muffin cup). I preheat my oven to 325*F. Once oven was preheated, I placed muffin tin with eggs into the oven for 30 minutes. I then removed eggs from oven and placed in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes. The results were this:
Here is what I ultimately discovered:
Note 1: Ice Water is needed (or super cold water) to help these eggs cool down quickly, not allowing them to continue to cook internally after boiling them.
Note 2: All methods produced great looking internal eggs. No funky green or smelly eggs. So really you can use any method if you don’t care what the outside looks like or if you have to butcher the egg to get it out of the peal.
Note 3: Method #3 was by far the best. Easy to peel and perfect product. When pricking each egg, firmly hold the egg in one hand and press the push pin in with the other. You’ll have to give it a little force, but it will go through without cracking your entire egg. I was ultimately worried that my innards would leak out. However out of the 15 eggs I made this way, only 1 grew a “bunny tail” (tiny bit leaked out) and it really wasn’t a big deal.
Note 4: The oven method did produce easy to peel eggs – super easy to peel. However as you can see, those brown spots, are burn marks. That’s where the eggs touched my pan during the baking process. Every single egg was burned. And though the insides look great, the outsides do not. Resulting in a method I would not use again.
Note 5: Eggs are easier to peel when they are at or close to room temperature. SUPER COLD eggs straight from the fridge have proven to be more difficult to peel.
Note 6: The age of the egg means a lot. FRESH eggs are harder to peel. Older eggs will produce easier to peel eggs from my experience.
So there you have it folks – 4 “tried and true” methods put to the ultimate test. One (#3) coming out as the ultimate winner for me and the method I will be using in the future.
I certainly hope this helps each of you as you try to discover the best Easy to Peel Hard Boiled Egg method.
**Please note: These eggs were cooked in MN on a gas range. Results may vary due to altitude.
Jan Townsend
Friday 19th of May 2023
Here is what I do :: put water on to boil in pot then when it’s starts to boil add 1 egg at a time using a spoon to ease it into water then after all eggs are in pot add tsp of bicarb Soda and a little salt boil 12 minutes then cool using tap water and peel so easily.
Janelle
Sunday 1st of October 2023
Thanks Jan!
Angie
Tuesday 24th of May 2022
I use an instapot for boiled eggs. Or is it pressure we cooked eggs? They turn out perfect every time. 1C water in instapot A trivet that holds 7 eggs High Pressure for 5 minutes (manual mode) Release pressure, put the eggs in an ice bath for a few minutes. They peel easy. This method is great cause you can use the instapot and not have to worry about the boiling process.
Carol
Wednesday 13th of October 2021
I fined the shells today are very thin so. I put the eggs in cold water and when they come to a boil I sprinkle soda on them. Then take them off the heat and cover time for 25 minutes then dump water add cold water, let the cold water run as you tape and peel under water. Works every time.
Carol
Monday 8th of March 2021
I tried a method for hard boiled eggs from a cooking show, i.e., boil eggs for 8 minutes, remove and place in an ice water bath. The eggs were perfect (no green rim around the yolk. I was surprised, but I tested it and they were great!
Janelle
Saturday 20th of March 2021
Thanks for the tip!
Mel
Wednesday 3rd of February 2021
I was so eggcited(!) to try the recommended Method 3 as I think I've more or less tried the other methods. I love hard-boiled eggs but the whole peeling palaver puts me off ever bothering! Unfortunately it didn't work as planned for me, in fact it was the worst I've ever worked with. I was left with very little egg as no matter how hard I tried, so much egg white stuck to the shell! 😟 The only thing I can think of, as your article suggests, I think my eggs were too fresh! I'll have to try another day!😓