I have a few hens so we eat a lot of very fresh eggs. We enjoy cold hard-boiled ones in salads and sandwiches but I have yet to find a way to peel them successfully. I always put them in cold water after boiling and leave them a while. I usually then crack them all over and remove the shell with the handle of a teaspoon - but invariably a layer of white comes off with the shell. Any ideas?
I run cold water on them the moment they are cooked, then leave the cold tap running to keep them cool while cracking and peeling the skin off after they have cooled down a lot. If you get it right, it comes straight off with the membrane separated. If you get it wrong, you get an egg with bits missing.
Never realised this could be a problem. I put them in cold water jut so they are easier to handle and then crack the shell and peel. Sometimes they're perfect sometimes they're not, don't care really they're only for eating.
This can be a problem with newly laid eggs. Keep them on one side for a few days before using as hard boiled eggs. I put mine in cold water and bring to the boil, cool in more cold water, tap shells all over and peel under cold running water. I use this water and crushed shells around my plants to keep slugs etc at bay so no wasted water.
Directly after boiling put hem in ice water. While in the ice water, crack each one a little all over to let the ice water get in the egg. Wait just a couple minutes then peel while still in the water. Good luck!
I find hard boiled eggs difficult to peel, especially with arthritic fingers. I have just bought a gadget from Lakeland called a 'Dreamfarm Eggler' which is supposed to help with peeling and then slice eggs evenly.
It only arrived an hour ago so I haven't had the chance to test it yet!
eddiescat, I hope you’ve found some of the tips helpful. I think hard boiled eggs can sometimes be a real faff to peel, and tips are always welcome. I’m sure you don’t need “to get a grip” as that poster suggested - he/she frequently suggests that on other threads, too - best ignored 😁.
Ziploc it didn't bother me. I suspect most of us here do have troubling problems which we don't talk about. That doesn't mean we don't also have trivial annoyances which we appreciate some help with. Nobody would ask anything if we were only allowed to talk about serious matters!
I can't remember where I heard it but ....if you roll the eggs in your hands it separates the shell and makes it easier to remove. I tried it and so far it works...mind you knowing my luck now I've posted it on here next time I do it won't work...😂
I gently squeeze the boiled egg, having cooled it slightly first of course. That cracks the shell all over, and it is really easy to peel the shell and the white membrane together. Our neighbour supplies us with fresh eggs from a farm shop every week - maybe that helps. Why do some have to be so snippy? How boring to sit scrolling, looking for posts to be nasty about.
I remember many years ago trying to peel 100 hard boiled eggs for a Church meal. They were straight from the farm, and I had only ever bought from the supermarket before, where they are not so fresh. I had an absolute nightmare of a job, which I have never forgotten! I have since learnt that beginning at the blunt end where there is an air bubble makes it easier to start.
If anyone is interested I know how to make peeling quail's eggs simple. Soak the cooked eggs overnight in the fridge submerged in 5% white vinegar. The spots will have floated off and the shells softened enough to rub off gently.
I used to have hens and they are hard to peel being so fresh. I boiled them in water with a some bicarb, and that definitely helped the peeling process.