Hard boiled eggs

[progree]

Last edited Wed Sep 27, 2023, 07:43 AM - Edit history (1)

The most common Internet suggestions look something like this:

Put eggs in saucepan, add cold water (eggs b4 water) to cover, and heat it up rapidly to boiling

Turn off heat and set a timer for 10 minutes

After 10 minutes, dunk the eggs in an ice bath to stop the cooking. Best to begin peeling while still warm.

Anyway almost all the methods I've seen, and I've seen many, have this in common.

I found peeling to be a real bit by bit by bit chore. I decided never again.

I found but lost a great article that discussed positively and skeptically all the different suggestions that can be found, so unfortunately I can't post it. But here are a couple of articles:

We Tried the 5 Best Ways to Perfectly Peel a Hard-Boiled Egg
These are the most effective techniques from Reddit and YouTube.
https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/a20486471/best-way-to-peel-a-hard-boiled-egg/

We're Using a Spoon To Peel Our Hard-Boiled Eggs From Now On ...
Take an egg out of the cooling water and crack it along the fat end by tapping it on the counter or cutting board. Peel just enough shell to be able to slip the tip of a spoon under the shell. Carefully slide the spoon in so that the curve of the spoon follows the curve of the egg. Then, rotate the egg as you move the spoon between the shell and the egg white.
https://www.southernliving.com/food/dairy/eggs/how-to-peel-boiled-egg-with-spoon

Does anyone have some suggestions to make this all easy? Thanks

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BTW, my gas stove gave out some time ago, and I've been making do with slow cookers, which fortunately also have grill bases. But these are kind of slow heating - I think they max out at 500 watts.

I have on order from Amazon:

CUSIMAX Electric Hot Plate for Cooking Portable Single Burner 1500W Cast Iron hot plates Heat-up in Seconds Adjustable Temperature Control Stainless Steel Non-Slip Rubber Feet Upgraded Version B101
https://www.amazon.com/CUSIMAX-Electric-Adjustable-Temperature-Stainless/dp/B07D71TD67/ref=sxin_17_sbv_search_btf
-- Not induction, 8.78"D x 11.6"W x 3.39"H (so roughly 9" X 12", < 4"tall) Wattage 1500 watts
-- "uses 7 thermostatically controlled heat settings conveniently to cook a variety of foods such as warm sauces, decoct steak, grilled cheese, boil water, make soup, cook pasta and vegetables and do so much more. Meet your daily cooking needs."

Anyway, for a hot plate, I've never seen so many bells and whistles.

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As for what to have for breakfast, I haven't thought about it yet, beyond sipping a cup of coffee now. I don't have any eggs around, so it won't be hard-boiled eggs.

EDITED TO ADD: 3 prunes, and an apple, (and the coffee) and that's probably going to be about it. I'm just not hungry for anything that's in the fridge/cupboards/pantry right now.

[vanlassie]

1. I think the best determinate of peel-ability is

to use not too fresh eggs.

[progree]

4. Yes, I see this mentioned a lot. Thanks.

[Woodwizard]

2. I steam them.

Almost never crack and the shells slide right off.

[progree]

3. Interesting -- so do you start with cold water and have the eggs in a steamer on top?

Once its boiling and steaming ... how long do you continue? Do you use the ice bath? I'm probably guessing this all wrong. Thanks

[Woodwizard]

13. Yes

I start with about a half inch or so with the eggs in a steamer basket, depending on how hard or soft you like them 8 to 12 minutes after the water boils. I peel them while a little warm with cold water lightly running on them.

I will never go back to boiling in water.

[progree]

16. Thanks for the details. Nice that you can skip the ice bath, which is

rather consumptive of resources (ice cubes) as I see it.

[Freddie]

5. Instant pot, 5 minutes

After the cycle finishes put the eggs in a bowl of water and ice. They will peel easily no matter how old they are.

[Dave in VA]

9. Yep!

5, 5, 5...

Place as many eggs as will fit on the trivet so none are touching the bottom (or only one if that's all you need.) I have fixed a dozen eggs at one time this way.
Two cups of water in bottom of pot
Cook on steam for five minutes
Have a bowl of water with ice available
After when instant pot times dings turn off the instant pot and let eggs stay for another five minutes
Remove eggs to the bowl of ice water and let them stay for five minutes.

Never had a problem with peeling any eggs I have prepared using this method. Always peel them under running tap water.

[Freddie]

10. I hate to admit

My Instant Pot was a gift from my daughter (who uses hers all the time) and the only thing I make in it is hard boiled eggs.

[Dave in VA]

14. You are not alone

A few years back we gave one to my brother and sister-in-law. Each of the kids, each of their kids (because we were using ours all the time and getting great results!) Their kids, our kids, use theirs all the time, brother and sis-in-law never used theirs. Last year she gave it to their youngest because he and his wife use it for everything possible.

Love fixing all kinds of dried beans, soups, cabbage, collards, potatoes for mashed potatoes, etc.

Hundreds of recipes online. Try using it more, it does great for us.

[progree]

15. "potatoes for mashed potatoes" -- that's something I hope to try

Last edited Thu Sep 28, 2023, 04:15 AM - Edit history (1)

without all the work.

EDIT - Nope, one must still do the mashing the old-fashioned way. The Instant Pot just cooks the potatoes faster than conventional boiling in water.

[peacefreak2.0]

6. Air fryer-approx 14 minutes.

Then into an ice bath. Works like a charm.

[LuvLoogie]

7. Do you still have your gas stove? What is not working?

Does the gas make it to the range?

If it's the oven, sometimes you just need to replace the ignitor. depending on the model, 20 to 60 bucks.

You could probably get a decent used 4 burner stove for not too much.

[progree]

8. It was 54 years old and corroded throughout, the gas utility person

said just get rid of it, the whole thing. And they have installed a leak detector so if I attempt to revive gas flow to the stove, they will detect that and shut off gas at the meter.

Because of environmental reasons I haven't been thrilled about getting a new gas stove (we're all supposedly supposed to get induction stoves/ovens), so other things have taken priority. And I've been sick for 2 months and counting, so I'm in bare-bones survival catchup mode (seems like an infinite journey) now that i feel somewhat better (but still sick).

[Kali]

11. I despise single-use appliances, but

someone gave me a little Japanese 6 egg cooker that works freaking insanely well. you jab a hole in the end of the egg with a little enclosed tool, set them in rack, add a bit of water (same tool is a measure cup) and let it go. chimes nicely when done. they peel great fresh laid or aged in fridge for a few weeks.

mine is close to this -

[progree]

12. You got me curious so I googled - I found a really elaborate version

Last edited Thu Sep 28, 2023, 04:17 AM - Edit history (1)

https://www.temu.com/ul/kuiper/un9.html

A 3 tier version -- besides 6 eggs, can heat/cook 2 other items. On sale for $9.99 and free shipping on all orders.

"Temu will offset carbon emissions from every delivery" Uh huh. Yeah, we're saved.


Here's pages full at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=egg+cooker&crid=93X91X595O42&sprefix=egg+cooker%2Caps%2C273&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Edit: Warning about Temu

https://time.com/6243738/temu-app-complaints/

The Truth About Temu, the Most Downloaded New App in America, Time Magazine, 12/29/22

[Kali]

18. yeah mine came with a little pan

for poaching and "omelettes" - never used them. don't like poached and omelettes need to be cooked on a stove top, not steamed. the bigger ones look interesting but I rarely need more than 6 at a time and pretty easy to just make 2 batches (and I didn't buy mine, not sure if I would even replace it when it dies...maybe, it does work good)

[FemDemERA]

19. I picked up one of these a couple weeks ago

At target (dash, $16.99) after using one at my sisters house. I’m loving it. I prefer medium, not hard boiled and it has always been hit and miss. With this, they turn out perfectly and easy to peal, or just break in half and scoop out with spoon. I’ve made eggs almost everyday in the last couple weeks 😊

[progree]

17. Warning about Temu

https://time.com/6243738/temu-app-complaints/

The Truth About Temu, the Most Downloaded New App in America, Time Magazine, 12/29/22

==========================

I mentioned it in #12, in relation to a multi-tier egg cooker and 2 other things at the same time for less than $10 and free shipping and they offset their carbon footprint blah blah. I have edited #12 but think a reply to the OP is called for, for more visibility.