Ever since we owned backyard chickens and they began laying, our eggs are always fresh and eaten within a day or two of laying. However, because of this trying to peel a hardboiled egg became a problem. Eggs need time to allow air to filter through the thousands of little pores in the shells to create air pockets. Without those air pockets, it's next to impossible to peel those shells away from an egg. Believe me, I've tried. The best way to peel a hardboiled egg is to allow it to sit in your fridge for a week or two (the longer the easier the shell falls away) before boiling it. I boil mine for about ten minutes (start at a low temperature to prevent shell cracking) then sit it in cold water until cool. When cracking, begin with the widest end of the egg where the largest pocket of air has settled at the bottom. The shell should then peel away for you easily and in large sections. This may seem simple to some, but I figure if I could make this mistake, so could other first time backyard chicken owners.
I do the same -- let eggs I am going to hardboil sit in a carton in the fridge for a week. It also helps to set the carton on its side -- then the yolks are nicely centered in the egg which is helpful for things like deviled eggs. Fresh eggs are IMPOSSIBLE to peel.
You know what else works? I stumbled upon this completely by accident--use room temperature eggs. Boil them, and then shock them in cold water, and they peel perfectly. Fresh eggs are no problem.
I thought I was the only one who knew this, and then I read it somewhere after I had "discovered" it. Oh well. It's true, no matter who tells you about it.
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Kate
11/5/2011 06:05:25 am
It also helps to use a spoon to peel them,crack all around on the edge of the sink then use the edge of the spoon upside down to get under the edge of the shell. I'll try the room temp egg trick too.
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I live a very simple life on a small hobby farm along with my husband, three kids, and an assortment of animals. Life may be simple but I love every minute of it.