# America and egg cups **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 10, 2017, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904 "2017-07-10T09:21:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/341 "2017-07-14T19:30:30Z")
Doesn’t pricking cause some of the contents to leak out into the water? I’ve had eggs leak that had unnoticed hairline cracks. ---
**Author:** ![Plumpudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Plumpudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plumpudding)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/342 "2017-07-14T19:38:02Z")
Nah, you just penetrate the shell. If the white starts leaking you’ve gone too far. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/343 "2017-07-14T19:41:07Z")
> [@Plumpudding](#): > > Nah, you just penetrate the shell. If the white starts leaking you’ve gone too far. What else is there to penetrate except the shell? And how do you penetrate the shell without cracking the egg? Is there some special tool? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/344 "2017-07-14T19:43:21Z")
> [@Plumpudding](#): > > Nah, you just penetrate the shell. If the white starts leaking you’ve gone too far. How does it relieve any excess air pressure within the egg then? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/345 "2017-07-14T19:52:56Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > How does it relieve any excess air pressure within the egg then? At the flat side of the egg, there’s a little “air chamber” beneath the rounded shell and the inner egg. You prick it, in Germany usually with the famous [Eierpicker](https://www.google.de/search?q=eierpicker&rlz=1C1AVFC_enDE743DE743&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjPqJmBxonVAhUJPVAKHWeiDWsQ_AUIBygC&biw=1366&bih=589), or else you use a single prong of a fork. Takes only a fraction of a second. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/346 "2017-07-14T20:04:06Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > At the flat side of the egg, there’s a little “air chamber” beneath the rounded shell and the inner egg. You prick it, in Germany usually with the famous [Eierpicker](https://www.google.de/search?q=eierpicker&rlz=1C1AVFC_enDE743DE743&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjPqJmBxonVAhUJPVAKHWeiDWsQ_AUIBygC&biw=1366&bih=589), or else you use a single prong of a fork. Takes only a fraction of a second. Ah, I didn’t know that. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/347 "2017-07-14T20:04:47Z")
> [@YoudNeverGuess](#): > > It makes me sad to think of American kids growing up not knowing the joy of a soft-boiled egg. I feel like hopping on the next plane to USA with a suitcase full of egg-cups and a soapbox from which to distribute them and spread the good news. I’m beginning to rethink that travel ban… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/348 "2017-07-14T20:05:06Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > What else is there to penetrate except the shell? And how do you penetrate the shell without cracking the egg? Is there some special tool? Uh oh. Let’s not go there–it’ll only encourage the ones who think making soft boiled eggs is a crazy, elaborate ritual:egg pickers/pierces, egg cups, egg spoons, serrated knives, etc. Seriosuly, none of any of that is needed. Just a pot to boil your egg in, and a regular teaspoon to eat it up (and even that can be done without.) ---
**Author:** ![Plumpudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Plumpudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plumpudding)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/349 "2017-07-14T20:16:05Z")
Basically, you penetrate the shell without penetrating the membrane. It’s very simple and takes under a second. You can use a needle, the point of a knife, a fork… An angle grinder, a good bosch drill, a throwing spear… ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/350 "2017-07-14T20:31:47Z")
> [@Plumpudding](#): > > Basically, you penetrate the shell without penetrating the membrane. It’s very simple and takes under a second. You can use a needle, the point of a knife, a fork… An angle grinder, a good bosch drill, a throwing spear… I use a cyclotron. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/351 "2017-07-14T20:47:49Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Uh oh. Let’s not go there–it’ll only encourage the ones who think making soft boiled eggs is a crazy, elaborate ritual:egg pickers/pierces, egg cups, egg spoons, serrated knives, etc. Seriosuly, none of any of that is needed. Just a pot to boil your egg in, and a regular teaspoon to eat it up (and even that can be done without.) Believe me, I’ve never ever thought of making a soft-boiled egg as a ritual, and I prick the egg, I put my egg in boiling water heated with the dreaded electric kettle, put it in an egg cup, crack the top with, no, not with a serrated knife (cause that would be silly ;)), but with a regular butter knife, and scoop it with an egg spoon. But all those activities combined take about ten minutes, and I’m a regular slob, really. I’m the typical half-cultivated middle aged bachelor and usually don’t care too much for exaggerated kitchen etiquette, but that’s just the way it’s done here. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/352 "2017-07-14T20:51:02Z")
I do have to say, all this talk about soft-boiled eggs, I just had to boil two up a few minutes ago. About 10 minutes from start to finish, (three minutes to get the water boiling, 6 minutes to steam the egg) including making two slices of rye toast with butter and anchovies on it. Oh, this was all so good. No egg cups, but I did use a shot glass to place them in. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/353 "2017-07-14T20:58:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I do have to say, all this talk about soft-boiled eggs, I just had to boil two up a few minutes ago. About 10 minutes from start to finish, (three minutes to get the water boiling, 6 minutes to steam the egg) including making two slices of rye toast with butter and anchovies on it. Oh, this was all so good. No egg cups, but **I did use a shot glass to place** them in. [my bolding] Hey, you’re learning ;). Next time try you prick the egg before? :D. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/354 "2017-07-14T21:04:27Z")
Too late to edit: The last two breakfasts, I also had soft-boiled eggs, which are normally only a weekend treat for me. And I have a dear friend of whom I know that she ate a soft-boiled egg this week inspired by this thread also :-). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/355 "2017-07-14T21:20:16Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > [my bolding] > > Hey, you’re learning ;). Next time try you prick the egg before? :D. I’ve always used a shot glass, as stated before. I see no need to prick. Eggs turned out great, as always. Easy to peel. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/356 "2017-07-14T21:24:08Z")
Membrane? I guess I’m showing my ignorance here. I didn’t know there was a membrane. Just shell, white, and yolk. I just learned something. Penetrating the shell without breaking the membrane sounds kind of hit or miss, especially with a fork tine. Also, none of my eggs have a flat side. They’re round everywhere. I’ll just go with “in the middle of not-the-end”. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/357 "2017-07-14T21:30:33Z")
I’ve never pricked a hole in the eggshell before cooking. I can’t imagine why I would. I’ve never had a bad soft boiled egg. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/358 "2017-07-14T21:31:30Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Also, none of my eggs have a flat side. They’re round everywhere. I’ll just go with “in the middle of not-the-end”. What?!? You never noticed that an egg has one pointier and one flatter end? This thread is very amusing, but this borders bizarro land 😕. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/359 "2017-07-14T21:34:33Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Membrane? I guess I’m showing my ignorance here. I didn’t know there was a membrane. Just shell, white, and yolk. I just learned something. Eggs [is](https://www.google.com/search?q=chicken+egg+diagram&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjL-IOR3InVAhVqxYMKHSKiBEgQ_AUICigB&biw=1152&bih=565&dpr=1.67) [complex](https://www.google.com/search?btnG=Search&q=chicken+egg+air+cell). ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/360 "2017-07-14T21:39:37Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I’ve never pricked a hole in the eggshell before cooking. I can’t imagine why I would. I’ve never had a bad soft boiled egg. I’ve had quite a few with an unnoticed flaw in the shell, leading to a thin stream of ectoplasmic white goo being emitted. I’m now wondering if this was due to excessive internal pressure. Hmmm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904.md?page=19)