# Boiled eggs that peel nicely **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335 "2014-09-12T19:56:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/1 "2014-09-12T19:56:07Z")
I boiled four eggs. When it comes time to get the shell off I roll them round the counter to break up the shell then peel it. Two of the shells came away in one piece easily leaving a whole egg, but two of the shells seemed to adhere to the egg so that big pieces of egg came away with it. What went wrong with those two sticky shells ? Is it the way I do it ? ---
**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:** [September 12, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/2 "2014-09-12T20:07:12Z")
Did you start them in cold water? That usually leads to more difficulty peeling. I personally steam my eggs in a basket, and have found this has led to a lot better peeling results. The other factor is older eggs peel easier than newer eggs. Here’s a much more [thorough and experimental](http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/05/the-secrets-to-peeling-hard-boiled-eggs.html) breakdown. Apparently old vs new is not as important unless the “new” egg is really new. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/3 "2014-09-12T20:08:40Z")
Two things can increase your chances of success: 1. Don’t use really fresh eggs (and, yes there do seem to be eggs of varying freshness in the same carton). 2. Cool the eggs off quickly in cold water when they are done cooking and before you try to peel them. The first on is the most important. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/4 "2014-09-12T20:13:38Z")
[ul] [li]Older eggs tend to peel easier than fresh eggs[/li][li]Breaking the shell before cooling can help[/li][li]Depending on your politics, Obama can be blamed[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/5 "2014-09-12T20:25:02Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Did you start them in cold water? That usually leads to more difficulty peeling. I personally steam my eggs in a basket, and have found this has led to a lot better peeling results. The other factor is older eggs peel easier than newer eggs. > > Here’s a much more [thorough and experimental](http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/05/the-secrets-to-peeling-hard-boiled-eggs.html) breakdown. Apparently old vs new is not as important unless the “new” egg is really new. I did start them cold actually, that could be it. ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/6 "2014-09-12T20:27:25Z")
So, several factors - age of egg - break before cooling - start in hot water, as tradition says you should - I cut corners - cool the eggs before shelling - steam ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/7 "2014-09-12T20:28:39Z")
So you might want to buy eggs of two different ages - one set for boiling, and another newer set that is less runny and good for frying. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/8 "2014-09-12T20:31:47Z")
> [@MrQwertyasd](#): > > So you might want to buy eggs of two different ages - one set for boiling, and another newer set that is less runny and good for frying. The Food Lab article I referenced above seems to think that this is not as much of a concern for eggs bought in the US unless you are buying them directly from the farmer, and that the cooking method is more important. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2014, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/9 "2014-09-12T20:34:57Z")
Anyhow, I find the steaming method the easiest, the fastest, and the one requiring the least amount of water. You just need about a 1/2 inch - 1 inch of water, and that boils up real fast. Once boiling, throw in eggs in a steamer basket, cover, wait about 12-15 minutes (will depend on various factors, including size of eggs, altitude, etc.), and you’re done. (ETA: And I do mine straight from the fridge, no waiting for it to come to room temp or anything like that.) ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/10 "2014-09-12T20:36:52Z")
What a brilliant egg article. ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/11 "2014-09-12T20:40:34Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Anyhow, I find the steaming method the easiest, the fastest, and the one requiring the least amount of water. That’s a good point, why spend money heating all that water ? ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/12 "2014-09-12T20:41:35Z")
I notice he mentions the fat in salmon, which is something I wanted to know about. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/13 "2014-09-12T20:47:15Z")
We have hens. We put aside eggs to age for hard boiling, otherwise they are nearly impossible to peel. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/14 "2014-09-12T22:50:36Z")
I really find that dunking the eggs immediately after in cold water does the trick. ETA: I also peel them in the cold water, rinses off any stray bits nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/15 "2014-09-12T23:13:13Z")
Steaming, as noted by pulykamell, is the way to do it. I keep chickens and have lots of fresh eggs. By steaming them, I can literally take them warm from the hen and straight into the steam basket. They will peel perfectly. Plunge into cold water immediately after to stop the cooking process and prevent the blue sulfur ring that forms. Once you try steaming, you’ll never do it any other way again. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/16 "2014-09-13T00:10:20Z")
Hmm, I often start from cold and don’t have problems. My usual technique is to crack the large end which is where the air sac is and peel from there making sure you are getting under the skin. Try to take off big pieces. I find smashing up the whole shell gives you problems. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/17 "2014-09-13T00:26:49Z")
I have an ice bath waiting for the eggs to boil - remove them one at a time (draining spoon) and let sit in water 10 minutes. Doesn’t always work, but mostly it does. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/18 "2014-09-13T01:13:55Z")
One of the advantages to having your own hens is that you can pencil in the date when you collect them, and so know exactly how old each individual egg is. ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/19 "2014-09-13T01:16:08Z")
> [@MrQwertyasd](#): > > So you might want to buy eggs of two different ages - one set for boiling, and another newer set that is less runny and good for frying. Yes, and if the hen has not signed and dated her egg, write up a violation for her. ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335/20 "2014-09-13T15:10:49Z")
Thanks to all the eggxperts for your help, I got it cracked now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiled-eggs-that-peel-nicely/698335.md?page=2)