# Store bought hard boiled eggs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987 "2023-04-01T15:17:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/21 "2023-04-02T08:52:11Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I’ve never bought already hard boiled eggs. I can understand the Covid issue, but they’re so easy to make. The store where I work has a section for what I call “lunch foods” - single portion items that are ready to eat. Once in awhile I’ll grab a two-pack of hard boiled eggs to add a protein boost to a salad (also in the same area) if I’m buying lunch that day. Also, you can sometimes find them at highway rest stops, so they’re convenient if you’re traveling, need to eat, and don’t want the fast food that’s the usual alternative at road stops these days. Basically, you’re paying for the convenience. There are times when that’s a worthwhile thing. But I agree, for the most part they’re easy to make at home, and barring the occasional kitchen screw-up, homemade also tastes better and you have more control over the final texture. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/22 "2023-04-02T09:32:03Z")
you have to remember tho around this time of year they’re more prominent because stores stock up on them for easter egg hunts and the like they’re mainly when someone realizes easter is next week and you have 20 or more kids expecting the easter bunny to come at the youth center church etc …or the occasional harried parent that has a kid yeah they have dyed eggs for sale but those were always a fortune and the kiddies love doing it themselves Now what always shocked me is what they wanted for premade deviled egg trays I mean 6 bucks for a half dozen eggs … ---
**Author:** ![Guapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@Guapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guapo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/23 "2023-04-02T10:15:47Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Water boils at 212F (at sea level…if you are in Denver you need to adjust). Same temp in an instant pot as in a saucepan. Instapots are pressure cookers. Higher pressure raises boiling point ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/24 "2023-04-03T04:32:15Z")
These commercial eggs are pre-peeled. I haven’t seen any in the shell, although I have no doubt someone could sell them. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/25 "2023-04-03T05:57:55Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I dislike peeling eggs, especially those that are unpredictably hard to peel (even eggs out of the same carton)… > > Fresh and tasty hard-boiled eggs are so easy to make at home, except for the peeling. You start with the eggs in cold water, bring to a boil, There’s your problem right there. Use a steamer tray in a pot and steam them. Huge difference! Give it a try. I’ll never go back. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/26 "2023-04-03T07:37:00Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I think it is the ice water that does the trick. My eggs peel super easy (once in a while there is one that is a pain in the arse to peel but those are an exception). I’ve often stumbled on discussions on the Dope about eggs being hard to peel, and always though ‘huh, never happens to me’. Now, being in the European no-eggs-in-fridge land may have something to do with it, who knows, but I also submerge my eggs in already boiling water, and then rinse them immediately in cold water from the tap. Perfect peeling every time. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/27 "2023-04-03T11:14:54Z")
A key thing for easy-peeling eggs is the temperature change from boiling water to ice water. The better you make that jump the easier the eggs are to peel. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2023, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/28 "2023-04-03T12:21:00Z")
Ever have a pickled hard boiled egg in a bar? They’re in a big glass jar, they sit at room temperature for who knows how long, yet they’re always good. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/29 "2023-04-03T12:47:39Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > The store where I work has a section for what I call “lunch foods” - single portion items that are ready to eat. Once in awhile I’ll grab a two-pack of hard boiled eggs to add a protein boost to a salad (also in the same area) if I’m buying lunch that day. Also, you can sometimes find them at highway rest stops, so they’re convenient if you’re traveling, need to eat, and don’t want the fast food that’s the usual alternative at road stops these days. Back in my traveling days when I was living in hotels, I became familiar with non-junk foods that didn’t require any preparation that I could pick up a grocery store and keep in my mini-fridge, or were shelf stable. The two pack of hard boiled eggs was a definite go-to, as were the tuna-with-crackers packs. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/30 "2023-04-03T15:14:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Ever have a pickled hard boiled egg in a bar? They’re in a big glass jar, they sit at room temperature for who knows how long, yet they’re always good. At my local haunt they had a label on the jar that said ‘boneless chicken’. Several customers would also request the ‘steak and egg dinner’, a beef jerky and a pickled egg. And of course as Moe once instructed, “We’ll choose the same way they pick the Pope. Everybody reach in and draw a pickled egg.” ---
**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:** [April 3, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/31 "2023-04-03T15:17:28Z")
Yes! Been a long time since I’ve seen those. Last time was about a decade ago in a bar in Wisconsin that also sold pickled Turkey gizzards. I did, of course order the latter. Turkey gizzards are much bigger than I imagined, but I finished it all. Back when I had more time and energy and lived alone (probably a connection there), I would pickle eggs in a beet and habanero brown. Those went great with any adult beverage! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/32 "2023-04-03T15:30:39Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Ever have a pickled hard boiled egg in a bar? They’re in a big glass jar, they sit at room temperature for who knows how long, yet they’re always good. Haven’t had those in ages. Just added to my grocery list! Even though they’re pickled & vacuum sealed, grocery stores keep them refrigerated. The room temperature stuff in a bar sounds a bit iffy. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/33 "2023-04-03T22:24:26Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Haven’t had those in ages. Just added to my grocery list! Even though they’re pickled & vacuum sealed, grocery stores keep them refrigerated. The room temperature stuff in a bar sounds a bit iffy They don’t need refrigeration. I see them all the time on the shelf at the restaurant supply store. I just looked the brand up, and the manufacturer says they don’t need refrigeration before or after opening. [The Original Salt ‘N Vinegar Pickled Eggs | Bay View Packing](https://bayviewpacking.com/product/pickled-eggs/#:~:text=The%20Pickled%20Eggs%20from%20Bayview,(20%20pickled%20eggs%20each)). > The Pickled Eggs from Bayview Packing Company consist of fresh Grade A Large eggs, hard boiled, peeled, after highly controlled cooking, and processed with pickling brine. This assures quality for your enjoyment. A low carbohydrate treat (1 gram)! Two 36 ounce jars (20 pickled eggs each). No refrigeration needed before or after opening. Best when eaten within 3-4 months. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/34 "2023-04-03T22:45:48Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > They don’t need refrigeration. That may be true for that particular brand, perhaps because they’re loaded with preservatives, but not for the ones I buy, which are kept refrigerated at the grocery store even when vacuum sealed, and bear the caution “Keep Refrigerated”. There are particular hazards especially with homemade pickled eggs – see **[here](https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_06/pickled_eggs.html)** and **[here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickled_egg)**. I don’t dispute that the product you cite which claims no need for refrigeration in fact does not need it, but that definitely doesn’t apply to all pickled eggs. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/35 "2023-04-03T22:55:30Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I don’t dispute that the product you cite which claims no need for refrigeration in fact does not need it, but that definitely doesn’t apply to all pickled eggs. Which is why I was replying to your statement “The room temperature stuff in a bar sounds a bit iffy” because those are the ones I looked up. (They also produce the turkey gizzards @pulykamell mentioned.) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/36 "2023-04-03T23:06:58Z")
OK, fair enough. I’m just pointing out, as a matter of information for the benefit of all, that the need for refrigeration appears to vary depending on how it’s prepared. The stuff I got today, which is from a reputable manufacturer known for quality products, says to keep the pickled eggs refrigerated. They also, FWIW, keep their dill pickles refrigerated in the store and insist you do the same at home. Are they being overly cautions about safety? About quality? Who knows! 🤷 ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/37 "2023-04-03T23:43:21Z")
Yeah, I’m sure that the room-temperature-safe ones are precessed much more than the refrigerated ones you’ve mentioned. The refrigerated ones probably taste noticeably better, too. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/38 "2023-04-03T23:51:01Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > > [@needscoffee](#): > > > > They don’t need refrigeration. > > That may be true for that particular brand, perhaps because they’re loaded with preservatives, but not for the ones I buy, which are kept refrigerated at the grocery store even when vacuum sealed, and bear the caution “Keep Refrigerated”. There are particular hazards especially with homemade pickled eggs – see **[here](https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_06/pickled_eggs.html)** and **[here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickled_egg)**. I don’t dispute that the product you cite which claims no need for refrigeration in fact does not need it, but that definitely doesn’t apply to all pickled eggs. Your grocery store sells _pickled_ vacuum-sealed hard-boiled eggs? What I’ve seen is unpickled vacuum-sealed hard-boiled eggs, like this. [![](https://hip2keto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/hard-boiled-eggs.jpg?resize=1024%2C674&strip=all?w=1200&strip=all) ](https://hip2keto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/hard-boiled-eggs.jpg?resize=1024%2C674&strip=all?w=1200&strip=all) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/39 "2023-04-04T00:02:20Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Your grocery store sells _pickled_ vacuum-sealed hard-boiled eggs? The discussion kind of veered from pre-made hard-boiled eggs to the traditional bar-style pickled ones that come in jars. These are the ones I got today: [![](https://www.angelosbakery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/strubs-pickled-eggs.jpg) ](https://www.angelosbakery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/strubs-pickled-eggs.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987/40 "2023-04-04T00:04:29Z")
I’ve never eaten a pickled egg. I may need to try one sometime. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/store-bought-hard-boiled-eggs/981987.md?page=3)