# The Eggstractor: has our civilization really come to this? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 17, 2004, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819 "2004-03-17T07:16:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/41 "2004-03-17T22:42:20Z")
I am amazed that some idiot bread company had the nerve to try to sell [crustless bread](http://www.ironkids.com/new/bread_crustless.html). For parents who have kids who don’t want to eat the crust, and are too lazy to spend the seconds it takes to cut them off. I am even more amazed that this has been a quite successful product. ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/42 "2004-03-18T06:27:00Z")
> [@autz](#): > > I am amazed that some idiot bread company had the nerve to try to sell [crustless bread](http://www.ironkids.com/new/bread_crustless.html). For parents who have kids who don’t want to eat the crust, and are too lazy to spend the seconds it takes to cut them off. > > I am even more amazed that this has been a quite successful product. Well, cut-off crusts are typically thrown away, while according to the site you linked IronKids recycles its removed crusts. I hate being wasteful, so if I had kids that hated crust I might buy crustless bread for that reason. It’s not always a matter of laziness. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/43 "2004-03-18T07:10:10Z")
I tried using the Perfect Pancake once. (I didn’t buy it - my girlfriend’s grandmother did and said she couldn’t get it to work, so she let me try.) I only managed to get pancake batter all over the stove, twice. I’ll stick with my electric griddle and spatula, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/44 "2004-03-18T13:20:07Z")
How about those pre-made PB&J sandwiches? For when you’re too rushed to actually open a jar yourself… ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/45 "2004-03-18T13:56:52Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > How about those pre-made PB&J sandwiches? For when you’re too rushed to actually open a jar yourself… You mean the [Smuckers contribution to gastronomic sloth](http://www.smuckers.com/fg/pds/default.asp?groupid=2&catid=4)? ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/46 "2004-03-18T14:31:39Z")
The Unclviny hard boiled egg program: Eggs must be boiled hard!. pour off the hot water. fill pot with cool water, wait 3 or 4 minutes (at least). roll eggs on the divider between the sinks cracking the shells all over (and here is the key!) breaking the “shell liner”. Peel under a stream of cool water (this greatly reduces clean up and the little shell fragments go away). I eat a lot of egg salad and this system has been developed over years of “testing”. Bastards, now I must have egg salad Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/47 "2004-03-18T21:52:57Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > I don’t care about the waste of money buying all these ‘labor saving’ inventions, nor about what is says of American IQs and/or willingness to put forth effort…The electric peeler, the home doughnut baker, the egg scrambler, the egg peeler, the veggie cutter that make ornamental doodads out of radishes, the tong/whisk, the countertop rotisserie, the countertop grill, the 47-different knives assortment (but wait! there’s more!), the cherry pitter, the shrimp deveiner, the eggs slicer/quarterer (so many gadgets for eggs – who knew they were so complex?), the apple corer/slicer, the cake cutter/server, the home ice cream maker, the home cotton candy machine (don’t laugh, I saw it advertised), the bacon rack for the microwave, the egg poacher/hard boiler for the microwave (and there are those devilish eggs yet again!), and on and on and on… You’ll get my cherry pitter when you pry it out of my cold, dead hands. My mom can pit cherries quickly using a paring knife, but she’s had decades of practice. I find it much easier to use the pitter. And what’s your problem with home ice cream makers? It’s fun to make ice cream at home. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/48 "2004-03-18T22:01:13Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > You mean the [Smuckers contribution to gastronomic sloth](http://www.smuckers.com/fg/pds/default.asp?groupid=2&catid=4)? I think he means [Smuckers contribution to gastronomic lunacy](http://www.smuckers.com/fg/pds/default.asp?groupid=3&catid=46) ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/49 "2004-03-19T11:00:00Z")
I don’t agree with all the kitchen type gadgets being sold on television, but some of them I can see would be more effecient in that they’d be quicker overall because less mess would be made. I mostly do things the “old fashioned way” in the kitchen, but I myself, would like a pasta pot. This is because I have small hands, and on days when my arthritis is acting up, it’s just too risky to hold a plate over a pot with hotpads, while I pour out the water because the collander is lost again. Bread making machines can be useful, my parents own one, and use it a good deal. Ice cream making machines, if you really like ice cream, why not? Ever had the disappointing experience of tasting old fashioned ice cream flavored with rock salt because the inner can leaked? Ick! I have at summer camp, it wasn’t fun because we’d spent an hour or two rolling that can back and forth among ourselves to churn the ice cream mixture, only to have all that time wasted because the smaller can’s lid leaked, and let rock salt in. ☹ _wanders off in search of ice cream_ ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/50 "2004-03-19T11:25:44Z")
> [@Fairblue](#): > > Well, I can’t speak for anyone else, but my mother taught me not to be wasteful with water. When I’m done boiling eggs, I empty the hot water out of the pan and fill it with cold water, then I use that water to rinse the eggs as I’m peeling them. This is precisely the method that I use, with a pretty good rate of success. Generally, out of two dozen eggs, I’ll have between one and three eggs that are too ugly to use as deviled eggs for company. I consider this acceptable, and I put the ugly eggs aside for egg salad, or to dice up and use as salad topping. I must confess that I would own a home cotton candy machine if I could find one that I believed would hold up to my use. Well, I’d one one like that if I didn’t have this little diabetes problem, too. I guarantee that if I had a well-made home CC machine, I’d use it frequently. I LOVE cotton candy, and it’s hard to find it anymore, unless it’s that nasty stale prepackaged stuff. I can’t eat a whole cone of it these days, but it would be nice to share a cone with my daughter every now and then. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/51 "2004-03-19T15:49:12Z")
Don’t be dissin’ Smuckers Uncrustables! They’re great for packing a lunch in the morning. And the grilled cheese ones are done in 30 seconds and don’t leave crumbs. I’ll admit I thought we were living in the last days when I first heard of them, but they’re a staple at our house. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/52 "2004-03-19T22:14:48Z")
Obviously, the only sensible way to peel eggs is while wearing your [rejuvenique](http://infomercial.tvheaven.com/rejuvenique.htm) ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/53 "2004-03-19T22:34:08Z")
That is just plain creepy. Still, it wouldn’t be a total waste of money. They say the mask looks like something out of “Phantom of the Opera” or “Silence of the Lambs.” To me it looks like the saucer-people of a thousand cheapie UFO movies: Halloween costume! ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/54 "2004-03-19T22:53:38Z")
> [@](#): > > the eggs slicer/quarterer (so many gadgets for eggs – who knew they were so complex?), Don’t be dissin’ the egg slicer either. That is a cool and nessesary implement to get perfectly sliced eggs. With my fat fingers its hard to the the ends sliced to the specified width. But with the egg slicer I get a perfectly even Hard-boiled egg and mustard sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![sperfur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@sperfur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sperfur)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/55 "2004-03-19T23:51:59Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > Are you tired of the amazing difficulty and effort it takes to get those eggs perfectly scrambled every time? Do you throw up your hands in exasperation as you clumsily slop your partially scrambled raw eggs all over the counter, floor, clothing and family members? [Have I got an appliance for YOU!](http://www.eneva.com/small-appliances/ronco-roes-inside-the-shell-electric-egg-scrambler.asp) Oooohhhhh…kitchen crap! I _love_ kitchen crap! > [@silenus](#): > > As for shelling hard-boiled eggs, I use a little device that clips on to the kitchen faucet. It pierces the egg shell, and sends a stream of water into the shell to separate it from the egg. What is this device? Where can I get one? (Did I mention that I love kitchen crap?) Oh, and yes, I can usually find whatever kitchen crap I happen to be looking for in my kitchen when I need to use it. I use my garlic squisher all the time, my 6-in-1 tongs are great for serving spaghetti and getting olives & pickles out of the jar, I haven’t gotten to use my new pitter for cherries yet - but use it for olives quite often, my strawberry stemmer works well and wastes less of the berry than a knife, I _adore_ my rice steamer, etc, etc, etc. I _do not_ recommend the blooming onion machine, however. I can’t make a decent one no matter how I try. Kitchen crap. I’m addicted. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/56 "2004-03-20T01:00:46Z")
When I make hard cooked eggs, as soon as boiling time is up, I pour off as much of the hot water as I can, then dump in a bunch of ice. As soon as the ice is melted, the eggs can be peeled or put in the fridge for future use. I can’t remember the last time I had an egg self-destruct on me. Oh, and speaking of gadgets, anyone else have a Salad Shooter?? My MIL gave me one some years back, and I tried to use it. But it clogs so easily, and everything is cut on a curve, except for the nubby bits which won’t cut. It’s a pain in the butt to clean and store. If it hasn’t gone to Goodwill yet, it will before I move. Oh, and one more thing - egg slicers work on mushrooms, too! ---
**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/57 "2004-03-20T12:59:37Z")
I dunno bout you guys but this is one of the “kitchen aids” I actually looked at and went wow. For the average kitchen tard that can’t peel an egg this device will save him,well nothing. But a small food wagon or deli business might find this device (if it works as shown) indespensible. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/58 "2004-03-20T13:11:12Z")
Salad Shooters are only good for small amounts of food. They work much too slowly to really be useful. They have too many parts, which tend to get lost too easily. IF you have a child of about 8 years or older, the child might enjoy shredding veggies with adult supervision. My child is 24, and is quite adept with a knife. In fact, she’s very good at butchering her father’s hunting trophies, better than he is! I’ve got a food processor, but it’s been living in the storeroom for about 15 years now. My knives and hand graters, though, get used several times a week. I find that the convenience of a food processor is outweighed by the bother of disassembling, washing, and reassembling it. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/59 "2004-03-21T01:45:32Z")
I love kitchen gadgets. I only have a few, but I loooooove looking at them. I want a garlic smoosher and salt/pepper grinder. I want one of those pasta pots, just so I have one less dish to wash. Also, so I can drain meat. Sprainers are fine for pasta, but it’s hard to drain meat grease from a heavy pan with a glass lid. Ug. I have: Gorge Foreman Grill - Step-mom gave me money to buy one, so I did. Great for steaks and hamburgers, for even cooking without me having to flip it (I’m a bad flipper). Cleaning’s kind of a hassle, tho. Smoothie Maker - I love smoothies. It works very well, except it’s loud, and loud noises scare me. Their “serving sizes” equal about a juice cup, so I have to double everything. I love the nozzle. And it’s powerful! Chews right through rock-hard frozen strawberries and bananas. Never makes that engine-grinding noise. Flipper/whisker thing: I got 2 for $5. Worth it, just for how easily it flips grilled cheese sammiches. I like that it folds flat. Haven’t tried whisking with it yet. I have a whisk for that. The egg thing does seem goofy, tho. I have no problem peeling eggs under cold water. ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819/60 "2004-03-21T02:09:25Z")
My favorite part of the Eggstractor commercial is the “scientific explanation” of how it works: All eggs have a small pocket of air at the top. This is called the “air pocket”. No shit? So this little pocket of air here? You call it an…“air pocket”?!? Did your specially trained scientist come up with that name? I woulda never come up with that! You guys really do your research on these things, dontcha? Despite that little bit of mockery, A. Like **unclviny** , this commecial did put me in the mood for eggsalad. It was good. And yummy too. 🙂 B. I kinda want one. :o I know, I know. What?! It looks like fun! …I’m so ashamed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eggstractor-has-our-civilization-really-come-to-this/234819.md?page=4)