CSI Needed In The Kitchen

Here's Texas Carol to the rescue! I read this a long time ago, and have used it ever since with great success. Place eggs from the fridge in cold tap water to cover. Put them on the stove, and heat just TO the boiling point, no more. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand 20 minutes. Lift them out of the water and place into a bowl of ice water for several minutes before peeling. Let me know how it works! Carol

P.S. Once I've cracked them I often let cold tap water run over the egg while I peel, too. CJG

And I'd always heard that if they were too fresh, they were hard to peel!

When left home and was in college, I realized quickly that there were a lot of basic things I had no idea of how to do--one of those things was boiling eggs. (I believe I had to call home on laundry issues, too!) So I looked in a cookbook and it said to cover the eggs with water and bring to a boil, but then to immediately take them off the heat and let them sit, covered, for 20 minutes (much like Carol was telling you). Then dump out the hot water and replace it with cold water. And when you're ready, peel the cooled eggs.

I have never tried it myself and have no idea how valid it is, but I had a friend who was a restaurant owner/cook for many years. He always told me to let eggs come to room temperature before cooking them and they would not spatter. He said additionaly that when cooking hard boiled eggs, to always cool them quickly with cold water, or even ice water and they will peel very easily.

I have had the same problem at times, then I found if you would break the shell by tapping it against the sink lip and peel under cool running water. It comes out clean. Make sure shell is completely shattered, makes it easier to peel. Good luck.

Hi Cindi,

I've always heard that when the eggs are hard to peel, it is a sign they are old. I've had it happen, too, and it's darned frustrating, isn't it? Sorry I can't be of more help.
Nancy

As the daughter who learned to cook from the writer, I'd like to add... I boiled eggs the same way my mother taught me without any trouble for years. But this Christmas, my deviled eggs were a mess.
Until I read the other comments, I was thinking that maybe the eggs changed, too.