Easy to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
Have you ever wondered how to get easy to peel hard boiled eggs every time? I love the convenience of boiled eggs, but hate how often the shell would stick to the whites. You’ll hear tips like placing them in an ice bath right after cooking, but for me, that’s never been quite enough to keep the shells from sticking.
That being said, I spent some time playing with several different ideas and came across this method. Let me tell you, this is hands-down, the best way to boil eggs with an easy to peel shell.
This method is so easy and might seem a little strange, but essentially the secret to easy, peel, hard boiled eggs is not to boil them at all, but rather to steam them. There are methods out there to steam using an instant pot, but I prefer to use the stovetop. I’ll explain why in a moment, but first, let’s discuss what you’ll need to make easy to peel boiled eggs!
What You’ll need:
Items to Make Easy to Peel Boiled Eggs:
- Pot with a lid
- Slotted spoon
- Large bowl of ice water
Ingredients to make Easy to Peel Boiled Eggs:
- Room temperature eggs
- Water
How to Make Easy to Peel Boiled Eggs
As I mentioned above the secret to easy to peel, boiled eggs is actually to steam them!
- Place approximately 1/2 inch of water in the bottom of a pan.
- Bring water to boil
- Add your eggs to the bottom of the pan in a single layer
- Cover and continue to boil or steam for exactly 12 minutes
- When the 12 minutes is up remove the eggs from the boiling water with a slotted spoon and place them directly into an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
FAQ’s About Easy to Peel Boiled Eggs:
Will this work with farm fresh eggs?
Yep! The beauty of this method is that you will achieve easy to peel boiled eggs regardless of how fresh your eggs are!
Can I use an instant pot to steam my eggs?
Technically, yes, but you run the risk of overcooking the eggs as you need to let the instant pot, release the steam and pressure before you can remove the eggs and cool them in an ice bath. if you overcook your boiled eggs, you will notice that the outer layer of your yoke will be a gray color instead of a bright yellow.
Why do my eggs have a gray layer surrounding the yolk?
This is the result of cooking them! It’s crucial to only boil for exactly 12 minutes to add directly to an ice bath to stop the cooking process in order to also prevent this unsightly gray layer.
Is there any other benefit of placing the eggs immediately into an ice bath?
Yes! Placing the cooked eggs in an ice bath, doesn’t only stop the cooking process. It also causes the cooked egg inside the shell to contract away from the membrane. Because the white pulls away from the membrane it also prevents sticking once the eggs are refrigerated. Just make sure to pull the eggs once cooled from the ice bath and place directly in the refrigerator to continue cooling. As long as the cooling process is rapid, the eggs were easy to peel!
Best Ways to Use Easy to Peel Boiled Eggs:
I love the convenience of a boiled egg, so one of my favorite ways to enjoy these easy to peel eggs is fresh out of the refrigerator with a little pinch of salt. You can also use them for things like:
- Egg salad
- Deviled eggs
- Sliced on a salad
Other Articles You Might Like:
- Naturally dyed Easter eggs
- Homemade mayonnaise
- How to use up extra eggs
Easy to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
Equipment
- 1 Pot with Lid
- 1 Bowl of Ice Water
Ingredients
- 12 Room temperature eggs
- 1/2 inch Water in bottom of pot
Instructions
- Put ½ inch water in bottom of pot.
- Bring to a boil.
- Add room temperature eggs to boiling water.
- Cover pot with lid and continue to boil for 12 minutes.
- Remove eggs from boiling water and immediately submerge in ice bath.
- Place in refrigerator for 1 hour prior to serving.
