Sunday, May 4, 2014

Can I Outsource Egg Peeling?

One of the results of our Easter egg hunt and the resulting luridly-colored surplus of hardboiled eggs was the discovery that Cubby really likes egg salad. I like it pretty well myself--mostly due to my devotion to mayonnaise in any form--but I really, really dislike making it, for one simple reason: peeling hardboiled eggs hurts.

Seriously. I can't be the only one to wince when pulling off the shells from half a dozen eggs. It's a lot worse when the eggs are somewhat fresh and therefore harder to peel, because the shells break off in little bits, each of which is pointy and stabby and rakes across my fingers in a most disagreeable fashion.

The MiL boiled a dozen eggs yesterday specifically for egg salad. I peeled three of them today before giving up and taking mercy on my reddened and irritated thumb. Three was enough to make the egg salad Cubby wanted for lunch. If he wants any more tomorrow, he's going to have to peel his own eggs. 

Either that, or I'm going to have to start wearing gloves to peel eggs.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Crack the eggs just a bit before putting them in the water to boil, they should peel easier or just poach them ...then they are cooked the same but without the shell.
Or after you boil them crack them all over on the counter to make tiny little pieces of the shells then try to start the egg peeling keeping the membrane just under the shell to peel them . Beth

Susan said...

Put baking soda in the water and when they're finished cooking, put them into ice water. Hope it helps!

Anonymous said...

apparently if you steam rather than boil them the shells slip right off even day old eggs.25 minutes is said to do the trick. Don't eat eggs much so no experience here, just passing on a trick from Britain

mil said...

If you are making egg salad, just cut the egg in two and scoop out the innards with a spoon. No peeling.


tu mere said...

Make sure your brother reads these suggestions. He has serious sticking egg shell issues. Hard to enjoy making deviled eggs.

Anonymous said...

Bake them. Seriously perfect "hard boiled eggs" Alton Brown style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1faC1B8WSI0

Anonymous said...

After boiling...PLACE IN VERY COLD ICE WATER for 15-20 minutes. Shells come off like butter.