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Boiling Eggs
Boiling Eggs
Since it was first published on July 8, 2010, our recipe for perfectly
cooked, easy-to-peel hard boiled eggs has been clicked on more than
108 million times. (It’s actually the second most popular recipe on Simply
Recipes after banana bread.) So why are so many people returning to these
particular instructions for hard boiled eggs again and again?
Hard boiled eggs are also difficult to peel. Egg-peeling strategies abound,
from adding a dash of vinegar into the water to keep loose whites from
spilling out of any cracked eggs to adding the eggs to already boiling water
to steaming them. Every technique has merit, but a hard boiled egg recipe
with 108 million clicks is hard to argue with.
It’s difficult to overcook the eggs using this method. Even if you let them
cook a little longer than 12 minutes, they should still turn out well—an
amazing grace period for those averse to that dreaded green ring, which
happens when the eggs are overcooked.
Coco Morante
Did you know, for example, that older eggs are easier to peel than new
eggs? Or that cracking cooked eggs slightly and letting them soak in water
can make them easier to peel, as the water seeps under the shell? The
recipe also accounts for high altitude readers who must contend with
different boiling times, and it even offers an alternative for readers dealing
with fresh eggs. (Try steaming them!)
Another reader even offered a smart hack for peeling eggs that’s as fun and
satisfying as it is useful. Fill a mason jar halfway with water, place one egg
in the water, and seal the jar with a lid. Shake the jar for about 10 seconds.
When you remove the egg, the shell practically peels itself. I’ve tried this a
few times and it’s delightful!
As for me? I love this recipe because it works, yes. I also love it because it’s
how my mom taught me to boil eggs and, well, I guess it’s true what they
say… Mom knows best.