Eggs often make me think of my mom. Perfectly scrambled eggs and a side of toast was always her go-to meal when my brother, sister or I was a little under the weather. Her deviled eggs are simply scrumptious. And then there was the time I called to see if she could come over and rescue me when I simply could not peel the two dozen eggs I had boiled for my own big batch of deviled eggs. Always up for a challenge, she was at my door in minutes (it helps when your parents live next door). That was before either of us knew a small but important detail…
Fresh eggs from backyard chickens are a treat for sure. Their golden, almost orange yolks sit a little higher than their grocery store counterparts. However, those newly gathered eggs are not your friend when it comes to hard boiling them.
Reading: how to deck out a hard boiled egg
The reason for this comes down to basic science. A fresh egg has a low pH (meaning that it’s acidic), and that causes the proteins in the white to bind to the keratin in the membrane during the cooking process. That, in turn, makes it nearly impossible to remove the shell without pieces of the white sticking to it.
Read more: how to make greek chicken that’s already boiled | Family Cuisine
But as the egg ages, carbon dioxide (which is a weak acid) exits the egg through the pores in the shell. As this happens, the pH of the white increases, making it less acidic. When the alkalinity increases, the keratin softens, creating a looser bond between the white and the membrane. Also, the egg white shrinks over time, so the air space between the eggshell and the membrane grows larger. The end result? Easier peeling.
Of course, old or new, the eggs we have are the eggs we use. In the event that your eggs end up with a pock-marked texture on the surface of the egg, you need not worry. They will still taste delicious and, chances are, no one will notice. When using in egg salad, they get chopped up anyway. When making deviled eggs, the less-than-perfect side will be face down and everyone will likely be far more intent on eating them than on inspecting them! 😏
Read more: steaming xmas pudding, how to tell when it’s done | Family Cuisine
Get your timer out and follow this simple technique for creamy, tender hard boiled eggs every time.
Place the eggs in a single layer in a saucepan, and cover with an inch or so of cold water. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat (uncovered), and then cover the pan and remove from the heat. 
Allow the covered pan to sit for 10 minutes (set a timer) and then strain the water from the pan and run cold water over the eggs. Alternatively, remove the eggs to an ice bath with a slotted spoon. Chill until the eggs are cool enough to handle, and then peel them. I like to use running water to help with the peeling.
Have you heard? I recently read that vigorously shaking the cooked, cooled and drained eggs in the pot will allow the shells to effortlessly slip off. Intrigued, I tried this. I stopped shaking when one of my eggs broke in half. Perhaps I interpreted the word “vigorously” too literally!
As an option: Years ago, my mom gave me an egg timer in my Christmas stocking. This handy little gadget takes the guesswork out of boiling eggs and can be found in the kitchen goods section of most large grocery stores as well as in some specialty stores or online for five or six dollars. It goes into the pot with the eggs, absorbs the heat just like the eggs do, and indicates when the eggs are cooked to the soft, medium, or hard boiled stage. 
And what better way to use your perfectly boiled eggs than in Classic Deviled Eggs!
Read more: how to boiled peanuts for selling | Family Cuisine
Readers' opinions (0)