shelling hard boiled eggs.

I bring eggs to the boil in cold water and turn the heat off. I then put a cover on . That way they aren't over cooked. Some days they peel better than others. I like the sound of the tumbler shake, will try that next time.

If you just want to mash the hard boiled eggs, use a sharpish knife to cut through the egg crosswise and scoop out the flesh - so quick and easy!

It is definitely the age of the eggs. Fresh eggs just don't shell easily. You need to leave them at least a week from hatching to get the best results. We "grow" our own eggs and even for frying/poaching we leave them for a couple of days.

I was having trouble peeling hard boiled eggs, which was a shame, 'cos my little GD loves them.
One day I was interrupted whilst preparing lunch, and left them soaking in cold water for about 15-20 minutes. They peeled really easily after that so I have been doing the same ever since and it seems to work.

I agree it depends on the freshness of the eggs. I once had to shell eggs for 100 people and used farm fresh eggs - big mistake!
anglogallois, I wrote down a chef's tip for quails eggs, but have never tried it. After boiling plunge them into vinegar and leave for 10 minutes. They should then peel perfectly. It is just possible that the same method would work for hens eggs.

Tricia at least your eggs only cracked! I still have vivid memories of when my newly married next door neighbour forgot that she had put some eggs on to boil until she heard a loud bang. She found most of the eggs stuck to the kitchen ceiling, her pan red hot and ruined and the most appalling smell. The eggs hit every surface in the kitchen and took us ages to clear up and the smell lingered for a very long time. I can still clearly remember it even after about 50 years!
This was in the days when money was really tight and the whole thing was an absolute disaster, poor girl.

Liked the idea of the oven baked eggs parsley. Will certainly be trying that.

Have someone else do it!

Nellie mags trick reminds me of another one with a banana.
Use a needle to invisibly slice a banana into portions through its skin.
Peel the banana. Hey presto , it's ready-sliced!

Putting a little salt in the water they are boiled in seems to help.

But I usually forget until it is time to start de-shelling!

Anglo I'm not sure about taking gulls eggs. Surely they are not laying with the frequency of hens? Also is this really legal?

Plunge into cold water and refresh as it warms (or run under cold tap)
Crack egg all over by hitting work surface or side of pan.
Ensure you have got thru to the slippery cooked white ( there is a filmy layer than can be dry and tough)
Rub shell off egg.
Rinse.

Oh dear I dont know why I read all of these posts as I cant stand boiled eggs !
I can only eat them scrambled the way my DH does them in the microwave. Even then I only have a small amount just to taste. Hes got the knack and I dont really know what he does to make them taste
delicious !

PS...I dont blame the gulls getting cross having their babies stolen !

I prefer them soft boiled or scrambled too, but I've been making a starter with half an avocado, half a hardboiled egg inside the hole, and a blob of mayonnaise on top.

Tricia I was on my own one evening, watching tv and knitting when I heard some louds bangs. I was quite frightened, thinking someone was breaking in.no - it was the eggs I had put on to boil, roasting and explodingone by one!

Eggs are sitting in cold water at this very moment ready to take on a picnic, which method shall I choose

Excuse typos!

Try a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in the water while you boil the eggs, it works. If you forget just leave the eggs in water for a few minutes with the bicarb.

I'll try the bicarb idea next time.
I boiled some more on Friday and same problem with the shelling. Our eggs are very fresh because we have hens.

We have hens too, about thirty or more of them, so lots of fresh eggs. Sticking shell bits used to drive me crazy so I googled what to do. When I read to use bicarb, I thought of course. I use bicarb for many things.

If you need eggs for egg and cress sandwiches, to avoid peeling hard boiled eggs, just poach then instead. I usethose poach pods it makes life so much easier.

I have never found a problem peeling eggs . Cold water for a minute then roll them to crack the shells and it usually comes off in 2 pieces .

The ones I did this morning for a picnic were fine.
I used the slightly older ones (bought on Friday but had a use by day a week earlier than the others), cooled them well then bashed them well