How to peel a hard-boiled egg?

midgey

The fresher the egg the harder to peel! Use older eggs for hard boiling.

Really? That could explain why I have great difficulty peeling some eggs while others are a breeze. Thanks for that.

Marmight this is rather like my friend and her jam-jar method.
She rinses after shaking.

After cooling in cold water I put the egg in a smallish glass, fill with water, hand over top & shake wildly until shell ‘shatters’. Water gets under the shell and it then slips off quite easily. (99% of the time!)

JaneJudge

it would not be because of you, it's just because you quoted the person but I have no idea why they haven't deleted them all

Exactly, and they still have not replied to me…

My Mum always put the boiled eggs in cold water then rolled them on a hard surface before peeling.

it would not be because of you, it's just because you quoted the person but I have no idea why they haven't deleted them all

How is this fair? my quote was deleted but others are left to stand. I have contacted gransnet but have had no reply…

I cool the eggs in cold water then lightly tap them round the middle. Then ‘squash’ them along the long axis, peel them under running cold tap.
Works every time.

I read that fresh eggs have such a thin shell that they are hard to peel. Older eggs have time for shells to harden thus easier to peel.

Agreed. The fresher the egg, the harder to peel. Many years of experience has taught me thus.

1) Boil eggs
2)Drain saucepan and add cold water (twice)
3) Leave in the cold water to cool
4) Remove egg and applying pressure crack it and roll it under flat of hand to break the shell
5) Pick shell off, any difficulty hold the egg in the saucepan of cold water and the shell will easily come away.

P. S. Older eggs part with their shells and membranes easier than fresh eggs, the reason being that the older the egg the more moisture it will have lost. For this reason, ideally soft boiled eggs are best when at least 2 weeks old when they will peel easily. With newly laid eggs the membrane sticks to the egg white because no moisture has been lost.

When we kept hens, I was determined to find a way to peel h.b.eggs easily - and without destroying the egg!
I let the boiled eggs cool, preferring ones that are not completely cold. Then, whack each end of the egg on a hard surface to crack the shell, which also releases the fine membrane that holds the egg against the shell. Once the ‘ends’ are broken and removed, the egg is very easy to peel without sharp eggshell poking your fingers or sticking to the egg.

After they've become cold enough to handle after dropping them into cold water, a gentle tap or three & then I only use my fingers/thumbs. Then a final rinse to get any v.tiny remaining bits off. No need for any utensils/tools.

I'm glad I'm not the only one having trouble

A few weeks ago I fancied a hard boiled egg over a soft one. I think most of the white came off with the shell when I was peeling it. What a mess.

Thank you for the tips.

Some people like their cold eggs still soft in the middle. Better then to cut in half and spoon them out.

I used to have hens and they are hard to peel being so fresh. I boiled them in water with a some bicarb, and that definitely helped the peeling process.

BlueBelle

Just crack it and use your fingers why make an easy job so complicated

I'm sure if the OP was finding it that simple, they wouldn't have asked. Some eggs can be much harder to peel than others.

If anyone is interested I know how to make peeling quail's eggs simple. Soak the cooked eggs overnight in the fridge submerged in 5% white vinegar. The spots will have floated off and the shells softened enough to rub off gently.

I remember many years ago trying to peel 100 hard boiled eggs for a Church meal. They were straight from the farm, and I had only ever bought from the supermarket before, where they are not so fresh. I had an absolute nightmare of a job, which I have never forgotten!
I have since learnt that beginning at the blunt end where there is an air bubble makes it easier to start.

Just crack it and use your fingers why make an easy job so complicated

I gently squeeze the boiled egg, having cooled it slightly first of course. That cracks the shell all over, and it is really easy to peel the shell and the white membrane together.
Our neighbour supplies us with fresh eggs from a farm shop every week - maybe that helps.
Why do some have to be so snippy? How boring to sit scrolling, looking for posts to be nasty about.

I can't remember where I heard it but ....if you roll the eggs in your hands it separates the shell and makes it easier to remove. I tried it and so far it works...mind you knowing my luck now I've posted it on here next time I do it won't work...😂

I have always found the fresher the egg, the harder it is to peel!

I peel eggs by cracking the shell a little bit at a time, and I use my thumb and first finger nails to remove the shell.

I also find it easier to peel eggs while they are still slightly warm.

However, some eggs are impossible to peel nicely.

Ziploc it didn't bother me. I suspect most of us here do have troubling problems which we don't talk about. That doesn't mean we don't also have trivial annoyances which we appreciate some help with.
Nobody would ask anything if we were only allowed to talk about serious matters!

eddiescat, I hope you’ve found some of the tips helpful. I think hard boiled eggs can sometimes be a real faff to peel, and tips are always welcome. I’m sure you don’t need “to get a grip” as that poster suggested - he/she frequently suggests that on other threads, too - best ignored 😁.