Dumb Question...Hard Boiled Eggs

[TerriP]

I have never claimed to be a great chef...or even a reasonable cook. But I'm having a heck of a time and I know someone here will be able to help me. How do you get eggs into boiling water without cracking them??? I've used salt in the water(heard that would help), I used a spaghetti spoon to drop them in so they'd get wet bit by bit, I've used a plastic spoon so they'd get wet all at once, I've even used a regular eating spoon thinking the plastic was the trouble! Nothing has worked. I'm oh so careful...go very slow and don't drop them. But they still crack open!

Please tell me how to get hard boiled eggs that aren't cracked! I just wasted over half a dozen and I'm losing my patience!

Thanks!!

 

[Karel]

I always put the eggs in the pan, cover them with water and then let them come to a boil. When it boils, I take it off the heat, cover it and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Immediately, run cold water over them, the colder the better, to cool them quickly.

Good luck!

 

[gumdrop]

This is what I do:

Put all of the eggs in a saucepan, the fill with COLD water and a teaspoon of vinegar just so that they are all covered by the water. Bring water to a boil, then turn off heat and cover for 15 minutes. After you drain them, you can run them under cold water to cool, or put them in the fridge. Good luck!

 

[CEDmom]

The trick is to put the egg in the water before you heat it. Actually put the eggs in a pan which is big enough to hold them in a single layer and then add enough cool water to cover the eggs about an inch. Add some salt or white vinegar and bring water to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 15 minutes. The salt (I prefer vinegar) keeps the egg from coming out of the shell if it does crack while cooking.

 

[Randi]

I have always put cold eggs in cold water, then bring to a boil. Turn off heat, let them sit in hot water 20 min, then put pan under cold running water for a few seconds. Remove eggs, pat dry. Never had a problem. Good luck. Hope you can salvage the cracked ones, egg salad sandwiches perhaps.

 

[TerriP]

AAAAHA! Put them in the water BEFORE you heat it. I'm doing it backwards. Trying to put them in the water once it's boiling. Plus, from the sounds of it, I'm using too much water.

Okay, I'll try again. How pathetic that I have to ask how to boil eggs....don't tell anyone, okay?

BTW, can I use the eggs if they crack? I took them out and threw them all away. But Randi mentioned using them anyway. I'd love to be able to use them...since MOST of them are always cracked!

 

[Saffron]

Maybe the eggs are cracking from banging into each other. I would say do what the others are doing, that way the water doesn't reach a rolling boil for any length of time, causing the eggs to crash into each other.

 

[Saffron]

Whoops! Didn't see that you had already posted.

Yes you can use the eggs.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

The reason your eggs are cracking is becasue they are cold and your water is boiling. Do as eveyone said, add cold water over the eggs before heating. I bring the water to a boil, remove source of heat, let sit for about 10 minutes. Rinse eggs with cold water until cool enough to handle (or use an ice water bath).

 

[marlouwrig]

One of the reasons they crack in addition to those mentioned is because of the pressure which builds up inside the egg.

The solution to this problem is to gently prick a hole in the bottom of the egg with a pin.

Works every time

 

[pumba]

first put the eggies in the water...of course you must wash the eggs first........then bring the water to a boil......when the water boils .....add one pound box of macaroni......when the macaroni is done so are the eggs and you can have macaroni salad and or macaroni with sauce in it.....and the eggs are already hardboiled........I KNOW I am lazy....but this is wicked easy to do

 

[bumcat]

Pumba - I like that idea!

I bought a steamer - works great for cooking boiled eggs.

 

[Serena]

I asked this same question last fall.

 

[crazymomof4]

once in a while I would get some that would not peel. The whites would stick to the inside of the shell. Someone told me that they do this if the eggs are too fresh. So now if I know I'll be making deviled eggs I but the eggs about a week ahead of time. Hasn't happened since.

 

[momsal]

This is a riot!!! Sorry to laugh but just had this talk with my ds

Originally posted by iNTeNSeBLue98
The reason your eggs are cracking is becasue they are cold and your water is boiling. Do as eveyone said, add cold water over the eggs before heating. I bring the water to a boil, remove source of heat, let sit for about 10 minutes. Rinse eggs with cold water until cool enough to handle (or use an ice water bath).

By the way an ice water bath DOES NOT mean put them in the tub!!!!

 

[tigercat]

I have a funny story. My dd wanted to boil some eggs so she put the eggs in a pan and brought the water to a boil. She boiled the eggs for 15 min. and then put cold water on them. She started to peel them and THEY WERE SOFT BOILED!!!!!!! I wouldn't have believed it except my other dd & I were at the kitchen table talking to her while she waited. I told her to do the cold water, boil, take off the stove idea but she was a teenager and knew everything and did it her way. To this day we have no idea what happened.
tigercat