You’re thinking I’m nuts, right? I’m not saying I’m not but I heard about a new (to me) method of cooking hard boiled eggs that I want to share with you. I found them on a blog I visited last week that I can’t recall (embarrassed look and my apologies) and she mentioned that they got this idea from Serious Eats.
In the past (for I shall never cook them that way again) I would put cold eggs in the pan, fill the pan with cold water and put it on the stove and heat to boiling and then turn off for nearly 20 minutes. It was easy but getting them out of the shell was such a pain.
Enter the new method. Boil a pan of water. Place a cold egg in a slotted spoon and lower gently into the pot. Cook for thirty seconds. Reduce heat to barely a simmer and set the timer for 11 minutes.
Immediately place the eggs in a bowl of ice water for 15 minutes and either use for your deviled eggs or salad or put them in the refrigerator for later. (Of course if you want a hot hard boiled egg, forget that ice water bath and eat them)
As I write this, it’s footy Grand Final day and we’re all sitting in front of the teev – even Charlie. Actually, I think he’s just waiting for Gramps to drop some food or share some with him. Even the cat got in the act but she couldn’t find an angle that she thought was interesting enough to stick around.
I wanted the hard boiled eggs for footy watching nibble time. We also had sandwiches, party pies and samosas. John and I hadn’t eaten all day but Rob had breakfast, morning tea and lunch before he arrived. He ate nearly as much as John did. He might be 93 but there’s nothing wrong with his appetite.
Seriously, if you make hard boiled eggs and often struggle to peel the shells off, give this method a try. It certainly worked for me. Remember that older eggs peel better than freshly laid eggs.
It was just family and everyone was waiting so no time to style or do much of anything. Next time I’ll make them fancy. Here’s the recipe my mother always used to make deviled eggs and I always end up going back to this.
- 6 large eggs
- ¼ cup of your favourite mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 3 drops Worcestershire sauce
- Freshly ground pepper
- Paprika (smoky or sweet) for dusting
- Fill a large pot with water and bring it to the boil over medium-high heat.
- Carefully lower the eggs into the boiling water and boil for 30 seconds.
- Cover and reduce heat to barely a simmer and cook for an additional 11 minutes.
- Immediately place eggs in a bowl of ice water for 15 minutes
- Peel eggs, slice in half lengthwise and place the yolks in a small bowl.
- Mash the egg yolks with a fork until you get fine crumbles.
- Add the mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard and Worcestershire sauce and whisk well.
- Add salt and pepper and taste for seasoning.
- Divide the yolk mixture in all the egg white holes and dust with paprika and serve.
This is news to me too Maureen. Thanks – I’ll be trying it for sure!
Are you sure that’s not my clever cat?
And, I have been blaming the eggs:) Will certainly give this a try – thanks Maureen.
I’ve been doing this for awhile but used to do it your way…what a difference! No more lost egg white that refuses to let go of the shell; it’s a miracle!
That’s a great tip, thanks. Your pets are just gorgeous. GG
It’s amazing that there are so many techniques just to get an egg peeled. I figure it’s one of life’s little mysteries … will THESE eggs peel easily or not? I usually don’t care one way or the other. 🙂
That is basically how I peel my hard boiled eggs….with one difference. When the eggs have cooked I gently make a small crack on the bottom of the wide side of the egg. While the eggs are cooling a bit of water seeps though making removing the shell a whole lot easier.
Anyway you peel them this is a great recipe for any hard boiled egg.
I’ll try this, Maureen. Good to know Rob hasn’t lost his appetite – he’s clearly enjoying the food at his new residence. I love the image of the cat – she looks like she’s comfortable but I don’t know how! xx
Wonderful hint, Maureen! And Rob is looking good!
Over the past year, I’ve been buying fresh, really fresh eggs from a local farmer. The one time I tried to make boiled eggs was a total disaster. I ended up making egg salad. Your deviled eggs having me wanting to go to Smith’s and buy some eggs that I know have been sitting on the shelf for a while. 🙂 Enjoyed the pictures Maureen!
I’m sure you have one proud mom! I like it that it looks so tasty yet easy to prepare. Thank you for sharing your mom’s (and now your) deviled eggs!
Gourmet Getaways
G’day great hint and tip Maureen and nothing wrong with classic recipes! YUM!
Glad to see Rob still has an appetite! Always good indeed!
Cheers! Joanne
I hope I still love food that much at 93 🙂
Great tip thanks Maureen 🙂
We started using the ice method not too long ago and it works perfectly! Now I’m craving deviled eggs! I haven’t made them in quite a while! Thanks, Maureen!
What a clever trick! I’ve always saved the older eggs for boiling so that they would be easy to peel but this is great for those times when you don’t want to plan ahead!
Bill loves hard boiled eggs, but I usually have trouble peeling them, too. I typically use your former method, so next time I’ll try this new way. Thanks for the tip!!
Oh lord! That’s pretty much what I have been doing for a long time, and had no clue this is such a big tip! One of my sister in laws (coursin) taught this trick to me. She would do it in cold water, and it was good. later we figured ice water is even better. What a life savior this is!
The devilled eggs look gorgeous!
Great tip, thanks!
Love your new blog design!!
Thanks, Melissa!
Great tip, thanks!
Love your new blog design!
I boil the eggs same way as you used to. But i noticed that when I added cold eggs to boiling water, they cracked. Perhaps the trick is to simmer them. Will try it this way next time. Thanks for sharing.
That’s what I thought but putting them in the water in a slotted spoon gently, I didn’t have any cracks at all.
I actually leave about an inch of water in the bottom of my pan while the eggs cool. Then I put a lid on the pan, shake it back and forth for a minute, and when you lift the lid up, the shells are off the eggs – it’s like magic! Works with any type of hard boiled egg method. 😀
Thanks for the idea!
This idea is brilliant, as evidenced by your PERFECT hardboiled eggs! Also your deviled eggs look just delicious, I wish I had some here with me right now!
Hi Maureen, I will certainly give this a try, love the classic’s!
Your eggs look delicious, I eat 8 to 12 hard boiled eggs a week, learned your trick from my mother years ago! 🙂 Deviled eggs are a favorite too!
Aaahhhh yes, the good old fashioned ice water bath at the end does make for easy peeling 🙂 Lovin’ that cat of yours too.
Great tips! We love deviled eggs 😉 but I hate trying to peel them perfectly! Can’t wait to give your method a try.
BTW love the new blog header!
Maureen these eggs look amaazing! I love your tips! the next time I will try !!
Always I make a mess with hard boil eggs!!
oh I made a comment but I dont know what happens!!!
I love how look yours eggs I have to try the next time!
always I have problems when I peel hard boil eggs!
This is a new method for me as well and I think I will give it a try. It’s so frustrating when the eggs won’t peel nicely!
I am definitely going to give this method a try.
That is funny I have an egg on the stove right now for my daughter’s lunch for tomorrow. I had to figure out a new method for our induction cooktop as compared to gas. I am good to go now. Cold water, egg in, I min. boil, turn off heat and leave for 10 min. Plunge into ice water and refrigerate. I think it all depends on the type of stove you use too. Thanks for another great method, your eggs look perfect!!
I will try it your way, Maureen……I’m always up for a good tip, thanks 🙂
This made me laugh because our chooks are laying like fury and it seems I do little else with eggs but peel, peel, peel. And because they’re fresh, they’re a dickens to peel. 🙂
This a new one for me. BUT I loathe trying to peel difficult eggs. Very frustrating. From the pic those eggs of yours are picture perfect. I am loving all the photos of course. I am smiling as I am typing.
I am trying this for sure! I love boiled eggs but confess that while peeling them I forget to act like a lady and by the end I’m more like a sailor as far as the words that come out of my mouth
hate peeling eggs when they refuse to cooperate, which 90% of the time they do
great post, great photos, all of them!
Eggs always go wrong in our kitchen, so I will definitely be using this post as reference 😀
Lovely photos!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I almost always have hard-boiled eggs on hand in the refrigerator, but rarely devil them. Except with the ones we dye for Easter! Weird, huh? I should do more deviled eggs — such great flavor. Yours look great — thanks.
i love your step by step instructions. I grew up eating deviled eggs and this recipe looks divine
i love your step by step instructions. I grew up eating deviled eggs and this recipe looks delicious
Getting neatly peeled eggs is always a problem when you have your own chickens, because the fresher an egg is, the harder to peel. I’m going to have to try this method on our to see if works with REALLY fresh eggs! And deviled eggs are just about the pinnacle of egg-dome if you ask em 😉
Maureen -I HAVE got to give this method a try – I am horrible at peeling eggs – my eggs look like the moon’s surface with all those craters and holes!
I’ve tried a few methods..now I must try this one. 🙂 I do agree the ice water does help with the peeling process. 🙂 Your sweet cat is totally adorable and I love your new page design!! Looking good!!
I’ve heard about this technique but haven’t tried it. I will now since it is officially Maureen endorsed. 😉 Deviled eggs are one of my favorite appetizers. So simple, but oh-so-good. 🙂
I’ll have to try this next time I make hard boiled eggs. I always have such a hard time getting them out of their shells!