This post, Perfect Easy to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs is for you if you have ever been frustrated because you couldn’t get the shells off of your hard boiled eggs!
I’m not sure what’s happened with chickens and their eggs? I’ve been cooking and peeling eggs for many years without any problems, that is, until lately. All of a sudden the shells started sticking like glue, and I almost gave up making hard-boiled eggs. I even resorted to buying already cooked and peeled eggs to save myself the aggravation.
Hard Boiled Egg Tricks:
I tried all of the tricks; old eggs, fresh eggs, baking powder in the water, vinegar in the water. You name it, I tried it. I’ve started the eggs in cold water, then tried hot water. I dropped them in ice water baths and tried peeling them under running water. I even tried sticking a pin in the eggshell before I cooked it which, as you can imagine, wasn’t easy! But I couldn’t find a quick and easy method to cook and peel eggs that worked reliably every time. That is until I tried steamed eggs.
My story today starts with a dozen eggs which, according to the carton, should have been about two weeks old when I bought them at the store. I also planned ahead and stored them in my refrigerator for a full week before cooking them because the last thing I wanted to do was to try and peel fresh eggs.
I planned to make deviled eggs for a luncheon, and I needed six perfect eggs to make a dozen deviled eggs. I added ten eggs to a saucepan full of cold water and cooked them for the requisite amount of time. I immediately placed them in an ice water bath and then trouble reared its ugly head. I started with ten thinking that I could at least get six perfect or almost perfect eggs. Despite my best efforts, I only ended up with two peeled eggs which were barely presentable. The others looked like they had been through a meat grinder. Ugh!
Yikes! I started to wonder if this was some sort of cruel joke, was I on Candid Camera? Then, I remembered reading about steamed eggs.
Does steaming eggs make them easier to peel?
With nothing to lose but my sanity, I steamed two eggs and, believe it or not, it worked. I was able to steam, then easily peel the rest of the cooked eggs and the best part, they looked perfect!
So buckle up and hang on to your egg baskets because I’m going to show you a new method of cooking eggs in which the shell literally falls off. Well, it doesn’t really fall off, but the eggs are easy to peel, and the shell does come off in several large pieces instead of hundreds of specks of shell! You can use this method whether you are cooking eggs for deviled eggs or poached eggs, and once you try steamed eggs I know you will become a believer. I know I am. You really can teach an old dog new tricks!
What to do with all of those hard boiled eggs?
Now that you know the trick for easy to peel hard boiled eggs, here are some great recipes to use them in: Southern Potato Salad, Traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing, Classic Southern Seven Layer Salad, and Tasty Egg Salad Sliders. And, last but not least, my Halloween Spooky Spider Deviled Eggs!
Oh, remember the deviled eggs I told you about earlier? Here is a link to that recipe: Classic Southern Deviled Eggs.
How to make Perfect Easy to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
Add about 1-2 inches of water to a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
Place a wire strainer in the saucepan. Make sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the strainer.
Carefully add the eggs. When the water starts to boil and generate steam, cover the saucepan. Let the eggs steam for 15 minutes for hard-boiled eggs.
Remove the pan from the stove and immediately plunge the eggs in a bowl filled with water and ice. Let the eggs cool enough to handle, and then peel under cold running water.
Voila, the shell should come right off.
Sharon’s Expert Tips:
- Instead of a wire strainer, you could also use a small metal colander or a steamer basket.
- For soft-boiled eggs, steam the eggs for 4-5 minutes, for medium eggs, steam them for 6-7 minutes.
📋 Recipe:
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Grits and Pinecones.
Perfect Easy to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
Ingredients
- 6 eggs I usually use extra large
- water
Instructions
- Add about 1-2 inches of water to a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Place a wire strainer in the saucepan. Make sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the strainer.
- Carefully add the eggs. When the water starts to boil and generate steam, cover the saucepan. Let the eggs steam for 15 minutes for hard-boiled eggs.
- Remove the pan from the stove and immediately plunge the eggs in a bowl filled with water and ice. Let the eggs cool enough to handle, and then peel under cold running water.
- Voila, the shell should come right off.
Notes
- Instead of a wire strainer, you could also use a small metal colander or a steamer basket.
- For soft-boiled eggs, steam the eggs for 4-5 minutes, for medium eggs, steam them for 6-7 minutes.
Gail Wilkinson
It is the 4th of July, & I was thinking about making potato salad, HOWEVER, I , like yourself, have tried every possible recipe for making hard boiled eggs that are peel able to no avail. But today, I came across your suggested method & they came out perfectly…each of the 9 eggs I steamed peeled easily & look amazing. Thank you so much.
Diane S
Thank you so very much for the great tip. At 75, the idea of making deviled eggs was one more “chore” that didn’t happen.
Stacy
Thank you, thank you, thank you. This worked perfectly.
Jan
Perfection….finally! Thanks for the tip! Worked like a charm 🤗
Jana Stivers
What a life saver! I boiled some eggs last week and they looked so hacked up I was embarrassed! I used the “lemon in the water” trick with the ice bath. I’ve been searching for a new method.
I am making deviled eggs for Easter and I happen to be reading recipes for something else when this post popped up. I’m so glad I took the time to read it! I’m trying this method tonight and I’m actually looking forward to trying it out! I’ll let ya know…thank you!!!👍😊
Sharon Rigsby
Hi Jana, I think you will love this new way to cook hardboiled eggs. I always add one or two more eggs than I think I need, just in case… But with this method, you will end up with perfect eggs 95% of the time, even if they are fresh!
All the best,
Sharon
Jana Stivers
I love this new way of steaming eggs! I’ve shared it with all of my friends and family!
I had 3 dozen eggs to “boil”. This method was so simple. I did take one egg out to check it and had to leave them 22 mins because they were XL eggs. The second and third time, I left them for 20 mins because they were smaller and fresh farm eggs. They came out perfect! Thank you so much for sharing this kitchen hack!
Joyce
This recipe is amazing and I want to thank you for sharing! I had 18 eggs to devil and wanted them to turn out nicely, so I tried this recipe and it worked perfectly! God bless you!👏🏾
Debbie
You are amazing! I, like you, had tried everything. I was very skeptical of your method but thought I’d give it a try They peeled perfectly. Think I’ll steam some more just because they actually look like what I always envisioned peeled hard boiled eggs should.
Lisa
My steamed eggs peeled beautifully, thank you! Now my deviled eggs will be perfect!
Elinor Malblanc
This method worked perfectly. I did steam the eggs for about 17 minutes. Thank you!
Sylvia Escarsega
I am so impressed. I was skeptical but I decided to try it because like you said, what happened to eggs that I can’t peel them like I use to. I searched different methods and failed. This method really works. Thank you so much.
P.S. I never comment on recipes I have tried, but I needed to on this one.
cindy
OMGosh!
This worked sooo well. Thank you!
Leena S Shirgaokar
OMG. You have literally saved my marriage! I would get so angry at my mangled eggs that my husband would take cover from flying eggs. Your method of making hard boiled eggs is a game changer and I am a much calmer person. Thank you for sharing this!!
Sharon Rigsby
Hi Leena, thank you so much for taking the time to leave your sweet comment. It made me laugh and it made my day! I feel your pain about peeling eggs and certainly have been there and done that! I have eggs steaming on my stove right now to make deviled eggs for the 4th of July!
Thank you again!
Sharon
Yvonne
This boiled egg method is amazing. 6 steamed/6 perfectly peeled. Can’t wait to share with my friends. Thanks for doing the work and sharing the results
Nancy
Worked perfectly! I steamed the eggs for exactly 15 minutes and they were 99% hard boiled. Next time I’ll add a few minutes. I was using a metal strainer so the pan cover didn’t completely close which may have caused the slight under-cooking. I think the ice bath really did the trick. Thanks for the post.
Gritsandpinecones
Hey Nancy,
So glad it worked for you and thank you so much for letting me know!
All my best,
Sharon
jean chriatiansen
i like my eggs so that the yoke is some what hard but still a tiny bit soft how long should i steam them for ???
Sharon Rigsby
There are many variables like the size and temperature of the eggs before you steam them, but I would say around 7-8 minutes. Good luck, and I hope this works for you.
All the best,
Sharon
Deborah
Thank you so much you’re directions were perfect. My eggs came out perfect just like you said they would thank you thank you thank you
Linger
This post makes me soooo happy! It’s an answer to my boiled egg prayers! I too have been incredibly frustrated at peeling eggs lately. I can’t wait to try this trick. What a GREAT post.