Anonymous wrote:Every time I make them, I end up pulling off half the whites or if not, I'm left with that not-smooth outer cell around it. Please share any tips!

Yeah, I try all kinds of tips I see on the internet. Same mess each time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I put the eggs in the water. Bring water to a boil. Remove from heat and cover pot with lid and let stand for 10 minutes. Then I do the cold water/ice bath. This next step is key. I gently roll the egg so there are lots of cracks and input them back in the cold water. Then I peel.

+1

Just to add to this -- if the egg starts to fall apart or not peel correctly, put it back in the ice water for a while. You can peel the next one while the first one one sits.

Anonymous wrote:I put the eggs in the water. Bring water to a boil. Remove from heat and cover pot with lid and let stand for 10 minutes. Then I do the cold water/ice bath. This next step is key. I gently roll the egg so there are lots of cracks and input them back in the cold water. Then I peel.

+1

OP, I feel your pain! I have the worst time with this too. I have always heard old eggs work best too, but no matter how long I wait, I have the same trouble.
I read a long post from some food blogger who tested various methods and he concluded the "cold eggs in hot water" method worked best for him. He found the age of the eggs didn't really matter.
I haven't tried his method yet (and by method I just mean boil the water first, then put the cold eggs in and proceed as you normally would), but I plan to next time I make hard boiled eggs.
My mother claims never to have trouble -- I think her secret is that she boils those suckers for like 20 minutes at full boil. The yolks are as dry as the Sahara, but the eggs peel nicely!

Interesting question, OP - did you try out any of these suggestions yet? If so: results? Keep us posted!

Anonymous wrote:I buy a bag of 6 hard boiled eggs. Dairy section in Safeway. Most stores have them. Already peeled. Inexpensive.

Aren't they tough as heck?

I buy a bag of 6 hard boiled eggs. Dairy section in Safeway. Most stores have them. Already peeled. Inexpensive.

Put the eggs in cold water in a pot then bring to a boil for about 15 minutes. Water must be cold if eggs have just been removed from the fridge or there is a likelihood they could break.

Then when the timer goes off immediately pour out the hot water and fill the pot with cold tap water - do this a few times letting the eggs sit in the last batch of cold water for 10 minutes or so. Then put the eggs in the fridge.

This method works for me every time to get easy to peel eggs.

Anonymous wrote:I've also heard that putting baking soda in the water makes it easier. Older eggs are better.

This works.

After years of peeling frustration, I just buy the egglands best hard boiled eggs that come in a bag pre peeled.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While older eggs are easier, there are ways to hard boil even fresh eggs. Here's America's Test Kitchen's bit on hard boiled eggs. She briefly describes the best way to boil them (water to full boil, put the eggs in, take off heat and let sit for 10 minutes, the ice-bath shock them to stop the cooking) and then describes various tactics to make peeling them easier:

You must not of watched the video. You don't put the eggs in after full boil, you put them into the pot with cold water. Then you bring to boil.

Oops, you're right. I did watch this and the original video which I can't seem to find. The problem is that it was 2am and I was still doing some prep/cooking for friends coming over Saturday afternoon (we have an event to go to in the morning). Was tired and rushed and make a mistake on the steps. Thanks for the catch. Off to bed for 4 hours...

Anonymous wrote:While older eggs are easier, there are ways to hard boil even fresh eggs. Here's America's Test Kitchen's bit on hard boiled eggs. She briefly describes the best way to boil them (water to full boil, put the eggs in, take off heat and let sit for 10 minutes, the ice-bath shock them to stop the cooking) and then describes various tactics to make peeling them easier:

You must not of watched the video. You don't put the eggs in after full boil, you put them into the pot with cold water. Then you bring to boil.

While older eggs are easier, there are ways to hard boil even fresh eggs. Here's America's Test Kitchen's bit on hard boiled eggs. She briefly describes the best way to boil them (water to full boil, put the eggs in, take off heat and let sit for 10 minutes, the ice-bath shock them to stop the cooking) and then describes various tactics to make peeling them easier:

Yes, the only real answer is old eggs. If your eggs are hard to peel, that's good - it means they are fresher!

i am not convince that the old eggs are easier to peel. They are sometime hard to peel too. Instead, I think it's due to overcooked eggs that makes the shell stick. My eggs usually do not stick if I remember to turn the stove off after 9 minutes, counting from the time the water boils.

Another thing that makes it easy, is to peel it under warm running water. Gently pull back the membrane to get water between it and the egg.