How to Make Hard-Cooked Eggs So Easy to Peel That the Shells Practically Fall Off



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Boiled eggs that start in cold water are hard to peel because the proteins in the egg white set slowly, which gives them time to fuse to the surrounding membrane. When you try to remove the shell, parts of the white cling to the membrane, and the surface of the egg is unattractively pockmarked. Instead of a cold-water start, we place cold eggs directly into hot steam, which rapidly denatures the outermost egg white proteins, causing them to form a solid gel that shrinks and pulls away from the membrane. The shell slips off easily to reveal smooth, unblemished hard-cooked eggs.

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22 Comments

  1. I've used the Gitter method for creating hard-boiled eggs a number of times over the last several weeks with an unqualified success every time! It's pure genius! Thank you for sharing such a helpful kitchen trick! I love it!

    Larry A.

  2. 0:57 13 minutes to steam eggs? Man, that killed this recipe for me. That’s double the time it normally takes and less energy efficient.

    I take the eggs from fridge to electric kettle heated boiling water in a right sized heated pot, but only fill it with water about halfway up the eggs up and steam/boil them for about 6 minutes.

    I almost never have a peeling problem since I’ve done this.

  3. Absolutely perfect, first time out, simple to master technique, I was taking a risk kicking momma out of the kitchen but now she has a perfectly cooked and peeled eggs that took 5 simple minutes to peel, I am a Hero and much thanks for this excellent method ! 24 perfect devilled egg halfs, only one detail,? how long to wait before starting, for the eggs to warm to about room temperature, will probly keep them from cracking during the steaming process. I had two crack during cooking. but they still peeled just fine using this method…absolute genius.

  4. 1. Slide egg slowly into boiling water
    2. Cook 5 minutes, reduce heat
    3. Turn off and sit for 5 minutes
    4. Remove egg and put into ice bath (freeze a container of water for about 2 hours).
    5. The egg will be easy to peel after 20 minutes. The yolk is just cooked, no green ring.

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