Until recently, I have had such a difficult time peeling hard boiled eggs that were fresh from our chickens. It was almost impossible to peel them without getting half the white with the shell. I have tried every method and was unsuccessful. I read that you could salt the water or put white vinegar in the water. That didn’t work. Then I read a blog post from “A Garden for Your House” by Kevin Lee Jacobs. He is a fellow New Yorker and I love his posts. I have borrowed his method which I would like to share.
Take your fresh eggs out of the refrigerator because they should be cold. I used a straight pin to poke a hole in the wide end of each egg. Fill your pot with water and get it to a rapid boil. I salt the water and add a tablespoon of vinegar. I figure it can’t hurt. Once your water is boiling, gently place your eggs into it. I use a spoon because the first time, I dropped one and it cracked when it hit the pot, oops. Boil your eggs for 13 minutes. I like to move them around gently once in a while. As soon as your timer goes off — yes, I use a timer — crack the eggs and submerge them in an ice bath. Let them sit in the ice water for at least 15 minutes. Now it is time to peel them and you won’t believe how easy they come off. I will never use another method again.
I am sure this is a method that has been around for years but I never heard of it before. Now you can make egg salad, deviled eggs, Easter eggs, whatever your heart desires. I have not tried this with duck eggs but I am going to since we will be dying some for Easter.
My question to you is, do you eat your hard boiled dyed Easter eggs after they have been sitting out all night? I still haven’t decided if it’s a good idea. I am always leery and think we will get sick on room temperature eggs. Don’t worry, the pigs will love them. Food does not get thrown out in our house. Check out my Facebook page for lots of pictures of baby goats and piglets. Lambs are coming soon and hopefully chicks that are in the incubator as I write this. Happy Easter from Conley Farm.
