What is the best method for boiling eggs for decorating?

DODI

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Sat Mar-26-05 06:10 PM
Original message

What is the best method for boiling eggs for decorating?

Yes, yes, it is true -- I don't know how to boil an egg. I can bake like a banshee, but I can't boil an egg. What is the best method? I thank you all in advance.

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alittlelark

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Sat Mar-26-05 06:19 PM
Response to Original message

1. Stick the eggs in a pot of water (1/2 inch above eggs), turn up the heat.

When the water starts boiling check the clock. Wait 12 minutes, take them off the heat, dump about 1/2 the water, and fill w/ cold water. Dump most of that water after 5 minutes or so, and replace w/ cold. Dump that in 5-10 minutes and replace w/ cold water and ice (1/2 and 1/2). They'll be ready when the ice melts.

That's the quickest way I know of that almost always keeps the shells intact.

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tnlefty

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Sat Mar-26-05 06:19 PM
Response to Original message

2. I can't vouch for the best method 'cause a couple of mine cracked

Carefully place the eggs into a pot, boil for 7 minutes. Drain off the hot water and refill the pot with cool water. As that water warms up, drain again, more cool water this time add some ice. Let sit until cool. Remove, place on towel, turn to allow them to air dry. Decorate and have fun!

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Left Is Write

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Sat Mar-26-05 06:22 PM
Response to Original message

3. My method for boiling eggs.

Put the eggs in the pan and cover with cold water. Bring the water to a full, rolling boil, then turn the heat off and cover the pan. Let stand for 15-20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process.

Works every time.

(P.S. How does a banshee bake? ;) )

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flamingyouth

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Sat Mar-26-05 06:25 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. I can vouch for this method

It's the best. :)

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n2mark

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Sat Mar-26-05 06:27 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. This is what I was taught and the yolk is suppose to be yellow

with little gray.

Boil the eggs for 3 minutes, cover, shut the heat off and let it stand for twenty minutes.

I tried this and it works, but I do take the eggs out of fridge about 10 minutes before boiling.

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candy

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Sat Mar-26-05 06:33 PM
Response to Reply #3

6. That's my way too----getting them in cold water quickly after cooking

is the key!

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Blue Gardener

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Sat Mar-26-05 06:37 PM
Response to Reply #3

8. That's the Betty Crocker way

Bring to a boil, turn off the heat, let sit for about 22 minutes, rinse in cold water.
I've used that method since I got the cookbook when I was in high school, which was some time ago. I rarely have any cracked eggs.
That Betty Crocker is a genius.
As a side note, if you buy your eggs really fresh from the farm, they're really hard to peel. Learned this the hard way (no pun intended).

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Left Is Write

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Sat Mar-26-05 07:53 PM
Response to Reply #8

12. Good point! Using older eggs is better than using fresh ones.

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nuxvomica

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Sat Mar-26-05 06:49 PM
Response to Reply #3

9. That's what I do

I think it's what Julia Child called "HB eggs". She said that if the surface of the yolk is green it means the copper and iron in the white and yolk (I forget which is in which) have combined and the egg will taste bad.

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yellowdogintexas

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Sat Mar-26-05 06:57 PM
Response to Reply #3

10. this is also my method. I have a couple of other tips:

salt in the water

also I poke a teeny hole in the fat end of the shell, with a pushpin; helps prevent shell cracking.

I have an electric stove so I slide my pan off the burner after I cover it. My eggs do not turn green.

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texas1928

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Sat Mar-26-05 06:36 PM
Response to Original message

7. Some really hot water?

:shrug:

Sorry I could not resist.

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baby_bear

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Sat Mar-26-05 07:04 PM
Response to Original message

11. Old eggs and salt

This is in addition to the cooking techniques you have already received concerning temp and time: older eggs fare better as hard-boiled eggs - e.g., two weeks old. If that's not a possibility, then use LOTS of salt when you boil them. It will help immensely with getting the shells off in big pieces with the skin still attached to the egg. Fresh eggs and no salt are a sure-fire recipe for eggs whose shells are frustrating to remove.

Have fun!

b_b

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