Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

You’re Doing It Wrong: Hard-Boiled Eggs
Slate ^ | March 27, 2013 | L.V. Anderson

Posted on 03/28/2013 4:05:31 PM PDT by Daffynition

In this season of beitzahs and PAAS dye kits, it may be time for a friendly reminder about hard-boiled eggs: You’re not actually supposed to boil them. Hard-boiled eggs may seem too basic to warrant a PSA, but misinformation abounds. Just the other day, a bright, culinarily astute friend casually mentioned his egg-boiling technique, which he described as “traditional,” and which he seemed to think was socially condoned: Bring a pot of water to a low boil, add your eggs, and cook them for 10 minutes over medium heat.

Granted, his mistake is understandable—the very name “hard-boiled eggs” cruelly and ironically perpetuates the myth that the thing they describe should be boiled. But following my friend’s method yields unevenly cooked eggs: The whites, battered by the incessant kinetic energy of the water molecules, become tough and rubbery. The yolks, meanwhile, buffered by albumin, remain half raw. (Of course, you could boil the eggs longer than 10 minutes to get fully cooked yolks, but by that point your whites would have the texture of a foam yoga mat.) Eggs cooked this way cannot rightfully be called hard-boiled—they are half-hard, half-soft chimeras.

Furthermore, cooking eggs in boiling water disturbs whatever domestic tranquility you have carefully cultivated in your kitchen. Boiling eggs will rattle disquietingly in the pot, jarring your nerves (which may already be tattered either by Easter Bunny-crazed children or by not having been able to eat bread for several days). You might as well put on Steve Reich’s Drumming. In addition to being an aural nightmare, clattering eggs are liable to crack, thereby defeating the purpose of cooking them in the shell in the first place, and ruining them as a clean slate for dying or charring.

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...


TOPICS: Food; Hobbies; Humor
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last

1 posted on 03/28/2013 4:05:31 PM PDT by Daffynition
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

I microwave my eggs on high for 2 minutes, then let stand 30 seconds.


2 posted on 03/28/2013 4:06:33 PM PDT by Yo-Yo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

I pray most fervently that I am never stuck next to this guy on a long flight.


3 posted on 03/28/2013 4:07:50 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

LOL


4 posted on 03/28/2013 4:10:11 PM PDT by ZinGirl (kids in college....can't afford a tagline right now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

i blow the insides out after poking them with a needle on the ends.................the Russian way..........


5 posted on 03/28/2013 4:10:20 PM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

I was taught they *had* to boiled in an enamel pot. That wisdom comes from mother, grands who kept to the traditional ways. Dunno what diff that makes.

Some are still hard to peel, which correlated to their freshness, I have read.


6 posted on 03/28/2013 4:10:32 PM PDT by Daffynition (The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted. — D.H.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

You fly? Why? Then you are a glutton for punishment!


7 posted on 03/28/2013 4:11:33 PM PDT by Daffynition (The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted. — D.H.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

LOL


8 posted on 03/28/2013 4:12:29 PM PDT by Michael.SF. (Obama lied, Stevens died.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

You’re right, I don’t really have to go anywhere, I’m just in it for the TSA screening.


9 posted on 03/28/2013 4:12:49 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: yldstrk
Do you make deviled eggs? I'm goin' with that ever Alton says.


10 posted on 03/28/2013 4:13:39 PM PDT by Daffynition (The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted. — D.H.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

I can poach eggs in the shell.


11 posted on 03/28/2013 4:16:00 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (I am a dissident. Will you join me? My name is John....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo
Funny thing about microwaves and eggs.

Took a hardboiled egg still in shell to work for breakfast. Nuked it on high for a minute or so.

Set in on my desk to let the heat even out inside when the damn thing went off like a grenade. Bits of egg everywhere!

12 posted on 03/28/2013 4:16:01 PM PDT by doorgunner69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

LOL.....I get it...you’re trolling. LOL.....Happy Easter goofball! :)


13 posted on 03/28/2013 4:16:25 PM PDT by Daffynition (The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted. — D.H.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: doorgunner69

LOL...Alton’s here to help you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xUHKpHek2E8


14 posted on 03/28/2013 4:17:33 PM PDT by Daffynition (The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted. — D.H.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Cyber Liberty

15 posted on 03/28/2013 4:19:54 PM PDT by Daffynition (The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted. — D.H.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

Pretty much what I’ve always done. I bring the water to a boil, and then turn it down to simmer. Five minutes for soft-boiled eggs, ten minutes for hard. No need for ice water, just cook them ahead of time and let them cool.

I don’t believe in wasting fuel. Once you bring water to a boil, it’s not going to get any hotter than 212 degrees, so what’s the purpose in keeping the gas turned up? Waste of money, unless you’re cooking something where the water has to be boiled away.


16 posted on 03/28/2013 4:20:03 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition
Happy Easter goofball

MMMMMMM... marshmallow Peeps and a large sweaty TSA babe with blue gloves...

17 posted on 03/28/2013 4:20:19 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: doorgunner69

Kids from the Res did that in Sedona while we were visiting last year. Except that the egg was still in the microwave when it blew. Poor kid.


18 posted on 03/28/2013 4:25:44 PM PDT by HiJinx (The New Year is here; to all Men Good Cheer. (Last one out, turn out the lights.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

Hope you get a babe and not Bob.


19 posted on 03/28/2013 4:26:04 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin (Obama is the Chicken Little of politics)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition
My Wife saw this on facebook:

"Bake at 325 for 30 minutes. Remove with Chef's Tongs and place in an ice bath immediately.

... This is by far the best way to make eggs! You can do 1 egg or 24 eggs...time and temp are the same! When I do this many eggs I just fill the sink with ice water and place them right in there. Eggs are SO EASY to peel, no sticking!

**Tip: Place them on their side on a mini muffin pan (on their side so the yolks stay in the middle)...mini muffin pan so they don't roll all over

If you do not need this many eggs you can also use your regular muffin pans."


20 posted on 03/28/2013 4:30:05 PM PDT by Manic_Episode (Some days...it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson