Tips for Peeling Farm-Fresh Eggs
Over the years with fresh eggs from our own laying hens, I’ve tried different methods to peel them and now I’m listing what’s worked for me. You can try the tips below and see which ones work for you.
Pot Method:
1) Poke a hole in the fat end of each egg before cooking using a clean thumb tack. (I always place the fat end of the eggs facing up in the egg carton, so if you’re using Birch Island Farm eggs, you’ll easily know which is the fat end).
2) Place the desired number of eggs in a pot.
3) Add enough cold water to the pot to fully submerge all the eggs. Add ½ tsp baking soda for every 3 cups water.
4) Bring the pot to a rolling boil and leave there for 1 minute.
5) Remove the pot from the heat, put the lid on, and let sit for 10 minutes.
6) Drain off the hot water and add cold (or ice) water to cool the eggs. Leave about 5 minutes, possibly changing to colder water once more.
7) Peel while the eggs are still warm, following the ideas listed below.
Rice Cooker Method:
This sounds strange but I’ve had pretty good success with it! If you have a rice cooker with a steamer tray, give it a try:
1) Poke a hole in the fat end of each egg before cooking using a clean thumb tack.
2) Add approximately 1 cup water to the rice pot and set it in the cooker.
3) Place desired number of eggs in the steamer tray and set it on the pot with the lid placed on top.
4) Start the cooker and set a timer for 20 to 24 minutes (depending on your particular rice cooker).
5) Once the timer rings, drain off the hot water and add cold (or ice) water to cool the eggs. Leave about 5 minutes, possibly changing to colder water once more.
6) Peel while the eggs are still warm, following the ideas listed below.
Peeling the Eggs:
If the eggs are no longer warm, you can reheat them slightly under hot running water or put a small group of eggs in a bowl of hot water and let them sit for a minute. The heat helps release the inner membrane from the rest of the egg, making it easier to peel.
Tap on the fat end of the egg to crack it first. Then gently tap on the sides of the egg, rolling as you go. You don’t have to be rough with it; just tap hard enough to crack the shell.
Then, gently roll the egg back and forth a couple of times on the counter. This helps to loosen the shell. Now, you can quickly peel the egg from the fat end. If you experience resistance, run the egg under hot water for a few moments again.
Pot Method:
1) Poke a hole in the fat end of each egg before cooking using a clean thumb tack. (I always place the fat end of the eggs facing up in the egg carton, so if you’re using Birch Island Farm eggs, you’ll easily know which is the fat end).
2) Place the desired number of eggs in a pot.
3) Add enough cold water to the pot to fully submerge all the eggs. Add ½ tsp baking soda for every 3 cups water.
4) Bring the pot to a rolling boil and leave there for 1 minute.
5) Remove the pot from the heat, put the lid on, and let sit for 10 minutes.
6) Drain off the hot water and add cold (or ice) water to cool the eggs. Leave about 5 minutes, possibly changing to colder water once more.
7) Peel while the eggs are still warm, following the ideas listed below.
Rice Cooker Method:
This sounds strange but I’ve had pretty good success with it! If you have a rice cooker with a steamer tray, give it a try:
1) Poke a hole in the fat end of each egg before cooking using a clean thumb tack.
2) Add approximately 1 cup water to the rice pot and set it in the cooker.
3) Place desired number of eggs in the steamer tray and set it on the pot with the lid placed on top.
4) Start the cooker and set a timer for 20 to 24 minutes (depending on your particular rice cooker).
5) Once the timer rings, drain off the hot water and add cold (or ice) water to cool the eggs. Leave about 5 minutes, possibly changing to colder water once more.
6) Peel while the eggs are still warm, following the ideas listed below.
Peeling the Eggs:
If the eggs are no longer warm, you can reheat them slightly under hot running water or put a small group of eggs in a bowl of hot water and let them sit for a minute. The heat helps release the inner membrane from the rest of the egg, making it easier to peel.
Tap on the fat end of the egg to crack it first. Then gently tap on the sides of the egg, rolling as you go. You don’t have to be rough with it; just tap hard enough to crack the shell.
Then, gently roll the egg back and forth a couple of times on the counter. This helps to loosen the shell. Now, you can quickly peel the egg from the fat end. If you experience resistance, run the egg under hot water for a few moments again.