mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
Wow! As someone who struggles with peeling eggs, I think I’m going to have to race home and spend my night perfecting this. By the way, how great is the guy’s grin after he’s done his trick? (Answer: pretty great.)
You REALLY need to get out more. :-)
posted by Sheldon Siegel on 2-23-2007 at 1:03 pm
Does this REALLY work?
posted by Jane on 2-24-2007 at 7:28 am
that was f*ckin awesome!
posted by Paul on 2-24-2007 at 10:31 am
When eggs are hard to peel it is because the shells are very thick, typical of young chickens. Just tap the blunt end of the egg with a spoon, not too hard. It works.
posted by Bill Wagner on 2-24-2007 at 4:03 pm
EEEWWWW I hope he does NOT work in a restaurant making egg salad sandwiches. Gross!
posted by CropTillDawn on 2-24-2007 at 4:57 pm
The traditional Sunday breakfast at my house features soft-boiled eggs, so I thought I’d try this. Of course, I had to announce to all at the table what I was up to, then the only part of the egg that came out was the yolk. All over my plate. My kids were quite amused!
Obviously, this is a trick for HARD-boiled eggs. Important distinction.
posted by Dave on 2-25-2007 at 9:46 am
My mom taught me to do this when I was little and I used to do it all the time. It hasn’t worked as well for me in my older age. But it does work.
posted by Scott on 2-25-2007 at 11:58 pm
We have a couple dozen ‘pet’ chickens and the thickness of the shells doesn’t appear to affect the peelability. However, the freshness does. Nice fresh eggs (hard boiled) just plain don’t peel well at all. And the reason, they say, is that fresh eggs stick to the shells, and older eggs entrain some air and begin to pull away a little. I’m going to have to go home and try this myself–it would sure be nice if it works on our fresh eggs.
posted by Rogers on 2-28-2007 at 10:58 am
I’ve managed a similar trick with some eggs, but by squeezing gently so they slide out of the shell, rather than blowing. It defintely depends on the egg, though.
posted by Lisa on 1-17-2008 at 6:49 am
Mangesh – you’re absolutely right. The answer is “pretty great.”
posted by Sarah on 1-17-2008 at 10:11 am
WOW I hate to peel eggs! I cater and egg dishes are a constant. I will try this and let you know if it works!
posted by Beth Dodd on 1-17-2008 at 10:18 am
The trick that isn’t mentioned in the clip is that the eggs have to be boiled in salty water. Pure water will cause the egg to stick to the shell.
Just add a tablespoon of salt to the water you boil the eggs in.
Every Israeli leaves the army unshelling hard-boiled eggs in this way.
posted by Nathan Miller on 1-17-2008 at 12:19 pm
We tap our hard-boiled eggs on either end like that, but instead of blowing our germs all over it, we then roll the egg on the counter with slight pressure. Then start peeling on the “bottom” and the shell comes off easily and doesn’t usually take any egg white with it. :o)
posted by Kimmer on 1-17-2008 at 6:44 pm