It is a family tradition to dye the eggs, and the grandkids love it. That’s why I want to make sure that we have enough no cracks, easy-peel, perfect hard-boiled eggs for that purpose.
In fact, once I tasted a perfectly hard-boiled egg, I knew I could never go back to dry, crumbly yolks. But no matter how hard I tried, I got the timing wrong and ended up with the green ring.
Over the years, I have found a technique that I believed to be perfect. Then I found this pin and tried it, and now there is a new tool in my bag of cooking tricks. It works every time!
Hard-boiled eggs are nutritious and healthy
Eggs are such a quick, easy, portable snack. They are a great source of high-quality protein, too. Rich in selenium, vitamin D, B6, B12, and a source of minerals such as zinc, copper, and iron.
In fact, one large egg contains about 75 calories which makes it a low-calorie food.
Moreover, they are filling and make you eat fewer calories. With so many health benefits for the body, these products will help if you want to lose weight and maintain a healthy diet.
Health benefits of eggs
- low-calorie
- rich in protein
- rich in minerals such as zinc, copper, selenium
- rich in vitamins
- contain Omega-3
- contain healthy fats
- source of choline
- source of lutein
- filling and satiating
Are you eating enough protein?
Getting enough protein can help with building muscle mass, losing weight, and lowering blood pressure. No wonder that people who tend to live a healthy lifestyle eat eggs on the regular. Include them into your diet to increase the feeling of fullness.
Protein is essential for the body! Make sure you eat enough of it. No cracks, easy-peel, perfect hard-boiled eggs are something you should consider adding to your diet.
Include hard-boiled eggs into your everyday meals
Got a batch of perfect hard-boiled eggs ready and peeled in your fridge? Eating them without seasoning may get boring. Think of ideas on how to make things more interesting.
For increasing your protein intake, add hard-boiled eggs to:
- salads
- sandwiches
- wraps
- pasta
- appetizers
- breakfast bowls
- creamy dips and sauces
- hummus and veggie bowls
- smoothies
You can use them chopped up in salads, grated on pizza, or as a base for dips. Add a hard-boiled egg to your smoothie bowl, to give it an extra protein kick. Marinate them and season with sesame seeds and paprika.
In addition, make healthy and nutritious sandwiches and wraps with veggies and eggs. Use them in dressings for salad or make a paste with eggs for your sandwich, too. Shredded eggs are great for tossing on pizza or salad.
For example, deviled eggs are something I tend to make only in spring, and I am looking forward to them. I have had plenty of hard-boiled eggs that have that green ring around the yolk.
Growing up, I thought that is how they are supposed to be. Actually, I didn’t know that the green coloring means they are overcooked.
Tips for making the perfect hard-boiled eggs
How many Easter eggs have you cracked while experimenting with different techniques? No cracks, easy-peel, perfect hard-boiled eggs are so easy to make. To boil the eggs, use boiling water on the stove, an instant pot, or even an air-fryer. In fact, I use the old-fashioned way with the boiling water in the pot on the stove.
You will need:
- Older eggs
- A cotton kitchen towel
- A pot
First of all, to make no cracks, easy-peel, perfect hard-boiled eggs, you have to use eggs one week old. Older eggs are easier to peel. The next step is to lay a clean white cotton kitchen towel in the pot.
I got this tip from my wonderful mother-in-law (I have mentioned before how good she is at all things homemaking. She raised her five kids on a farm. Grew, canned, cooked, and sewed everything herself! She even made her own Easter candy!).
How to protect the eggs from cracking
Easter eggs should not get cracked while boiling. Otherwise, you turn out to have fewer eggs for dyeing. In fact, the cracked ones will make a great addition to your salad. But the main idea is to have all the eggs hard-boiled and to minimize cracking them.
The towel acts as a cushion for the eggs. So when the water boils, the eggs don’t knock against each other and get cracks. You can do many eggs in a large pot this way if you lay the towel in between layers of eggs. I like this when I am making a lot of eggs for Easter. I can do a large batch, and they come out perfect for dyeing.
Helpful tips for making no cracks, easy-peel, perfect hard-boiled eggs:
- Assure there is enough space for the eggs and not put too many of them in the pan.
- Position them in just one layer and not put one over the other.
Fold the towel over the eggs and fill the pot with enough water to cover the eggs. Here is the new Pinterest tip I learned from The Kitchn via Pinterest. Add 1/4 tsp baking soda to the water. The Kitchn explains how it changes the pH level and makes them easier to peel.
Bring the water to a rolling boil. Not only bubbling but also rolling. Boil for 1 minute, then turn off the heat and leave the eggs in the pan of water until cooled. Drain the water, and they are ready. Perfect for Easter egg dyeing.
How to peel hard-boiled eggs easier
Who else feels frustrated when shells come off in tiny pieces? The peeling process can be so annoying and time-consuming sometimes.
Moreover, it is nerve-wracking when shells come off with pieces of egg whites on them. A real test for the nerves! And the result is a peeled egg that is not even on the outside and looks a bit chipped. In fact, if I end up with eggs looking uneven and chipped, I prefer to use them shredded instead.
I like to make enough eggs for a week, peel them all at once, and store them in a ziplock bag for a quick snack on the go. Actually, I will share with you a fact about peeling eggs. As a matter of fact, I start peeling at the end, where there is a bubble of air. It helps get under the skin, and peeling goes easier.
Make sure to try this easy way to peel your eggs! How to Peel Your Eggs With a Spoon – another simple and effective way to peel eggs!
I compared eggs boiled with and without baking soda and found baking soda did make a difference.
The best feeling is when there are large pieces of shell that come right off. You feel so happy and proud at the same time! You almost feel like a chef in some fancy restaurant. Eggs always seem to be perfect-looking in restaurants. Making easy-to-peel eggs can be a difficult task, indeed. But it is a possible one!
Safety tips for using eggs
- Always wash your eggs with water before use.
- Store hard-boiled eggs in a container in the refrigerator for up to seven days.
- Place the eggs on the coldest part of your refrigerator – not the door.
- Inspect the eggs before buying them, and never buy cracked eggs.
- Always check the expiry date of the eggs before buying them.
- Don’t keep eggs at room temperature for more than a few hours.
Easter egg dyeing is a great family time with the grandkids
How many hard-boiled eggs will you be boiling for Easter? I know I will be hard-boiling my share of eggs to decorate this year. I like at least a dozen per person for dyeing.
Decorating eggs is another fun family tradition. A time to bond with the grandkids and create memories that last a long time.
It gets messy! But also creativity is involved, and they spend time having fun without any electronics or toys. Build a strong bond with your grandchildren while dyeing Easter eggs, ask them questions and answer theirs. Create meaningful conversations about the tradition and coloration of the eggs. It is a way to spark their creativity and express their thoughts.
Try using natural dyes like beetroot, onion skins, red cabbage, spinach, carrots, spirulina, matcha powder, or turmeric. It is the way to make sure you won’t add any artificial substances to your food. You already have these in your kitchen. It will be fun for the grandkids to find these coloring agents in the kitchen and see how they can color the eggs with them.
The bottom line
It’s the end of your struggle with hard-boiled eggs and spending a long time peeling them. I know you have been looking for a way to boil eggs without cracking them and make these shells slide off easily.
Finally, we have answers to these questions! And the method is tested and proven effective, of course!
Now that you have no cracks, easy-peel, perfect hard-boiled eggs, put them to good use and enjoy! Besides, being an affordable source of protein, you should consider adding eggs to your meals. For instance, add some hard-boiled eggs to your salad or sandwich. It plays a big role in maintaining healthy body weight and living a healthy lifestyle.
In short, don’t worry about the Easter egg dyeing anymore. Make hard-boiled eggs like a PRO! It will change your life! Get crackin’, peel away, and enjoy your eggs. This Pin Rocks!
Thanks so much for testing this out! I’ve got to pin this because I can never seem to get my hard boiled eggs just right! Thanks for sharing.
You bet, Sam.
I have never heard of that towel trick. Course my luck it would burn. I would have to be really careful. I did try the baking soda thing once and I don’t think it worked for me. But maybe I will try it again. One of my aunts said to use old eggs, that those are better.
Suzyhomemaker, the towel is wet, so it doesn’t burn. Thanks for coming by. It is always so fun to get a comment. Sherri
The baking soda trick didn’t work for me, nor did putting the eggs in the water after it’s already at a rolling boil, nor putting the eggs in before the water boils, nor putting the eggs in ice cold water after they’re done cooking, nor turning off the boiling water after they’ve been cooking and letting them cool in the hot water. In short, I’ve tried nearly every recipe for hard boiling eggs and every “trick” for peeling eggs and the peel always sticks to the eggs and takes chunks out and I just don’t know how to do it. I’ve seen tons of articles on it and everyone says their method is the best & really works and I find that’s never true. Sorry, I’m just venting my frustration because I love eggs, but suck at making them.
This is the first time I’ve ever seen to wrap them in the towel. I’m curious, what is the purpose?
I did find your spoon peeling trick sounds interesting though, so I may try that.
Hi Sharon! I swear, we all have a kitchen nemesis. Right now mine is homemade corn tortillas. My best friend cannot make homemade bread to save her life. One of the best tips readers have given in the comments that I have found to make a difference is old eggs are easier to peel. So buy your eggs way before you are going to boil them. The older the better. That is another big help.
The towel acts as a shock absorber. That way as the water boils and the eggs jostle against each other they don’t crack. It is especially helpful when making a large batch for Easter.
Make sure to get your egg warm before trying the spoon method. It takes some practice, but I won’t go back. Way better!
Hope you conquer the hard boiled egg. Don’t give up!
I always had this problem myself! Couldn’t tell you how stressful enough this was for me. After trying it with salt and vinegar and peeling them when they’re still hot under running water, that was the only the that worked! I also boiled them a little more time with enough water to cover the eggs an inch above.
You wouldn’t think boiling eggs would be so tricky but they are! This hint is a keeper!
Fantastic! I always seem to get a few ‘ugly’ ones every time I boil eggs. I’ll have to try these tricks next time…
Loretta, I am glad you like the ideas. Hope it contributes to a Happy Easter. Sherri
I never heard of the towel trick or the baking soda either. I’ll have to try that. A few always crack for me too. We love hard boiled eggs too.
Sue, I am tickled to hear from you again. It is nice to hear you like these tips. Hope you find them as useful as I have. Sherri
I tried the baking soda trick and found it didn’t work for me. I was wondering if our hard water had anything to do with it (also used older eggs).
Mrs. Tucker, sorry to hear it didn’t work for you. I have read on various sites and some recommend 1/4 tsp of baking soda and others all the way up to 1 tsp. Maybe try increasing the amount. Also, it is hard to tell whether it makes a difference unless you boil one batch of eggs with and one without from the same dozen eggs and compare. My mom taught me that if the eggs are cold it helps to run them under warm water before peeling. That also helps loosen the film beneath the shell that seems to not want to let go. Hope this helps. Sherri
I am definitely trying this trick! Very Smart Thanks for stopping by,
Lina
Thanks Lina. So glad you came by! Sherri
Hmmmm, I’ve always used the baking soda trick but never heard of the towel trick! Love the idea of using the towel to keep the eggs from jostling around! Thanks for the tips!
The towel idea is pretty nifty, especially if you are going to be decorating eggs and don’t want any cracks.
You can wipe up the xounter afterwards with a germ free warm wet towel 🙂
Hahaha! Good thinking. Or clean the microwave! Sherri (the baby)
The length of time the eggs are cooking seems imprecise as the time from boiling to ‘cool’ would depend heavily on the size of the pot and water level. Good enough for Easter eggs or a very hard egg, but for something less firm or doing a few eggs in small pot vs dozens in large pot, just too variable. Others have also said to use a cake tester to poke a hole (in bubble end) to let the expanding gas to escape. Towel, baking soda, poking all helped me, none 100% tho.
I leave the times imprecise exactly because with the difference between batches, it is so variable depending on the amount of eggs or size of pot, or type of stove. By watching the water for a rolling boil and waiting until the water has cooled, I find the method fits any size pot, any amount of eggs. Glad it helped a bit, Walter. I had not heard of the cake tester tip! I will check that out. Glad to hear from you.
I have chickens and fresh eggs are extremely hard to peel. This method did not work for me with fresh eggs but it probably would with store bought. If you have super fresh eggs try this: Bring your water to a biol first. Use tongs to carefully place eggs in pot. Boil 15 minutes. Drain hot water and cover eggs with cold water. When water gets warm drain and cover with cool water once again. After 5 or 10 minutes refrigerate the eggs. They will peel (mostl of the time) perfectly.
Every tip helps! I like these ideas, Jennifer. Especially in case we buy our eggs last minute at the grocery store. I have only ever used this on store bought eggs and it works like a charm. Thanks for coming by!
Do you cover the pot??
I do not cover the pot. I like it off so I can watch it to make sure I know when it has come to a boil. Enjoy your eggs, Sandy!
Thanks for these ideas – did you ever try to bake eggs in cupcake tins — another idea – I haven’t tried but thought I would try.
We gave it a try, Dawn and didn’t have a successful experience. You can read about it here. But we have readers that love it that way, so it might be worth the try. Here is a recipe for baked eggs I love! Baked Egg Tomato Cups Glad you came by and thanks for commenting!
thanks for the ingenious trick. I will now try the same for breakfast.
You bet, Torsten. Enjoy!
I went on a pinterest journey to find ways to help me with an egg situation that I’ve got & low and behold I find one of my mission companions from over twenty years ago. So good to see you. You look like you’re still twenty! So fun to find your site and that your doing well.
I have some fun memories from Frederick, Maryland that will live on forever. Best of wishes.
How fun to hear from you! You are ignoring the crow’s feet. Thanks!!!
I have used this method for several years when peeling oranges. I never considered using it to peel eggs though. Thanks for sharing.
Well now I will be trying it on oranges, Lynn! Glad you came by!
I read somewhere a few years ago that to make the most eggsellent (sorry couldn’t help it) hard boiled eggs, put them in a pot, cover them with plenty of cold water, bring to the boil and as soon as boiling switch the element off, leave the pot on top of that element to cool. Voila. It has worked every time I’ve done this now.Peeling fresh eggs is hard work but I’m definately gonna try the baking soda tip. Thanks.
Thanks, Rae!
Has anyone heard of steaming eggs to have them coming out perfecttly? I used to do them in my double boiler, dry above and boiling bel0w. Perhaps your readers can suggest how long to leave the eggs cooking like this. I believe that the size of the egg means timing differently……
I haven’t tried that, but will look into it. Sounds interesting. I love great hints and tips for the kitchen!
Makes sense cannot wait to try it. Another tip I learnt if you want to make stuffed eggs is to soak eggs in cold water for 20 mins prior to boiling for a perfectly centered yolk.
That sounds interesting, Peggy. I look forward to trying that!
Hi! This worked great! They looked so pretty & tasted delicious. I have a few questions ….
1. Do I leave the lid on when they are cooling?
2. Do I leave it on the burner while it is cooling?
These are by far the creamiest and easiest to peel eggs I have ever cooked! Yeah!!
Sandra Briody
I leave it on the burner with the lid on Sandra. I am so excited to hear that it is working for you.