Hi all,
I came across this phenomenon as well when I first tried to boil fresh eggs for deviled eggs. What a fiasco it was!
I learned that you either let your eggs 'age' for about two to three weeks (ick). Or you can add salt to the boiling water (it enters the pores and causes the membrane to contract), and then plunge them into an ice bath immediately after boiling (another membrane contraction).
If you have REALLY stubborn eggs, you can also tap them on the counter after the icebath, then put them BACK into the cold water for 10 minutes. The cracks will allow the cold water in under the shell and seperate it even more from the membrane.
Who knew eggs were so chemically complicated? Whew I feel like a chemist just because I own chickens.
I came across this phenomenon as well when I first tried to boil fresh eggs for deviled eggs. What a fiasco it was!
I learned that you either let your eggs 'age' for about two to three weeks (ick). Or you can add salt to the boiling water (it enters the pores and causes the membrane to contract), and then plunge them into an ice bath immediately after boiling (another membrane contraction).
If you have REALLY stubborn eggs, you can also tap them on the counter after the icebath, then put them BACK into the cold water for 10 minutes. The cracks will allow the cold water in under the shell and seperate it even more from the membrane.
Who knew eggs were so chemically complicated? Whew I feel like a chemist just because I own chickens.
