Conventional wisdom holds that when making hard-cooked eggs, you should choose older eggs (such as those that have been sitting around in your fridge for a few weeks) rather than fresh ones. Why? Because they are supposedly easier to peel. Happily, our new method for hard-cooked eggs (see related content) makes any egg, whether just laid or weeks old, easy to peel. On top of that, we’ve learned that you are actually better off using fresh eggs over older ones for three specific reasons.
THE TAKEAWAY? When hard-cooking eggs, ignore conventional wisdom and go with the freshest eggs you can find. If in doubt, try looking at the “best if used by” date.
FAQs
Are older eggs better for hard-boiling? It's widely said that older eggs are easier to peel after being hard boiled, but using less-than-fresh eggs comes with other problems. You can use older eggs for hard-boiling, but they may end up misshapen due to the air pocket inside the egg increasing with age.
What are two problems you want to avoid when hard boiling an egg? ›
There are two problems you'll want to avoid: cracked shells and the ugly green layer that can form around the yolk. In case small cracks do develop, add salt to the cooking water. The salt will help to speed up the denaturing of the egg white, causing less of it to feather into the water.
How do you stop hard boiled eggs going GREY? ›
This process happens at 77°C for ovalbumin. But above 70°C, the sulphur also forms hydrogen sulphide that reacts with iron in the egg yolk to form iron sulphide, and this gives it a greenish grey colour. You can prevent this by running the eggs under the cold tap to lower their temperature as soon as they are cooked.
How can you prevent a green yolk when making hard cooked eggs? ›
Eliminate the ring by avoiding overcooking and by cooling the eggs quickly after cooking. Run cold water over the just-cooked eggs or place them in a bowl or container of ice water until they have completely cooled. Then refrigerate the eggs in their shells until you're ready to use them.
Is it OK to eat old hard-boiled eggs? ›
The FDA recommends consuming hard-boiled eggs within a week, and two weeks is well past that deadline. Since spoiled hard-boiled eggs can make you sick, it's best to be safe and toss out any leftover hard-boiled eggs that have been in the fridge for more than one week.
Why do store bought hard-boiled eggs last longer? ›
They May Contain Preservatives
Some, not all, pre-cooked eggs contain preservatives to extend their shelf life, which may be a no-go for some people.
How to tell if hard-boiled eggs are bad? ›
“If the egg is discolored or has a greenish ring around the yolk, it's likely gone bad.” A bad hard-boiled egg may also have a sulfuric smell, adds Marcus. The bottom line on hard-boiled eggs: “If the egg is slimy, mushy or smells bad, toss it,” says Steele.
How do you boil eggs so there is no black ring? ›
Then, the most important part is to cool them rapidly under cold running water. Let the cold tap run over them for about 1 minute, then leave them in cold water till they're cool enough to handle - about 2 minutes. This rapid cooling helps to prevent dark rings forming between the yolk and the white.
Is Grey in a hard boiled egg OK? ›
The dreaded grey ring on boiled eggs, explained
Although it may look unappealing, the USDA assures us that the green colour is safe to consume!
Why is my egg black inside? ›
The cloudiness is due to the presence of naturally occurring levels of carbon dioxide when an egg is laid. Black or green spots inside the egg may be the result of bacterial or fungal contamination of the egg. If you come across an egg with black or green spots discard the egg.
The vinegar in the water makes the eggs easier to peel. Here's why: The vinegar's acid not only dissolves some of the calcium carbonate in the shell, it also helps the whites set faster. Running the hard-boiled eggs under cold running water as you're peeling, meanwhile, helps the shell separate from the membrane.
How old do fresh eggs need to be to hard boil? ›
When doing hard boiled eggs with farm fresh ingredients, you want to make sure they're aged at least 3-4 days old. To test whether they are ready for use, you can dunk them into a bowl of water. If it stands on it's end, it is ready for use. If the egg is fresh, it will lay on the bottom.
How do you tell if a hard boiled egg is good or bad? ›
“A fresh hard-boiled egg should have a yellow yolk and a firm white,” she says. “If the egg is discolored or has a greenish ring around the yolk, it's likely gone bad.” A bad hard-boiled egg may also have a sulfuric smell, adds Marcus.
What is the best use of old eggs? ›
Create Your Own Compost
They are actually great composting materials that easily break down and reduce your food waste! They are rich in nutrients and create easy, thick compost. Make sure to crush up the shells to a fine grain. The smaller they are, the faster your compost will be made.
