Eggs are one of nature’s superfoods, providing crucial vitamins, a healthy dose of protein and can satisfy your hunger without adding tons of calories. Plus – they taste great and can be prepared in countless ways! h hard boiled eggs
Eggs are also fairly inexpensive, so if you are looking to improve your diet, this might be a helpful step in the right direction without breaking the bank. Some people, though, may be concerned about the potential cholesterol in eggs. Truthfully, eating eggs in moderation has not been linked to excessive development of cholesterol within our system. And the health benefits of a single egg certainly outweigh any potential influences of cholesterol or fat.
In fact, Lacey Baier from a Sweet Pea Chef, wrote an excellent article on the health benefits of eggs – check it out to learn more.
Today’s post will be on preparing hardboiled eggs – probably the easiest, most portable way to prepare an egg, but it’s one that causes people so much frustration.
The Truth About Hard Boiled Eggs
Have you ever struggled to peel the shell from hard-boiled egg, swearing under your breath and vowing to figure out how to do this ‘the next time’ only to forget and repeat the cycle again and again?! Or maybe the shell peeled perfectly (victory!), but your yolk is all gray around the edges from being overcooked? Either way, both scenarios can be so frustrating, but they don’t need to be!
Fortunately, I found the secret to perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs that peel easily and I’d like to share that secret with you. This method has worked perfectly for me over the past several years and I can’t imagine going back to the days when I was standing over the sink, painstakingly peeling millimeters of cracked sell from the egg, only to strip away part of the egg white in the process. This process is quite simple and something you can do RIGHT NOW without any fancy gadgets.
Here are a few tips to consider:
- Room temperature eggs boil better, as their shells won’t crack when the warmer water hits the shells. Have them rest on the counter for a few minutes to take their chill off. While this isn’t a necessity, it does reduce the risk of cracked shells (read: another mess).
- Don’t overcrowd the pan – give your eggs room to cook in a single layer on the bottom of the pot/pan.
- Use your older eggs first when possible – their shells remove even easier.
Method:
- Place your eggs in a saucepan and add just enough lukewarm tap water to fully cover the tops of the eggs.
- Place your pan on medium heat until the water comes to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer the eggs for 13 minutes, uncovered. (Note: time may vary slightly based on the size of your eggs. I use large.)
- Removed the eggs from the hot water and place directly into a ice water bath for exactly 5 minutes.
- Peel and enjoy!
⇒ PRO TIP: for farm-fresh eggs that won’t peel easily, try this. Place your egg and a small amount of water in a glass jar. Shake several times, until the shell begins to crack. Remove egg from the jar – the peel should slide right off!
So now that you’ve made your hard-boiled eggs (HBEs), what will you do with them next?
How to best use hard-boiled eggs:
Super Simple:
- Eat them plain! A HBE is a quick and nutritious snack, one that can easily calm hunger pangs. Did you know that one hard-boiled egg is less than 80 calories?! A perfect HBE has a soft, tender yolk with a firm white. Eat it plain, with a dash of salt or a dollop of homemade pesto for the perfect midday pick me up.
- Protein Box: Why spend $7 at Starbucks for a tiny protein box when you can make your own for much less than that? Filled with everything you love, in serving sizes that’ll satisfy those midday hunger pangs, this is a WINNER! My favorite combo includes a HBE, turkey breast & cheese roll ups, almonds and whatever fruit I have in the fridge. Customize to fit your tastes – it’s that simple!
Slightly More Effort Needed:
- Deviled Eggs: a delicious and creamy deviled egg is such an easy way to use left over HBEs and cannot be any easier! Generally speaking, you’ll need mayo, mustard, and spices to fancy up your yolks. There are countless regional and family recipes available to consider based on your taste preferences. I prefer mine with a little more Dijon mustard to mayo, a splash of white vinegar (or sometimes pickle juice) and dusting of smoked paprika. Sometimes I’ll even add sweet relish to the yolk to enhance the flavor and texture.
- Tuna Salad: Who doesn’t love tuna salad on toast or crackers? What an easy, nutritious & affordable lunch item. Based on your preferences, add mayo and seasonings to canned tuna to create a snack or lunch that can last in the fridge a couple days. I punch up the flavor, texture, and protein by adding HBEs and a little sweet pickle relish. The eggs stretch out that can of tuna and helps me to avoid using too much goopy mayo.
- Egg Salad: Similar flavors as with the deviled eggs. Make this salad, place on a slice bread (or eat with a spoon!) and give yourself a nice protein filled lunch.
Show Stoppers (that are still SO easy!):
- Composed Salads – Cobb, Niçoise or Chef: Who doesn’t love a beautiful salad that sometimes looks too pretty to eat but that is chock full of delicious ingredients and healthful flavors?
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- Cobb – This salad typically consists of chopped lettuce, tomato, chicken breast, bacon, hardboiled egg, avocado, and blue cheese.
- Niçoise – This salad is probably my favorite of this trio! It consists of Bibb lettuce, tuna, red potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, Niçoise olives (or kalamata if you can’t find niçoise), and green beans. Yum!
- Chef – This salad was originally designed to clean out the chef’s kitchen, so anything goes. Traditional ingredients consist of: Romaine lettuce, strips of deli meats and cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, hard-boiled eggs, and sometimes bacon and red onions.
So there you have it – your entry into the world of eggs. Try this technique next week and make a whole batch of HBEs to enjoy throughout your work week. Let me know how it goes!
Good luck & happy eating!
