Boiled Eggs vs. Steamed Eggs

Did you know…

if you steam (instead of boil) eggs in their shells  for about 15  minutes and then let them sit in the pot and cool before peeling, the shells almost always slip off like butter?

I use a Revere Ware steamer pot which is similar to a double boiler except the top pot has holes in it.   However, any method you use to steam vegetables will work for steaming eggs. 

Since my mom taught me this trick years ago, I rarely have to fight those teeny tiny little bits of shell that so often stick to the eggs, nor do I have to throw away part of the eggs because the shell is impossibly stuck to them  like glue. 

You’ve had that happen, right?

I have heard many reasons why the shells stick, the most common being the eggs are too fresh.  But what is considered “too fresh?” 

I’ve also heard (and tried) many tricks to keep the shells from sticking such as adding salt or vinegar to the water. 

Overall, steaming the eggs seems to produce the best and most consistent results for me. 

Try it and let me know if it works for you.