My method for making easy-peel hardboiled fresh eggs took several years, and many failed experiments – but I finally found a way to make hard-boiled eggs (that can be peeled easily and perfectly) from farm-fresh eggs!
I love hard-boiled eggs (and egg salad, and deviled eggs), but truly fresh eggs are nearly impossible to peel after you hard boil them.
Eggs from the grocery store are typically at least six weeks old (read about the age of grocery store eggs HERE) before they reach us so they’re easy to peel when boiled. Ours; however, are very fresh (they never last more than a few days after the chickens lay them) so are very difficult to peel.
I tried every method I came across to produce hard-boiled eggs from farm-fresh eggs (that could be peeled easily) and, I believe I’ve got the answer – steam them instead!
It’s pretty much foolproof. It’s always seemed ridiculous to me that we’ve got the healthiest, freshest eggs – but no way to enjoy them hard-boiled.
How To Make Easy Peel Hardboiled Fresh Eggs
Step 1: Prepare To Steam Them
Bring a small amount of water to a boil in the bottom of a steamer or pot that you can sit a steaming basket within. Place the eggs in the steaming basket.
Farm Fresh Eggs In Steaming Basket/Pot
Step 2: Steam The Eggs
Put a lid on the pot and continue to boil the water (steam the eggs in the basket) for 20 minutes.
Steaming The Eggs In The Pot
Step 3: Cool The Eggs In Ice Water & Peel
Then put them into ice water until they’re cool enough to peel. Roll each egg on the counter to break up the shell and peel from the wide end of the egg.
Perfect Easy Peel Hardboiled Fresh Eggs
And the result is perfectly peeled eggs! Egg salad and deviled eggs (see Best Deviled Eggs) are back on the menu – it’s hard to believe it took me so long to find a solution.
Selena says
Hello, have you tried this method for soft boiled eggs?
Thanks!
Lesa says
Hi Selena,
Yes, you can use this method for soft boiled eggs. Just reduce the amount of time you steam the eggs to get a softer boiled egg. How much time to use depends on how soft you want them – maybe start with 10 minutes and go from there depending on how you like them.
Mathew says
One can also use an electric rice cooker with a steaming tray.
Lesa says
Hi Mathew, Good idea, hadn’t thought of that, but will be giving it a try!
Piera says
Can you freeze peeled hard boiled eggs?
Lesa says
Hi Piera, I think you can freeze the yolks, but the white part doesn’t do well after being frozen.
Michelle says
Thank you!!! Finally a way to enjoy hard boiled eggs from our chickens! I will pass this along to others!
Lesa says
Hi Michelle, I know it’s great to finally be able to enjoy those fresh eggs!
Lynn Brown says
I struggled with this for a long time also. I few years ago I stumbled across the cuisinart egg cooker at a willimas sonoma outlet and i’ve never looked back. It’s quick and easy to use makes my fresh eggs super easy to peel also. Only limitation is it only does 7 eggs at a time which means if I’m making deviled eggs for a crowd I need to do a couple of batches. It take about 20 minutes per batch.
Donna says
I actually used the easy-peel method for 2 doz. eggs that I took to a holiday party. I used my veggie steamer basket in my favorite soup pot. Cooking took 20 minutes, cooling just a couple more until I was able to start peeling.
Krista says
I’ll have to try this next time I get fresh eggs. I always thought it was such a shame to lose half the egg attaches to the shell if we boiled them.
Donna says
I’m new to having chickens and having our own eggs. I tried the easy-peel hardboiled eggs method this morning. FANTASTIC. If the shells started to tighten up while I was peeling, I just dipped them back into the ice bath and voila!
Teda says
This method works perfectly every time, even if the eggs come straight from the hens and are still warm! We’ve done it this way five times and wouldn’t change a thing — after all, why go back to the hard way(s)?
Lesa says
Hi Teda, it’s amazing isn’t it? I struggled so long with the fresh eggs, until this method!
Margaret Anne @ Natural Chow says
Wow this is a great method that I’m gonna have to try! Thanks.
Karen maloney says
What an awesome idea! Sounds like it’s easy and works perfectly…..my girls are on strike right now but can’t wait to try it! Thanks so much for sharing it!
Kim says
I just tried this with fresh eggs and I have never had such an easy time peeling eggs before, they almost came out of the shell by themselves!
Lesa says
So glad everyone is as excited about this method as I was 🙂 I’m so happy, there’s been egg salad in my refrigerator every day since I discovered it!
Yolanda Breidenbaugh says
wonderful! I have a great method, too, but yours is much easier!
Lana says
I am trying this as I write!! Thank you.
carolyn says
My son taught me that adding 2-3 T. baking soda to the water will also help aid in peeling the shells. I tried it and was amazed that they peeled right off. I will try your steaming method the next time I do eggs, though.
Jenn at Sundog says
I am SO EXCITED! I LOVE boiled eggs, and have been very frustrated with trying to use fresh eggs. Never could save enough to get “old” ones to boil. Woooo hoooo! Thank God for Lesa and her inquisitive mind!
Deborah Rosen says
Thanks for the tip – you bet I’m going to give it a try.
Teda says
I used this method two days ago and it works great! The whole process is very easy. And instead of the yolks getting boiled to death and turning gray, with whites so hard they’re like rubber, and cracked-up shells oozing out, steamed eggs come out perfect, with perfect texture and color.
Thanks again, Lesa!
Michele Tedrick says
Wow. I’ll have to try this. Thanks for posting on the From the Farm Blog Hop – that’s how I found this post.
Michele
Lisa says
It’s the only way in my opinion to get fresh eggs to peel.
Lisa
Fresh Eggs Daily
Lesa says
Becky, what does this do for the plant?
timbercreekfarm says
I did this for the first time today. I had volunteered to take deviled eggs to a pot luck picnic. Had no “old” eggs to use. This works perfectly. My eggs had no chips in them at all. I shared the tip with the group.
Becky Neville says
Yep! This is a pretty near perfect solution. Don’t forget to pour the water onto a plant. 🙂
Teda says
Great info — thanks, Lesa! I’m looking forward to trying this method tomorrow. No more buying old, store-bought factory eggs for hard boiling (or anything else!).