My wife just showed me something I never knew. When she boils eggs as she first puts on the water to boil she places the eggs into a boil of warm water. This helps with the egg shell from not cracking in the boiling water. She said it works 95% of the time.
Olds
(http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/gif/Launch47.gif)
...also, add salt to the water to make the eggs peel easier![;)]
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/xcelsmoke/FREEGIF.gif)
<font size="4"><b>Doug</b></font id="size4">
Occasionally this is what I do; I usually do this if I want the yoke to be in the center of the egg. Why[?] Just to make them look pretty[:)] when I slice them, but it also makes for a better deviled egg. Being as lazy as I am, I only do this when I want to impress someone[:D]
With a sterilized thumbtack, pin or needle (I generally sterilize with any brand of hand sanitizer), pierce the large end of the eggshell, and lay they horizontally in the pot you are going to cook them in for about 10 minutes before adding the water. This allows some air to escape, centers the yoke, helps avoid cracking and allows some water to enter which will make peeling easier.
Also I only bring the water to a boil, then remove from heat, cover tighly, and let them remain in the hot water for 15-18 minutes.
Kool... I just told my wife about what you guys are doing... [^]
Olds
(http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/gif/Launch47.gif)
I just hard boiled some eggs this weekend. I was using the method I described above, but had a hard time distinguishing which end was the large end on most of the eggs. I've never seen eggs like these. Most looked like miniature footballs [:)]
When I buy eggs I check for crack shells. Now I have to check for the shape also. Man, life is getting too complicated[:D]
Hey Nero, you say that you lay them on their side (horizontally)? I am not sure how that would center the yolk. Any further tips? Thanksgiving is coming, and I wanna smoke some eggs, and any tips for making those things prettier will be needed.
Gordo
also when you boil your eggs add a piece of onion peel, it will turn the shel, light brown so when they are to be eaten later they are colored to let you know which ones are hard boiled,
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Gordon</i>
<br />Hey Nero, you say that you lay them on their side (horizontally)? I am not sure how that would center the yolk. Any further tips? Thanksgiving is coming, and I wanna smoke some eggs, and any tips for making those things prettier will be needed.
Gordo
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Just got to read this message.
Eggs have an air pocket in them. When they are packaged in the carton the yoke and air pocket rises to the top (because the egg is packaged small end down, the air pocket rises to the "large end" of the egg. If you boil the egg without releasing the air pocket, it will cause the cooked egg to have a depression where the air pocket was, and the yoke will be very near the end of the egg. The first step is to poke a hole in the large end of the egg to release the air, then placing the egg horizontally, the yoke moves away from the end, and towards the middle of the egg.
My wife makes the best hard boiled eggs. She boils them, lets them cool. Cuts them in half the long way. Takes out all the yokes, puts them in a bowl and mashes them, adds horseradish and other goodies. Then puts a spoonful back in the half of an egg.[:p]
<i><font color="blue"><b>Jack</i></font id="blue"></b>
I agree with poking the hole. Just to add in one more thing to try, if you boil for X minutes instead of bringing it to a boil and turning it off, I have had luck taking the eggs out at the end of their boiling time and putting them in some water with lots of ice, then peeling as soon as they're cool. That's generally helped them come out of the shell easily. I have never gotten consistently great results from any technique, though, so I'm throwing this out there as a variation that folks may want to try.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">My wife makes the best hard boiled eggs. She boils them, lets them cool. Cuts them in half the long way. Takes out all the yokes, puts them in a bowl and mashes them, adds horseradish and other goodies. Then puts a spoonful back in the half of an egg[:p]<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
If I may suggest, try adding some smoked chicken to that mixture... [:D]
Olds
(http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/gif/Launch47.gif)
or some smoked salmon[;)]
Olds, Smoke
They both sound great!Will definetly try that
<i><font color="blue"><b>Jack</i></font id="blue"></b>
I place the eggs in a pot of cold water and then turn on the heat to bring the water to a boil (lid off). Once the water boils, I turn off the heat, put the lid on and let the eggs sit for 10-15 minutes in the simmering pot of water. The eggs will heat with the rising water temperature and the shells won't crack. Next step, I pour out the hot water and refill the pot (eggs still in it) with cold water for about 30 seconds. The shells peel off perfectly.
<i><font color="green"><b>Mike </i></font id="green"></b>
<i><font color="black">"Men like to barbecue, men will cook if danger is involved".</i></font id="black">
-John Wayne
I had no idea that something as simple as boiled eggs could generate such neat variations on a theme! I've now been inspired to try several of these ideas . . .
John
Newton MA
yeah, but have you tried to smoke an egg? it tastes like garbage. The 2 things that can not be smoked, eggs and kraft dinner. [V]
ritzdeliman, I haven't done it myself, and probably won't any time soon, but others might disagree with you.
Topic 1 (http://bradleysmoker.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=921)
Topic 2 (http://bradleysmoker.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=215)
RDM--I haven't tried it either, but there are lots of folks who seem to like smoked eggs!
I agree with you 100% on the Kraft dinners, however . . .
John
Newton MA
R,
I will have to disagree with you.I have had very good success smoking hard boiled eggs. Smoked eggs are actually wonderful in a tuna salad, potato salad,chicken salad etc etc.. The trick is not to over smoke them.Cold smoke for an hour or less with a mild wood like apple. It will add that something extra to any salad.Try it, you'll like it[:p]
<i><font color="blue"><b>Jack</i></font id="blue"></b>
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Bassman</i>
<br />R,
I will have to disagree with you.I have had very good success smoking hard boiled eggs. Smoked eggs are actually wonderful in a tuna salad, potato salad,chicken salad etc etc.. The trick is not to over smoke them.Cold smoke for an hour or less with a mild wood like apple. It will add that something extra to any salad.Try it, you'll like it[:p]
<i><font color="blue"><b>Jack</i></font id="blue"></b>
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
I've also have had excellent results with smoking eggs. I generally cold smoke them from 40 minutes to an hour using maple. They are not only good for adding to salads, but taste great with salt and pepper, or for using as deviled eggs.
The only time I did not care for smoked eggs is when I pickeled them.
I smoked some quail eggs a while ago, and along with olives, rate as far and away my biggest failures with the BS, nothing else has come close!! They were 'orrible........[xx(]
But after reading the posts from Bassman and Habanero Smoker perhaps it's time to have another try with eggs next time I cold smoke?
Like JJC I had no idea there were such good variations on a theme for boiling an egg.... thanks.
Manxman.
Well, maybe I'll have to give it a go again in the bradley. I've used other smokers in the past and the results were a little off. But with these tips it might change my mind, KD on the other hand will not be done. Thanks for the tips.
ritzdeliman
Habanero,
If you FLOAT the eggs in a pot of water BEFORE you punch the hole in them you can find the air bubble in the shell. It going to be UP.[^]
<i>Add salt to the water you boil them in. 1 TBSP.</i>
Once the cooking time is up, pour off the boiling water and just shake them around in the pot to crack the shells then cover them with ICE COLD water and let them sit until cool they peel a lot easier.
ChefBill
If you can eat it, you can smoke it.
ChefBill
Thanks for the tip on how to find the air pocket. I'll need to remember to add salt. When I hard boil eggs, I will bring them to a boil for a minute or two; turn off the heat, cover and let them sit in the hot water for 10-15 minutes. This way you get a softer yoke, and it avoids that greenish ting that surrounds the yoke.
I haven't smoked anything in about 5 1/2 months. Tuesday I going to dig the smoker out of storage, and eggs and chicken will be the first things I will smoke. Don't ask which will be first[:)]
Now that Easter and Passover are approaching there should be some good sales on eggs, and Kosher chickens & turkey. I preferr the Kosher poultry for smoking, because they are already been brined and stay moist when you smoke them.
Besides adding some salt to the water, I also add a couple of teaspoons of vinegar to the water to acidulate it. If an egg happens to crack while boiling, the acid in the water helps to coagulate it and keep it near the egg and not all over the pot.
When its brown it's cookin'. When its black it's done!