Hard-boiled eggs

[Gail]

This is such a silly thing, I'm almost embarrassed to mention it...

Is there a "trick" to slicing hard-boiled eggs so they don't bulge and break at the sides? I thought it was my cheapo Paleolithic slicer, so I invested in a high-dollar European one which looks so fancy I feel I need to dress like June Cleaver when using it. That remedied the problem somewhat (the slicer, not the dress and pearls), but I'm still experiencing a little minor breakage.
I was told when boiling eggs to bring the water to a boil and let the eggs cook maybe three minutes, then turn off the heat, cover and let the eggs sit for about 20 minutes, then immerse in cold water. Am I missing something?

[This message has been edited by Gail (edited 06-28-2000).]

[ElinorC]

That's the way I hard boil eggs and they turn out well. I don't usually slice the eggs; did you slice the eggs while they were hot/warm or wait until they were cool? Probably would slice better cool. Good luck!

[tammy/MN]

when i cook eggs, i let the water boil w/ eggs for 5 min, then shut off the burner & cover for another 5 min, then change to cold water, never had a problem. maybe you need to "cook" them longer & cool them more. just a thought. tammy/MN

[Gail]

Thank you both. I'll try your suggestions and hopefully that'll put an end to my egg woes.

[Mamasue]

Gail,

There is a gadget called "egg slicer". I use to have one some years ago and never replaced it. It does work and its a cheap buy too!

[lorilei]

Gail -- this is a longshot, but have you tried being absolutely and completely CARELESS when you slice an egg?

Honestly!! Just wang the darn egg in there and pound the slicer down on top of it really fast-like.

I've found that my eggs slice better if I don't do them slowly and deliberately (like you think you should), and you just SLICE them without thinking.

(I didn't mention this before because I felt dumb giving such a basic answer http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I was sure someone would come up with a brilliant solution that was more "true"...)

PS
I should give this caveat: I don't have naturally VIOLENT tendencies. So, if you do, this might not be an appropriate solution. (When I say WANG it in there, I really mean "toss gently" http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif)

[This message has been edited by lorilei (edited 06-30-2000).]

[Mamasue]

Gail,

Yeah, thats the one...harplike! I never had a problem with it. The wires finally bent out of shape and threw it out. I don't worry about perfect egg slices anymore. LOL http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Take some advice from Lorilei....just slice the darn thing!

http://www.a1clipart.com/gifanime/img/food/food12.gif

[JeanneW]

My way can be dangerous but it works for me. I hold the egg in my hand and cup my hand around it. Then I use a serrated knife and slice down just until the knife touches my hand. The cupping of my hand keeps the egg in place and it slices neatly.

[Gail]

Originally posted by JeanneW:
My way can be dangerous but it works for me. I hold the egg in my hand and cup my hand around it. Then I use a serrated knife and slice down just until the knife touches my hand. The cupping of my hand keeps the egg in place and it slices neatly.

Good thought, but you don't know me. This is the person who suffers from terminal "French Bread Finger" (anybody ever read "Serial?"), has put syringe needles in one side of her finger and out the other (pre AIDs days), and has made more than a few slices in said finger with #11 scalpel blades. Do you begin to understand why I rely on an egg slicer? Were I to try your method (you brave soul!), I'm afraid I'd end up with well sliced egg and hand. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

And Sue, believe it or not, I was waiting for you to post an animated egg-- Humpty Dumpty at the very least!

Lori,
I have to wonder. Did you edit your post after remembering my comments on the International/Regional thread, wherein I made mention of humming the music to Psycho while hacking at my pork roast..?

[This message has been edited by Gail (edited 06-30-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Gail (edited 06-30-2000).]

[Mamasue]

*mumbling to myself.....never thought of humpty-dumpty* Drat!

[Gail]

Originally posted by Mamasue:
There is a gadget called "egg slicer".

Sue, are you talking about the usual egg slicer with the harplike cutters? Mine was dogmeat and bent out of shape over the years (don't know how... Dinosaur eggs??) I have a really nice, enameled one now, so I'm assuming the problem must be me, not the gadget.

It's funny. I can make some of the most complicated recipes without a hitch, but a simple egg-- well, it's for the birds! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/rolleyes.gif