Comments on: How to Tell if an Egg Is Hard-Boiled

on 11/22/2005 Carl's tip is good, but subjective. Objective method: Spin the egg and then give it another good twist to double the velocity. Gently press top of egg with finger for less than 1 sec. to stop shell, then release. If it doesn't resume spinning, it's HB.

on 11/22/2005 Put as many eggs as you need in a saucepan. Cover with at least 1" cold water. Put on high heat until boiling; simmer 1 minute.
Remove from heat, cover, and allow to sit in the water undisturbed for 25 minutes. Run cold water over eggs 'til cool.

on 11/22/2005 If, when you spin the eggs to see which one is hard-boiled, spin the eggs harder
as to spin them quickly. The hard-boiled eggs will stand up and the uncooked eggs will not. This is a more definite way to tell which is hard-cooked.

on 11/22/2005 Toss the outer skin of an onion into the boiling water or beet peel, or red onion skin. Just a small amount will tint your hard-cooked eggs. If you use a handful, they'll be colourful for Easter eggs.

on 11/22/2005 If you put a few outer leaves - the dry brown ones - in the water with the boiling eggs, the eggs will be dyed a lovely gold tone and are distinguishable from the raw eggs. Kids like the colored eggs in their lunch boxes as well.

on 11/22/2005 When I boil eggs and don't use them at once, I mark "H.B." on them in pencil.

on 11/22/2005 After the eggs are boiled, put an "X" on them with a pencil - it's an easy way to tell them from the un-boiled ones.

on 11/22/2005 After your eggs have boiled, pour a few drops of food coloring in the water as they sit to cool. This will let you know at a glance that they are hard-boiled.

on 11/22/2005 Putting onion skins in the water when you hard-boil eggs will tint the shells. No spinning required!