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Eggs are a rich source of nutrients, vitamins and especially protein, so they are a great alternative to meat. Their advantage is the variety of preparation – we can enjoy them as an omelette, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, hard-boiled, soft-boiled or, for example, deviled eggs.
Although boiling eggs seems simple, there are golden rules that are good to follow. A common problem is eggs cracking while cooking, which leads to egg white leaking into the water. This article will reveal a simple trick with vinegar that will make the eggs perfect and easy to peel.
How to prevent eggs from cracking while cooking?
It is common that when boiling eggs some crack and part of the egg white escapes into the water. This not only spoils the appearance, but also causes the eggs to lose flavor and be difficult to peel. How to prevent this?
Follow the correct cooking time – the 3-6-9 rule:
- 3 minutes – soft-boiled eggs
- 6 minutes – medium-boiled eggs
- 9–10 minutes – hard-boiled eggs
Do not overcrowd the pot – eggs should not touch each other while cooking to avoid cracking. If you are boiling a larger quantity, use a bigger pot or cook the eggs in batches.
Use vinegar – the simplest and most effective trick to prevent eggs from cracking.
Vinegar in the water: the secret weapon against eggs cracking
Adding vinegar to the water when boiling eggs speeds up the coagulation of proteins, which means that if an egg cracks, the white quickly coagulates and does not flow out into the water.
How to do it?
- Fill a pot with water and add a teaspoon of vinegar per egg.
- Place the pot on the stove and bring the water to a boil.
- Cook according to the 3-6-9 rule and then cool the eggs in cold water.
Because of the vinegar the eggs will be firmer, won’t crack and will be easier to peel.
More tips for perfectly cooked eggs
- Use older eggs – fresh eggs are harder to peel.
- Place eggs into boiling water – this minimizes the risk of cracking.
- After cooking, immediately chill them in ice water – this will make peeling easier.
Try the vinegar trick and you will never have to struggle again with cracking or hard-to-peel eggs!
