It happens that eggs crack during boiling, the whites run out and stand on the surface. It is not a problem, if such eggs are meant to be used for a salad.
But after all, there are often cases where the shell must be whole. For example for Easter eggs.
To avoid cracks during cooking, you must, first of all, choose good eggs. They must be fresh and be sure to check the date on the package. You can also check the freshness of an egg, by dropping it into a glass of water. If it sinks, it's fresh.
When buying eggs, also check the package carefully to make sure there are no damaged eggs already in it. It's true that there are microcracks, which you won't notice right away.
If the eggs are of high quality and from a trusted producer who follows all the rules for raising laying hens, then such eggs usually have a strong shell. But how can you be sure that they will not crack during cooking?
How to prevent eggs from cracking when being boiled
If you take an egg out of the fridge and immediately put it in boiling water, it will most likely crack due to the temperature contrast. Eggs should be placed in cold salted water and then it should be boiled with them gradually - then they will not crack.
Also, do not place the pot with the eggs on an already heated stove. It is desirable that the water does not boil very strongly and that the eggs do not hit each other too much.
You can also add table salt when boiling them. The salt increases the density of the water, which compresses the shell. Even if there are microcracks, the egg white will not leak into the salt water.
And one more egg boiling tip - how to cook hard boil eggs without cracking? You can throw a few wooden toothpicks into the pot where you will boil the eggs.
Time for boiling eggs
Overcooking eggs can also cause them to crack. Time for boiling eggs:
- 3 minutes if you want a somewhat of a runny egg;
- 4 minutes for the egg white to harden and the yolk to remain liquid;
- 5 minutes - the yolk and the white are cooked, but a bright yellow liquid spot remains in the middle;
- 6 minutes to get a soft yolk with firm but liquid egg white;
- 7 minutes to get a thicker yolk with a fully cooked egg white;
- 8 minutes - standard for hard-boiled eggs.
To determine whether an egg is boiled or raw, place it on a flat surface and turn it. A boiled egg will spin much faster and more evenly than a raw one. After that, all you have to do is peel it and prepare something delicious:
- egg pate;
- egg salad;
- frittata.
