Easy Hard Boiled Eggs

I read the earlier post about pre-cooked hard boiled eggs.  I have hens and we use fresh eggs -- I love them!  However, like other posters, I had issues when I hard-boiled with the shell not coming off.  Too fresh -- or whatever, it was a crap shoot.  I dreaded making hard boiled eggs for egg salad, deviled eggs, etc.  In fact, I would buy the pre-cooked and overpriced eggs, too!

Then I found this:Krups Egg Cooker.   Here's the best solution and it makes hard boiling eggs a piece of cake and fool proof. Best of all? Eggs peek so easily it's crazy!!  It also makes soft and medium eggs as well as poached.  I am not usually for gadgets, but I love this thing.  I swear -- it is actually easier than buying them pre-cooked and WAY less expensive.

Our six-month-old chickens (who just started laying really small eggs) and their owners (us) are brand new at this whole laying egg business.  Questions:  do small eggs work in the pictured egg-cooker tray?  do you get tired of eating boiled eggs after a while? 

If you are currently getting pullet eggs -- it would depend on their size, but I'd say generally yes, they would fit.  We raise Rhode Island Reds because they are hearty and withstand our cold winters.  Their eggs are quite large -- but as pullets lays, they start small.  You also get a lot of double yolks when they first begin to lay.  

I am not a huge egg eater to begin with -- but I do bake all my family's breads/etc and make my own mayo.  My husband and son love egg salad, deviled eggs and diced eggs on salads.  That is what I use hard-boiled for.  I also make a lot of omlets and quiches -- and of course, I freeze eggs for baking when I have too many.  

My family and friends love our fresh eggs -- so sometimes, especially in the winter (I don't believe in forced laying with lights) when my girls don't lay as often, I don't have a ton of extra.  But, during peak laying seasons, I like to share the abundance.  

I didn't know you could freeze eggs.  Do you have to do anything special?

Yes, I freeze them buy cracking the eggs into a bowl, beating them and then putting the mixture into ice cube trays.  Once frozen, I pop them out and store in a large ziplock bag.  Each cube is about one egg.  I use them for baking and such.  They are actually very handy.  I do this with extra yolks and eggs whites, too.  

When I make hard boiled eggs I put salt in the water. It seems to work. I bring the water to a boil put a lid on them for 10 minutes or so then put them in cold water. 

Unfortunately, this doesn't work for very fresh eggs.  

salt in the water, a good bit ,about 1/4 cup works for my very fresh free range eggs. Cook them ONLY 14 min,by the timer,not 13 and not 15. Drain and cover with ice cubes to immediately stop the cooking.

Honestly,  I have given up on pretty deviled eggs. Now if an egg won't peel, I cut it in half in the shell and use a spoon to scoop the egg out.  

But, I just put that egg cooker in my amazon wishlist.  Hoping one of my family will buy it for me.  A girl can dream,  right? 

I am telling you -- beautiful eggs EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.  

Seriously.  Only caveat?  It only cooks 7 at a time.  Hey, but that's 14 deviled eggs...