Easy to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs

I often get the question if I know the secret to peeling our hard boiled eggs? Typically farm eggs are fresher than eggs you buy in the store. And older eggs in general will peel easier. I have compiled what has worked for me.

If you want to age the eggs, save a carton for a couple weeks before you hard boil them. You can also set out on the counter, as room temperature eggs age faster than refrigerated eggs. I wouldn't do this for more than 1 week, and only suggest this since you will be cooking the egg before eating.  

The best solution I have found though is using my Instant Pot to steam cook the eggs. The steam cooking seems to help separate the shell from the inner egg.

Instant Pot Recipe for Hard Cooked Eggs:

-1 cup of water in the instant pot.

- I use the egg steamer racks to place the eggs in (alternatively you can place eggs in instant pot and cover with water).

- Set to manual for 5 minutes.

- After the 5 minutes cooking, let sit in the instant pot for 5 more minutes.

- Place eggs into ice cold water to stop cooking (avoiding that green ring around the yolk!).

- Peeling once the eggs are cooled (about 15 minutes) makes for the easiest peeling. Crack the entire shell first. You can also run under water while peeling to help loosen the shell from the egg.

Steam Cooking Your Eggs (If you don't have an Instant Pot)

- Place your steam rack insert in your pot with 1 inch of water.

- Bring water to a boil.

- Place eggs in the steam rack, cover and cook for 12 minutes for hard cooked eggs.

- Place eggs into ice cold water to stop cooking.

If you have any tried and true methods to peeling fresh eggs, let me know in the comments!