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Hard-boiled eggs are eggs boiled until the yolk and protein are fully cooked. This dish is one of the most popular breakfasts in all cafes and restaurants in the world. However, not everyone knows how to cook a dish correctly and deliciously.
History of origin
Eggs occupy a special place in the diet of modern man. It is one of the most quickly and simply prepared dishes. People have not cooked eggs as an independent product for a long time and many people treated eggs ambiguously.
In ancient times, many peoples avoided eating eggs, as they attached religious significance to the product. The egg was a symbol of the universe. It corresponded to all religious beliefs – it had a relatively round shape, was whole, and came from a living being.
Then religious beliefs began to fade into the background and eggs began to be eaten. In Rome, the expression “ab ovo” appeared – from the very beginning. The Romans usually started a meal with eggs and finished with fruit.
However, the Romans maintained the connection of the egg with the universe and linked the egg with the successful start of a new business.
Over time, the egg spread all over the world. Chefs began to come up with new variations of cooking the product. So the following types appeared: poached egg, scrambled eggs, soft-boiled egg, and hard-boiled eggs.
Chemical composition of eggs
An egg in any form is a healthy and nutritious product. Of the fat-soluble vitamins in a chicken egg, there are A, D, D3, E, and K. Of the water-soluble vitamins B1, B2, B3 (PP), B4, B5, B6, B9, and B12.
In the composition of eggs, there is a high level of balance of biologically active components.
The egg contains 10% fat, which is completely concentrated in the yolk. One-third of egg fat is represented by lipids, and two-thirds are neutral fats. The amount and quality of protein in the protein and yolk are different.
Egg white contains mainly ovalbumin – 69.7%, and conalbumin – 9.5%. The presence of ovoglobulin ensures the ability of egg whites to form foam when mixed. The yolk contains phosphoproteins – vitellin, livetin, and phosphosites.
Health benefits
Due to the high content of vitamins and minerals, eggs are a healthy product for the body. Most people consume eggs on a regular daily basis. But are they so beneficial and safe?
We can distinguish the benefits of eggs in the following categories:
- Source of protein. This element is significant for maintaining heart health and muscle mass.
- Reduces the risk of heart and vascular diseases. Omega-3 fatty acids strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
- Benefits for vision. Chicken eggs contain the antioxidant zeaxanthin, which can accumulate in the retina of the eye and maintain the quality of vision.
- Source of choline. Choline is a valuable nutrient that pregnant and nursing mothers especially need since this element affects immunity.
Other beneficial properties of eggs:
- strengthen muscles
- promote healthy muscle growth
- activate the brain
- have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system;
- provide the body with energy
- strengthen the immune system
- valuable for pregnant women and the unborn child
Possible contraindications
The most important contraindication to the use of eggs is allergic reactions. An egg in any form is an allergenic product, so many should give up frequent use. They can:
- increase in muscle mass
- strengthening of bones
- preservation of tissue integrity
- maintaining brain function
- lowering blood pressure
- preventing the appearance of cataracts and improving vision
- maintaining liver health
- the fight against excess weight
Also, people with diabetes, high cholesterol, or hypertension should be careful with the use of eggs. Special attention should be paid to the combination of eggs with other products.
They vividly manifest their negative properties from combination with cheese, ham, bacon, white bread, and other high-calorie foods. Raw eggs should not be part of the diet at all. You may become a victim of parasitic bacteria.
Perfect hard-boiled eggs
What does the perfect hard-boiled egg look like? It is oval, smooth. The protein becomes elastic, but not rubbery, and the yolk acquires a bright yellow color. Most cooks like hard-boiled eggs.
They are great for everything, especially salads. The biggest problem in cooking hard-boiled eggs is the cooking time. If you cook them a little longer than necessary, the yolk will turn brown, and it will be almost impossible to peel such an egg. A perfect hard-boiled egg is easy to peel.
But then how to cook it properly?
How to hard boil eggs
Hard-boiled eggs are not as easy as they may seem at first. There are different degrees of readiness: hard-boiled, soft-boiled, and poached eggs. Some like the yolk to remain liquid, others cook until fully cooked. The degree of readiness depends on the cooking time and the cooking method. If we are talking about the cooking of hard-boiled eggs, then you need to follow the following instructions:
- Pour cold water into a saucepan and put it on fire.
- Put an egg there and wait until the water boils.
- Wait one minute and turn down the heat. Cook the egg for about 8-10 minutes. If you cook it longer, it will just become rubbery.
- Remove the egg from the water and place it in ice water for about 15 minutes. After that, all chemical reactions will stop inside the egg and it will be easier for you to clean it.
A hard-boiled egg is a dense protein and yolk. The main thing is not to digest. The egg will become too hard, change color and smell.
Why are hard-boiled eggs hard to clean?
The shell quite often sticks to the protein part of the egg. The product itself is a complex biological form. You must coordinate the cleaning method with what the egg is.
As we know, this is a pure protein that can fold under certain temperature conditions for a certain time.
Scientists conducted a series of experiments to identify the dependence of the complexity of egg cleaning on the nature of the protein. They proved that if the temperature rises gradually during cooking, the protein gradually collapses, forming a jelly-like consistency and reacting with the shell.
If a raw egg immediately gets into hot water, the chemical reaction does not have time to occur. The protein folds without splitting and does not stick to the shell.
Best Way To Boil Eggs Hard For Easy Peeling
There is an interesting culinary life hack that will simplify the process of cooking hard-boiled eggs. With this method, you will succeed the first time. Follow the following instructions:
- Place the eggs in boiling water. During the cooking process, you can not rush, everything must be precisely timed. Many people put eggs in cold water and wait for them to boil. It is not a very convenient and effective way. Thanks to this step, it will be easier for you to clean the eggs after cooking.
- Add baking soda to the water with the egg. Do this immediately after boiling. Soda increases the level of alkali in the water, preventing the appearance of cracks. After that, cook the eggs for about 10-12 more minutes.
- To clean the eggs even easier, dip them in ice water after cooking for about 15 minutes.
How do you peel an egg without the shell sticking?
Quite often, in the process of cleaning eggs, the shell sticks to them. To avoid this, it is enough to follow the advice:
- after cooking, place the eggs in ice water for 15 minutes
- beat the eggs before placing them in cold water
- clean eggs under cold water
- boil “old” eggs (fresh ones are hard to clean)
- put the eggs in boiling water
Why salt is added to boiling eggs?
Cooks and experienced housewives constantly add salt to the water when cooking eggs. But why do it? Many people believe that saltwater prevents the appearance of cracks on eggs.
However, this is not the case. Salt does not prevent the appearance of cracks, it does not allow the protein to flow out of the egg. You can experiment – boil eggs without adding salt. With a high probability, the egg will crack and the protein will leak out of it.
When adding salt to the water for cooking eggs, we:
- Increase the density of water. So the eggs rise to the surface and have less contact with the heated bottom of the dishes.
- We increase the thermal conductivity of the water and the eggs cook faster and more evenly.
- Salt promotes rapid protein coagulation and even if the egg cracks, the protein will not leak out.
How long do you leave eggs in cold water after boiling?
Few people think that after cooking, the process of cooking eggs does not end. You should dip the cooked product in ice water for about 15 minutes. Why do this?
- Hydrogen sulfide is released when the amino acids of the protein are heated. Lowering eggs into cold water stops the chemical reaction that occurs when cooking eggs.
- After contact with cold water, eggs are easier to clean.
- This way the eggs can cool down faster so that you can use them faster for cooking culinary dishes.
Can I boil frozen eggs?
The freezing process does not affect the quality and preparation of the product in any way. You can eat frozen eggs after defrosting. You can also easily take a frozen egg to cook it.
The main thing is to make sure that there are no cracks and defects on the shell. In this case, the protein will leak out of the egg. Salt will not help you.
What can I do with too many eggs?
If you have too many hard-boiled eggs, do not worry. There are many ways to use them. For example:
- pies with filling (you can use a variety of combinations)
- egg pancakes (with or without filling)
- meringue
- honey cakes
- casseroles, omelets
If you have too many eggs, then you can freeze them: either as a whole or separately yolks and whites.
Also, do not forget about cakes. To prepare each biscuit, you need at least three eggs. If you make a multi-layered cake, you will be able to realize several dozen eggs.
Is it easier to peel hard-boiled eggs hot or cold?
Everyone knows how to cook hard-boiled eggs, but not everyone can clean them properly. It is much easier to clean eggs that have cooled down in ice water after cooking. However, there are a few more secrets for easy egg cleaning:
- Clean the cooled eggs under cold water. It will wash away small pieces of shell and egg and your hands.
- Make a crack in the shell with a knife. You can knock the egg on a hard surface.
- If you cooked a fresh egg, you can use another secret. Cut the egg into two halves and scoop out the egg with a spoon. This method will be ideal if you do not have to keep the perfect shape of the product.
Can you eat 2-week old hard-boiled eggs?
Boiled eggs are stored longer than raw ones, especially if you keep them in the refrigerator. However, even boiled eggs have a maximum shelf life. After this time, pathogenic bacteria begin to multiply in the product.
For boiled eggs, the permissible period of consumption is 36 hours. However, if you store an undamaged hard-boiled egg in the refrigerator, the shelf life will increase from 14-30 days.
Summary
Eggs are one of the most popular products all over the world. You can cook them in different types. The most convenient option is to boil hard-boiled eggs. However, many do not know how to do it correctly. After all, you can easily digest the product or you will not be able to remove the shell from it.
Remember that when cooking, you should put the egg in already boiling water and add salt or soda to it. After cooking, you should put the egg in ice water for no more than 15 minutes. Follow the helpful tips and enjoy the easy process of hard-boiled eggs!