A Lemon Wedge Could Actually Help You Peel Eggs Quicker - Tasting Table (2024)

FAQs

Do lemons make eggs peel easier? ›

The acidic properties of lemons play a pivotal role in this peeling hack by making the shell more pliable and easier to remove, ensuring a smoother process.

Lemon juice can denature the proteins in eggs, altering their texture and potentially causing a curdled or uneven appearance. If using lemon in egg-based recipes, it should be done cautiously and in proper proportions.

The citric acid in the lemon will soften the shell and make the egg easier to peel. Steam your eggs and the shells separate easier from the egg, itself.

Baking Soda

According to our friends at Delish, adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your boiling pot of water will help the shell peel off seamlessly. Why? The alkaline in the baking soda will help your egg whites loosen up from the shell, making it easier to peel.

The albumin, or protein structure inside an egg, reacts with acid from the lemon juice to create a sturdier inner structure that holds air bubbles. As the eggs cook, the air bubbles cause them to become lighter and fluffier.

Lemons that have gone bad typically become very soft. They may become slimy, look shriveled, or contain visible mold. If your lemons display any of these signs, it's best to just toss them out.

Consuming 10 eggs per day is not recommended. Eggs are very high in protein, which is a nutrient that can impair kidney function and increased the risk for kidney stones if overly consumed. Eating 10 or more eggs per day is also not recommended because a healthy diet should be varied and diverse.

When eggs spoil, they begin to smell bad, and the yolk and egg white may become discolored. Cracked or slimy eggshells can also be a sign of bacterial contamination. Easy ways to determine an egg's freshness include checking the expiration date, visually inspecting its shell, and cracking it open to smell the inside.

Using an ice bath

This process helps begin to loosen the egg white from the inner shell membrane that's responsible for most difficult-to-peel hard-boiled eggs. In general, about 10 minutes (or more) of rest time in the ice bath will do the trick.

It's just crucial to make sure the shells are ground until they're super fine. Once the eggshells have a fine consistency, you can add the powder to smoothies, baked goods, or even soups, to get an extra dose of calcium. So, next time a small piece of eggshell finds its way into your meal, don't sweat it!

What does toothpaste do to egg shells? ›

Eggshells contain mainly composite calcium carbonate, with come calcium phosphate; whereas tooth enamel is a composite calcium phosphate. The eggshell is half coated in toothpaste. The calcium fluoride in the toothpaste protects this half of the eggshell in the same way that toothpaste protects our teeth.

Using an ice bath

This process helps begin to loosen the egg white from the inner shell membrane that's responsible for most difficult-to-peel hard-boiled eggs. In general, about 10 minutes (or more) of rest time in the ice bath will do the trick.

Lemon Juice Egg: The egg soaked in lemon was not nearly like the egg in the vinegar. The shell was still covering the egg, however, it was not smooth, it was rough and had many tiny small bumps all around it. I also noticed the shell was a little softer and less strong than it was originally.

However, it's important to be mindful of the amount of juice you use since eggs tend to curdle with excessive acid. You could also end up with a runny dish from adding too much liquid.

Lemon juice lowers the pH in egg whites, and increasing the amount of lemon juice added increased the volume of foam that was produced. Based on the data collected, my hypothesis appeared to be correct.