Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Will be Making and/or Eating Deviled Eggs this Easter (2024)

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Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Will be Making and/or Eating Deviled Eggs this Easter? ›

According to a new online survey¹, commissioned by McCormick, nearly 61 percent of Americans plan to make and/or eat deviled eggs this Easter. While 45 percent of consumers will enjoy the classic recipe, with mustard and paprika as go-to flavors, many are "eggs-perimenting" with different ingredients.

Deviled eggs have been a popular dish in the United States dating as far back as the 1920s.

In some regions of the South and the Midwest, deviled eggs are also called salad or dressed eggs when they are served at a church function, to avoid the term "deviled." Deviled eggs have been a popular picnic offering as well as being a standard item in what has become known, especially in the South, as "funeral food."

The deviled egg we know today can be traced back to ancient Rome, where boiled eggs were seasoned with spicy sauces and served as the starter of a fancy meal usually made for guests.

Deviled eggs are a Southern tradition. Just what is it that makes deviled eggs Southern? Some insist it's the addition of sweet pickle relish. Other's point to the mayo—Duke's, specifically—the only choice for proper Southern cooks who like that hallmark creaminess and satisfying tang.

According to a new online survey¹, commissioned by McCormick, nearly 61 percent of Americans plan to make and/or eat deviled eggs this Easter. While 45 percent of consumers will enjoy the classic recipe, with mustard and paprika as go-to flavors, many are "eggs-perimenting" with different ingredients.

The term likely comes from the connection between spiciness and the presumably hot temperatures in hell. Since the word "devil" does have negative connotations, though, some groups of people prefer to call the dish "stuffed eggs," "salad eggs," or "dressed eggs."

"Deviled" goes back to the late 18th century as a way to refer to something that's spicy or grilled with spice. Deviled eggs are "deviled" because they're generally made with paprika and black pepper. We can also thank "deviled" for other mouth-watering dishes like deviled kidney and deviled bones.

With eggs, especially spicy and zesty eggs made with mustard, pepper, or other ingredients like paprika stuffed into the empty yolk cavity of half an egg, they are called “deviled,” though in some places they're also referred to as stuffed eggs, dressed eggs, or even Russian eggs.

If we rewind time, we find deviled eggs in ancient Rome, where boiled eggs flavored with spicy sauces were so commonly served as an appetizer that a Roman saying, “ab ovo usque ad mala,” meaning “from egg to apples,” referred to the expected bookends of a meal.

Do Germans eat deviled eggs? ›

Deviled eggs originated in Italy, but there are so many versions of them in the neighbouring countries too. Today I will feature the German version. Usually mayonnaise and mustard are added to yolks for the creamy texture, but there are also variations done with yogurt, cream, sour cream or tartar sauce.

with dill and these felt like deviled eggs...with a twist.

Far from evil, the word “deviled” is a culinary term that means “adding spices” — usually hot ones like cayenne pepper, Dijon mustard, or chopped chili peppers — to foods like ham, eggs, turkey, or even lobster.

While proper cooking techniques are the first step to avoiding weeping, experimenting with certain deviled egg ingredients, unfortunately, can result in a watery, sloppy appearance on the plate. Ingredients with a high water content, like tomatoes or cucumbers, can help create this wet scenario.

Deviled eggs are served chilled, making them an excellent make-ahead dish. At a minimum, you'll need to allow for 20 to 25 minutes of chill time before serving. You can make deviled eggs up to 2 days in advance; be sure to store the egg whites and the yolk filling separately.

It pairs well with crunchy fresh veggies, pretzels, crackers, or toasted pita or naan for dipping. It also works great as a spread on crackers or toast. My five-year-old daughter who loves deviled eggs has been dipping everything in it, though she asked me to make it without the “green things” (chives) next time.

By the 15th and 16th centuries, eating eggs for breakfast had caught on in Western culture, and egg recipes became more widespread. Then, in 1620, an English medical writer named Tobias Venner recommended eating poached eggs for breakfast, causing people to recognize the health benefits of starting the day with eggs.

Deviled eggs became natural for outdoor entertaining. Once automobiles allowed Americans to take food with them, these church picnics and rides to the country for family reunions were good reasons to prep food and go. Cooks were advised to be frugal and economical in planning their moveable feasts.

In fact, hard-boiled eggs date all the way back to Ancient Rome. Legend has it they were invented around 5,000 B.C. when pottery was invented. After all, Ancient Romans needed a vessel to boil the water in.