Hard Boiled Eggs

No, you get an air bubble the older the egg - that's why older eggs are good for hard boiled eggs. More air has penetrated the shell the older it is.

Oh ok!!! Now I've got it. Older eggs are better!!!

Oh ok!!! Now I've got it. Older eggs are better!!!

For hard boiled that is! You want really fresh for poached and fried.

On the subject of eggs....does anyone know what the dark red "bits" are in the yolk? Sometimes there are a lot (10-15% of the yolk volume), sometimes just a speck or two. At least one egg in a package has this "stuff" in the yolk.

Apparently, they're bits of blood. There is some candling method that is used to check eggs before they're sold in stores but brown shells are more difficult to see through than the white ones. That's why you've probably never seen them in white eggs but see them fairly often here. They're safe to eat but it really grossed me out when I learned that!

Scroll down on this page to the part that says "blood spots:" http://www.eggs.ab.ca/about/egggrades.htm

Oh wow! we were told that at school by our biology teacher!! amazing then that i still passed o level biology!!

Simple - don't put the eggs into boiling water. Fill the pan with cold water and bring to the boil with the eggs in it, then time as normal. Works everytime for me! 

Really, that makes them easier to peel?

Apparently, they're bits of blood. There is some candling method that is used to check eggs before they're sold in stores but brown shells are more difficult to see through than the white ones. That's why you've probably never seen them in white eggs but see them fairly often here. They're safe to eat but it really grossed me out when I learned that!

Scroll down on this page to the part that says "blood spots:" http://www.eggs.ab.ca/about/egggrades.htm

Wow! I never knew that! I don't eat eggs that often at all since I don't really care for them, but that saves me being worried about it too! I would probably assume the egg had gone bad or something!

Simple - don't put the eggs into boiling water. Fill the pan with cold water and bring to the boil with the eggs in it, then time as normal. Works everytime for me! 

Tried it... didn't work for me.

Simple - don't put the eggs into boiling water. Fill the pan with cold water and bring to the boil with the eggs in it, then time as normal. Works everytime for me! 

You're never supposed to put the eggs in boiling water; you always put them in cold and bring it to the boil. But this has nothing to do with making the eggs easier to peel -- it's to prevent the eggs from cracking as they boil.

Oh ok!!! Now I've got it. Older eggs are better!!!

The older the egg, the bigger the air bubble...that is why you can test an eggh for freshness by putting it in a pint glass of cold water.  If it floats that means it's off.


Vicky

If it floats that means it's off.

Ooooh, clever!! Thanks for that tip!