Research shows one in four British adults have never boiled an egg - and don't know how

[DrQ]

So Delia was right! Research shows one in four British adults have never boiled an egg - and don't know how to​

• Delia Smith's How To Cook series in 1999 was criticised for being too basic
• A Waitrose survey also showed 55 per cent have never baked a Victoria sponge

One in four British adults have never boiled an egg

When Delia Smith taught viewers how to boil eggs in her How To Cook series in 1999, she was mocked for passing on such basic culinary knowledge.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Here is how I do our eggs:

For hard boiled:

1. I have an egg rack for my instant pot.
2. I place the eggs in the rack out of the fridge
3. I steam them for 6 minutes
4. I let them air cool

For soft boiled:

1. I have an egg rack for my instant pot.
2. I place the eggs in the rack out of the fridge
3. I steam them for 5 minutes
4. Place in an ice water bath

For Poached eggs:

1. I do not put vinegar in the water (don't like the taste)
2. I bring a large pot of unsalted water to a gentle simmer
3. I crack the fresh eggs in dishes or glasses
4. Simmer for 3-4 minutes
5. I use a slotted spoon to gently remove the eggs
6. Keep the number of eggs you poach at a time limited to the number you can remove without the last being overcooked
7. If you want to prepare up to 2 days ahead - cool cooked eggs in cold water and then drain on a paper towel. Store in a sealed plastic bag in the fridge. Warm with hot water for ~30 seconds.

Pan fried sunny side up:

1. I crack the fresh eggs in dishes or glasses
2. I bring a nonstick pan to medium-low heat
3. I will cook 2 eggs at a time
4. Melt some butter in the pan until it just bubbles
5. Put in the eggs
6. Let the white set and then free the eggs so they slide in the pan
7. Cover the pan until the white sets and the yolk is still runny
8. Slide the eggs out on the plate for serving

How do you like to do your eggs?

 

[Passepartout]

For hard boiled (and easy to peel) Use eggs that have been around for a few days.
Put them in a pan with cold tap water- about an inch over the eggs.
Bring to a boil, and gently simmer for 12 minutes.
Drain and run cold water over them to cool, then plunge them into ice water.
They will peel easily and the yolks will be bright yellow without any of that nasty grey.

 

[DrQ]

Your method is good because you start with cold water to avoid cracked eggs That is why I steam them. I like the instant pot because I can walk away until it has finished its cycle.

For hard boiled (and easy to peel) Use eggs that have been around for a few days.

I've seen this, but haven't tried it yet:

Here is someone's review of the hack:

I tested a viral TikTok hack so you wouldn't have to.

Is it all it's *cracked* up to be?

newsletter.fresherica.com

 

[ScoopKona]

Page 69 of Anthony Bourdain's "The Les Halles Cookbook" entitled, "How to boil a freakin' egg."