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Are Fresh Or Older Eggs Better For Hard Boiling?

Older Eggs Are Best For Hard Boiling (Plus More Eggy Tips)
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The humble chooks egg has been making headlines lately. Last week saw the debate over whether they need to be stored in the fridge or if room temperature is fine, and late last year The Huffington Post Australia explored the difference between cage, free range and organic eggs.

When it comes to hard boiling them, everyone has an option on how long they need to cook for (six minutes for soft boiled and eight minutes for hard), and how best to peel them.

Because let's face it -- if you're on a clean eating stint following the festive season and your mid morning hard boiled egg just won't peel, it's tempting to chuck it in the bin and make Nutella on toast.

"In general, older eggs are easier to peel, so for hard boiled eggs an egg a few weeks old is better," David Mogford from the Australian Egg Corporation told The Huffington Post Australia.

"The egg carton will have a 'best before' date which is up to six weeks from packing. So any eggs a few weeks or less before the 'best before' date is good for hard boiling."

If you've thrown out the carton and can't recall exactly when you bought your eggs, use this handy trick.

"The fresher egg will tend to 'cling' onto the shell a little more, so some people may find them a little harder to peel in bigger sections. But I must say, you can still boil a fresh egg if you want to, " Mogford said.

"It can also help to peel under a little running water. That also helps if the egg is still hot!"

Still struggling? Try this speedy trick as seen in this egg hack video. We know it works because we tried it, though the lab coat and strange noises are optional.

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