Forum Thermomix

Questions Doubts and Requests => Questions? Technical Issues? The Survival Guide => Topic started by: France on April 04, 2013, 12:33:54 pm

Title: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: France on April 04, 2013, 12:33:54 pm
Hi all
I got my thermomix a month ago, and I've used it every day but one! I adore it.
I like using it to make hard boiled eggs (amongst many other things!) and well, lately, my eggs have split and poured out.
This used to always happen to me on the stove top, that's why I was enjoying doing them in the thermomix so much.

Does anyone know if it's a temperature thing or an egg thing? Maybe the eggs get hot too quickly and crack?

Any insight would be lovely, as it's got me  ??? baffled!

Thanks :)
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: judydawn on April 04, 2013, 12:38:03 pm
France, do you start off with cold water in the TM bowl?
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: France on April 04, 2013, 01:28:07 pm
Hi Judy
Yes I do, just cold tap water, not from the fridge.
500g/ml water, 6-7 eggs in the basket (depending how big/small they are)
14 minutes on Varoma/Speed 2

Does this help you help me?  ;)
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: fundj&e on April 04, 2013, 07:50:17 pm
France try steaming them in the varoma tray

i steamed 14 eggs a few days ago. temp varoma, time 27min but i think they would of been ready in 20min

not sure what speed i used
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: djinni373 on April 04, 2013, 10:35:57 pm
Hi France
If you are starting off with cold water in the bowl then my guess is it's the eggs.

I do boiled eggs a lot and have not had a problem. The eggs are always straight from the fridge and vary in size and number cooked. My advice would be to change the type/brand of eggs you are getting. I should confess that I have a thing about eggs and I won't buy cage, barn or any other kind of eggs where the chooks are not allowed to live and act like chooks.
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: judydawn on April 04, 2013, 10:41:28 pm
Very strange France as you are doing what we all do.  I wonder if you bought the eggs to room temperature before cooking them if that would make a difference but I'd definitely change the brand and/or type of egg you buy as djinni suggested.
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: jo_nz on April 04, 2013, 10:49:46 pm
I've had this a couple of times lately too - I don't know why.  I use cold tap water and eggs from the fridge usually.  I wondered if it was larger eggs as my current ones seem massive! 
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: Aussie Brenda on April 05, 2013, 12:18:21 am
I make a small hole in the end of the shell before boiling eggs it lets the little air sack expand .  My egg slicer has a pin at the end
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: judydawn on April 05, 2013, 12:26:38 am
I've never seen one of those gadgets before AB.
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: Girlpower247 on April 05, 2013, 12:53:00 am
Hi France,
I often boil my eggs in the TM and haven't had them crack either, I just followed the EDC instructions
I only buy free range eggs but I was going to suggest the same as Judy in that you try them at room temp.
Just remember to decrease the cooking time by a minute or two depending on how you like them.

Mine had a tendency to crack on the stove top but only if I put them in hot water first or boiled them too rapidly.
Hope this helps :)

Edit update
I boiled two eggs today straight from fridge, no cracks.
How many do you boil at one time? Just wondered if you cooked - say 4-5 at a time whether they may vibrate against each other during cooking and cause cracking??
Hope it works out for you
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: cookie1 on April 05, 2013, 01:31:13 am
I always have my eggs at room temperature when I boil them. I use cold tap water. I think if there is any chance of the centre of the egg being too cold it can crack and pop out a bit. I still have it happen but only very occasionally. Possibly something to do with the egg heating internally at a different temperature and expanding at a different rate or something similar. Not sure.
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: obbie on April 05, 2013, 01:40:03 am
I always use room temp eggs too.
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: achookwoman on April 05, 2013, 03:55:46 am
Always cook my eggs in the TMX basket.  The last 2 lots ,  some have cracked.  Same chooks,same process.  They are from our free range chooks.   I think it is the time of year as they are moulting.   I think some shells are thin. 
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: fundj&e on April 05, 2013, 04:06:51 am
does it really matter if they split
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: Brumington on April 05, 2013, 05:08:38 am
I think it's to do with the age of the eggs. As eggs age the air sack which makes it crack gets even bigger (which is why off eggs float in water). If this air sack is only small (fresher egg) it is less likely to split cause there's not a huge air sack which will expand. To reduce the egg cracking using eggs which are as fresh as possible or pierce the shell with a pin in the fat end. I've also heard adding bicarbonate to the water will aid with peeling after.
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: cookie1 on April 05, 2013, 07:25:23 am
No Uni it doesn't matter to me at all.

Chookie I use the basket too
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: natalia on April 05, 2013, 07:27:53 am
Hi, I buy my eggs from a friend who free ranges.  I buy her seconds which have a thin shell and they regularly crack.  Maybe the ones you are buying are thin shelled......?
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: France on April 05, 2013, 08:49:31 am
Thanks so much everyone for your replies.

I will see if the brand makes a difference. I try to buy free range as much as I can (but we're on a tight budget but I do appreciate that quality food makes for better bodies and minds!)... and I am not particular about brands, so I'll experiment with that! However I have bought room temperature eggs (I remember someone saying -- can't remember where -- that eggs could be kept at room temperature, however I tend to prefer the fridge!)

I'll check the shells too!

I don't like it splitting as yesterday one almost emptied completely and was all in little bits in the basket and bowl, hard to recuperate. I'll start checking the best before date on them as well, and keep notes :)

I make a small hole in the end of the shell before boiling eggs it lets the little air sack expand .  My egg slicer has a pin at the end

Hubby asked about that last night, I'll definitely give it a go, you have a very clever egg slicer!!!

Thanks so much. I can see why this forum is so popular!  :-*
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: achookwoman on April 05, 2013, 12:03:06 pm
France,  it is important to keep eggs in the fridge. 
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: France on April 05, 2013, 03:02:07 pm
France,  it is important to keep eggs in the fridge. 

yep, I agree, I think maybe the person lived in colder climates, I can't remember now, but it's interesting what you come across sometimes :)
I do keep mine in the fridge, and I've started buying fridge eggs at the grocery too, our woolies had a huge stack which are not in the fridge, makes you wonder how quickly they move...
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: France on April 07, 2013, 07:00:19 am
Okiedokie, I poked a hole in my eggs yesterday, and none of them burst! Thank you for that tip, i think it's worth the little bit of extra time. I just used one of the broken "corn on the cob holders" that we have! Perfect! One prong is all I need for this job ;)
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: achookwoman on April 07, 2013, 07:09:28 am
Good idea.  Just cooked 5 in basket and 1 cracked.  Think the shells are thin on some.  Will try the pin trick.
Title: Re: Hard boiled eggs in TMX basket sometimes crack and spill
Post by: France on April 07, 2013, 07:14:18 am
It seems to need just a big enough hole to pierce the shell (and membrane stuck to the shell) to let the air escape! Good luck!! :)