How to Boil an Egg

I love hard-boiled eggs, but getting the shells off is a real pain in the ass. Recently I heard a tip to add vegetable oil to the pot at the same time as the eggs so that a little oil gets absorbed and acts like a lubricant between the shell and the protein-rich goodness. I'm pleased to share that this works like a charm. Next time you boil eggs, give it a shot (of oil)!

For the cooking, do it like the pros: add eggs to pot of cold water and put over high heat until it starts to boil, at which time you move the pot off the heat and cover it, sealing in the residual heat to cook the eggs. Let it stand for 10 minutes, then drain, rinse with cold water and chill (in fridge or ice water) before trying to de-shell.

Also, remember that while fresh local eggs taste best (and have the brightest yolks) older eggs are generally easier to peel.