Why did people in the 80s prick their eggs before boiling them?

[PuffyFluffin]

I was talking to DH and he reminded me about eggs prickers people used to have. I'd completely forgotten about them, but we always had to prick the base of the egg or it would apparently crack while it was boiling. Hilariously, I grew up on another continent and it was also a thing there, so clearly was of vital importance!

Why don't we need to do this anymore? Have eggs changed?

Like a pp I never pricked the eggs when doing them in a pan but we have a similar egg boiling machine and it says to prick them so I do . The machine is fantastic though does them soft , medium or hard and they are perfect every time . It is a kitchen gadget that I use a lot .

I do this religiously for my eggs! And boiled no more than 6 minutes 😋

Put into a pan of cold water and bring to the boil, avoiding need for pricking. I'd forgotten all about this!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pricker-Semi-Automatic-Piercer-Pinhole-Kitchen/dp/B0C3VVVFYF/ref=asc_df_B0C3VVVFYF/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=658845211345&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14411628712538329431&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007259&hvtargid=pla-2194691449413&psc=1&mcid=cb0a9cc627623ec79a618413e3bd8af5

@PuffyFluffin I can't guarantee it but I read it as a tip and tried and did find the eggs much easier to peel

OH boiled 2 eggs for lunch using the cold water to boil (no prick) method and one cracked. I prick and never have cracked eggs. I'll keep pricking.

Shop bought eggs - I prick otherwise they crack.

Free range (from farms/honesty boxes) - I don't prick. They don't crack.

I take my eggs out of the fridge about half an hour before I'm going to boil them to let them get to room temperature otherwise they're more likely to crack, prick or not.

I'm in my late sixties and neither I, my family nor anyone I've ever known has pricked eggs or owned an egg pricker. In fact this is the first I've ever heard of it. I don't keep eggs in the fridge either. This isn't America!

I never do this and very rarely does the shell crack

I add to cold water and 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder to help peel easier

and my egg timer (such a great little invention)

And I don’t keep eggs in the fridge

I have an egg pricker, I start with boiling water and and keep my eggs in the fridge (it’s not necessary but that way they last well past the bb date)

Baking powder makes them easier to peel?
Every day is a school day on Mumsnet!

I didn't. I did however smash in the bottoms of the shells after eating boiled eggs to stop witches using them as boats.

Can't be too careful.

😂WTF? That's brilliant!

We always did this ! Didn't actually think there were tiny witchettes hanging about waiting for sailing vessels but was a fun custom.

My mother had an egg pricker in her kitchen drawer but can’t remember it actually being used.

I put into cold water and time 4 mins from when it boils ( use large eggs) to get perfect runny yolk but set white.

We did the witch thing too.

Nobody I knew did that in the 80s. I always just put salt in to stop the cracking. It must have been a short lived fad.

Similar, but this was told to me by my first bf, because his sainted mother did it this way. Eggs in cold water, bring to boil, turn off. By the time you’ve made a cup of tea and made your soldiers they are ready. Variable results.
I, like all of mn, have one of those little red glass things. Tip though if you do two take one out for your second egg about a minute early because they keep cooking.

I still prick them. Didn't know it was an 80s thing.

How much water do you put in though? because surely that will affect how long it takes to come to the boil and thus how long the eggs have been in not-cold water.

I've never done this and I don't know anyone who did

I use them when I've got one at hand. Eggs kept on countertop to go straight in boiling water. It's important to hit the air sac which tends to be on the rounder end or you'll have egg white escaping during boiling. (So good to check round ends are pointed up while in storage.)

But the really fancy egg-related geegaw is this guillotine-type egg beheader - there's a steel ball on top that gets dropped down on rhe egg and makes a neat little ring in the shell. In Germany it's on sale under the fabulous name "Eiersollbruchstellenverursacher" or the brand name Klick 🤣

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Impeccable-Culinary-Objects-ICO-ICO013/dp/B010MQAJ8E/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2L9F1IOHAB37R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aRZ4JatHXzkaNM5tg-1yHVz-Zz0xMvRDKZyHZYRUt6o.Xe4UXRBI0UDiOB6fZN_ioaYyLqD5FSLcPBeSTlJsiZ4&dib_tag=se&keywords=egg+beheader&qid=1717958732&sprefix=egg+beh%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1

Enough to cover the eggs. I don't know how it works. I just know it does!

It’s to balance the pressure inside and out so they don’t crack because of a pressure imbalance. Similar theory as why there’s a tiny pin prick size hole in the side of bic pens which prevents a vacuum stopping the ink flowing. It’s pretty common in the deep sea oil and gas industry to balance pressure to stop equipment imploding under ultra high pressures at great depths.

People still do!