Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Björn Lindström on 14/11/2010 14:30:03

Title: Does salted water make better boiled eggs?
Post by: Björn Lindström on 14/11/2010 14:30:03

Björn Lindström asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Sliced eggs on toast is a nice breakfast. Of course I want the eggs just right. I've heard somewhere that adding some salt to the water in which you boil the eggs would be somehow advantageous.

There have been two claims; salt makes the boiling water a bit warmer, getting the egg done quicker, or it makes leaking egg white coagulate faster, making the leak less harmful to the enjoyment of the egg. The latter claim has been explained either with that the salt somehow catalyse the coagulation, or that it simply is an effect of the warmer water.

Are any of these claims plausible? If so, what level of salinity would be necessary to get a significant effect?

Björn Lindström

What do you think?

Title: Does salted water make better boiled eggs?
Post by: cat_with_no_eyes on 08/12/2010 21:10:08

I think its just an old wives tale. I have boiled many eggs with salt and without, and I can say there really is no difference. Unless you like your eggs salty of course!

Title: Does salted water make better boiled eggs?
Post by: CliffordK on 08/12/2010 21:40:50

I just toss em in the microwave (more on my experiments shortly).

There are a number of theories about hard boiling eggs...  Starting with hot water, salt or other additives, pricking the ends, etc.

In reality, it probably doesn't make a big difference.  I can imagine that salting the water might impart a slight salty taste to the egg, but not as much as would be achieved by sprinkling salt on it.

Title: Does salted water make better boiled eggs?
Post by: maffsolo on 09/12/2010 04:18:39

Adding either salt or vinegar in the water will not prevent the egg from cracking but will congeal the white if it starts to leak out of the shell from a small crack, making the cracked egg, still pleasing to look at.

http://www.edinformatics.com/math_science/science_of_cooking/boiled_eggs.htm
also;
http://www.ehow.com/how_2089099_prevent-boiling-eggs-from-cracking.html