Eggs are one of the most popular foods in the US and around the world. Just think about how many different ways there are to prepare eggs. You can fry them, scramble them, boil them, and even bake them. And that's not even counting all the different ways they're prepared throughout different countries. But there are also tons of different hacks involving eggs that don't involve eating them. From making your time in the kitchen easier to creating healthy beauty masks, here are some of the best egg hacks you're going to want to try ASAP.
Use A Raw Egg For Healthy Hair
It might sound a bit gross at first but hear us out here. Eggs are amazing for hair. They're packed full of all kinds of nutrients that can help make your hair strong and healthy and give it a luxurious shine. All you need to do is mix a raw egg with some whole milk (or any milk, but whole is better) and then spread it around your scalp.
You can work it into your hair, but then let it sit and do its thing for around half an hour, before washing it out with shampoo. You can use warm water but don't go too hot.
Season Your Scrambled Eggs At The Right Time
Everybody has their preferred time to season their scrambled eggs. Some people do it after the eggs are already in the pan, while others prefer to season before beating. It turns out that the best time is somewhere in the middle. You generally want to season your scrambled eggs after you're done beating them but before you pour them into your pan. You do this for a couple of reasons.
If you season them before they're scrambled, then the salt or other spices break down and they make the end product a bit too watery. Seasoning them too late can lead to uneven seasoning.
Use A Flat Surface To Crack Eggs
This one is a hard habit to break for a lot of people. After all, it just seems logical to crack an egg on the edge of something, whether that be a bowl or counter top. However, it turns out that you always want to crack your eggs on a flat surface. This will provide you with a consistent crack and helps avoid splintered egg shells falling into your bowl.
There's also another reason you want to avoid cracking on the corner of a bowl or pan. Salmonella can survive on eggshells, so you don't want any of that to end up in your eggs.
Fish Spatulas Are The Best When It Comes To Eggs
We've all been there. You're frying an egg sunny side up, and it's been cooked perfectly so far. However, now it's time to flip it. You go in with your spatula, only to puncture the yolk, and all of that yellow goodness starts frying in the pan. Well, it turns out there's an easy way to avoid that. Just use a fish spatula to flip your eggs next time.
They're just the right mixture of strength, flexibility, and thinness, and they allow you to get beneath the egg without puncturing the yolk, at least more so than other spatulas.
Mix Eggs Into Batter Slowly
If you bake a lot, then you might already be familiar with this tip. It's best to mix your eggs into your batter slowly, especially if that batter contains butter. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, it just gives the eggs a chance to mix evenly with the butter, since the two don't naturally mix very well. Secondly, just throwing all your eggs in at once can lead to clotting.
There are a couple of other reasons that are specific to different types of batter, but just remember that it's always best to mix them in one at a time and your batter will be fine.
Turn Eggshells Into Planters
All of the calcium that's stored in eggshells makes them great for a lot of different uses, and one of those uses is as a planter. Just poke a hole in the bottom of the shell and place some soil and your seedlings inside. Before you know it, you should see something starting to sprout. The calcium and other nutrients in the eggshell will promote healthy growth and they're the perfect size.
Once your seedling starts to get big, just dig a hole and place the eggshell planter inside. It'll break down, adding nutrients back to the soil and further fertilize your plants.
Use Eggshells To Create Chalk
Need a fun project to do with the kids? This might be it. You can use eggshells to create different colored chalk. Start out by washing the shells and then grinding them up really fine. You can use a food processor if you have one. Next, combine a teaspoon of hot water and flour. Add about a tablespoon of eggshell powder and some food coloring. This will provide the color for the chalk.
Shape everything into a stick, then wrap it in a paper towel. Let it dry for around three days before unwrapping all your new chalk and using it on the sidewalk.
Cook Eggs In A Waffle Maker
This one is really cool. You can actually make eggs using a waffle maker. All you need to do is beat your eggs normally as if you were about to make scrambled eggs. The only difference is instead of pouring them into the pan; you just pour them directly into your waffle maker. Crank the waffle maker down to low heat, and you will basically have an omelet shaped like a waffle.
The main difference is that the pattern of the waffle makes for a really fluffy finished product. The toppings also go on top here, instead of inside the omelet.
Help Out Birds By Feeding Them Eggshells
On the surface, this one might seem a bit weird, but it turns out that birds love eggshells, and they provide an excellent source of calcium, which is very important during the nesting season. Just add some crushed-up eggshells to your bird feeder to give them a boost of calcium. Most birds eat the shells only for nutrition, but some actually eat them to use as grit in their stomach.
That said, you may want to consider washing or sterilizing the eggshells in the oven or microwave before you give them to the birds since they can sometimes carry salmonella or other bacteria.
Easily Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs
Hard-boiled eggs are great; peeling them not so much. Luckily, there's an easy way to make sure that the eggshells come off easily and uniformly. All you have to do is add a bit of vinegar to the water you're using to boil your eggs. The acidity helps break down the structure of the eggshell while it's cooking. Once it comes out, you should notice that they're much easier to peel.
The acidity also helps the egg whites set. Just make sure to run your egg under cold water while you're peeling, which also helps take the eggshells off.
Use Eggshells To Treat Acid Reflux And Sore Joints
Okay, so this one is a really old remedy that goes back for who knows how long. However, it makes a bit of sense, and it's supposed to be used to treat acid reflux and sore joints. The concoction takes around two days to make, so plan accordingly. All you have to do is put a bunch of eggshells in a jar and then fill the jar up with apple vinegar.
Let it sit for around two days, which should be long enough for all the eggshells to have dissolved. Take a tablespoon and according to most people who've tried it, you should feel better.
Water Is The Secret To Fluffy Eggs
It seems like everyone has their own secret to perfectly fluffy or creamy eggs. We have our own when it comes to fluffy eggs, and it really works. Of course, you're going to want to cook your eggs on low heat, but the real secret here is water. Just add a bit of water to your scrambled eggs. The water will turn to steam and help cook them without drying them out.
Just make sure not to add too much water, or it may not all evaporate by the time the eggs are finished cooking. You'll also want to make sure it's water you're adding and not milk since milk doesn't evaporate as quickly.
Use Eggshells For Healthy Teeth
Yes, that's right, you can actually use eggshells to help strengthen your teeth. Eggshells contain a lot of calcium, which you're teeth need to stay strong and healthy. According to the European Journal of Dentistry, eggshells are a cheaper option to strengthen teeth. You're going to want to sterilize your eggshells before crushing them up into a powder. To make the powder, use a food processor or mortar and pestle.
After you've ground all your eggshells up into a fine powder, simply sprinkle some on your toothbrush or add it to your toothpaste and brush your teeth like normal.
Add Eggshells To Food For More Calcium
There are a lot of eggshell hacks on this list, and that's because they're really healthy. This one involves adding eggshell powder to just about any dish you can think of. Of course, make sure to sterilize your eggshells before you ground them into a powder because they can harbor salmonella. But after that, just crush them into a fine powder and add to things like smoothies or food.
Healthline says that our bodies absorb eggshell powder very well and that it's a big boost for things like bones and teeth. So, if you're lacking a bit of calcium, this might be the solution.
You Can Grate Your Boiled Eggs
Most people just use their graters for cheese or vegetables, but they can be used for so much more. In fact, you can use a grater to create thin slices of egg. If you're making an egg salad or even just some toast, you can take your hard-boiled eggs and use a grater to slice it down. It's quick and easy, and it makes for a really great-looking dish.
Just stay away from graters with really small slots since this tends to make the egg clump up, and you're just left with a big mess after you finish.
Eggshells Can Be Used To Clean Pans
If you're having trouble with an especially tricky pan, then we might have the egg hack for you. You can use eggshells to help you clean stubborn grime off pans and dishes. Just crush up your shells and combine them with a little soap and water. Next, throw them on your pan or dish and start scrubbing. The abrasive nature of the eggshell should help remove just about anything that doesn't want to come off your dishes.
The best part is you don't have to use a hard wire dish scrubber, which can damage and scrape up your dishes and pans. The eggshells are also nontoxic, but we do recommend sterilizing beforehand.
Use An Oven To Finish Sunny Side Up Eggs
We love having eggs sunny side up, especially when paired with some toast. But it can be kind of frustrating to try and make sure the tops are cooked to perfection but not overdone. Luckily, there's a solution for that, and it involves your oven. Just preheat to around 350, and once you're satisfied with the bottom half of your eggs, throw them in the oven for around four minutes.
The heat from the oven will allow the tops to cook evenly without overdoing the yolk. Just make sure not to leave them in there too long, or they'll be slightly overcooked.
Egg Whites Make For A Great Facial Mask
Looking for a new beauty routine? It turns out that all of the nutrients packed into eggs make them a great option when it comes to skincare. To make a facial mask, you'll need to separate your whites and then beat them until they're white and frothy. Combine with a spoonful of lemon juice and honey. Then, wash your face with water, preferably warm water, before coating your face in the egg white mixture.
It's all natural and it's great for your skin. Not to mention, it's a lot cheaper than most other skincare products out there. The mixture can help fight acne and tighten your skin.
Easily Tell If Your Eggs Are Fresh
You probably won't be able to use this hack while you're in the store buying your eggs, but you can use it once you get home. If you ever find yourself wondering just how fresh your eggs are, there's a simple way to quickly find out. Just pour some water into a glass or bowl, and then set your egg inside. If the egg floats, it means it's not very fresh.
If the egg lands somewhere in the middle, then it's kind of fresh, while an egg that sinks completely to the bottom is fresh. It's super quick and simple.
Impress Guests With Cloud Eggs
There are probably a hundred different ways to prepare eggs, but this might just be the best looking. It's called cloud eggs, and it looks just like its name suggests. It takes a bit longer than it would to make most other eggs, but the end result is a pillowy egg that's sure to impress. The Food Network has the recipe on their website, but expect it to around 15 to 20 minutes to make.
Luckily, you don't need any special tools or pans, and you should be able to recreate these cloud eggs with everything you already have at home in your kitchen.
You Can Use Eggshells To Trap Other Eggshells
If you've ever cracked an egg in a bowl or pan, and a couple of tiny eggshells went in with your egg, then you know how frustrating it can be to fish them out. No matter what you use, they always seem to fall back into the bowl. It's kind of like a game. But you can actually use eggshells to try and fish out any tiny piece of shell in the bowl.
For some reason, the shells attract one another, making it a lot easier than using a fork or spoon, which always seems to take forever when you're fishing out shells.
Banana And Eggs Make The Best Pancakes
While normal pancakes are pretty easy to make, other types can seem daunting. For example, most people probably assume that banana pancakes take a lot of prep time and are overly complicated. However, it turns out that's not true. All you need is a whole banana, which you then mash down and mix in with your eggs. That's really all there is to it, and there are a ton of different recipes out there.
Some recipes don't even call for flour, meaning that if you happen to be out of flour, this might be a great choice for when you're craving pancakes in the morning.
Poached Eggs Can Be Made In The Microwave
Here's an egg hack that you've probably never heard of before. If you're a fan of poached eggs, but it feels like you can never get them just right, then this might be for you. Take a couple of eggs and put them in a microwavable container or a microwavable cup. Next, pour a couple of teaspoons of water on top, then pierce each yolk in different places before placing it in the microwave.
You're going to want to microwave them on high heat for around 45 seconds, depending on how strong your microwave is. Then, turn them around and microwave for another 45 seconds before taking out and serving.
You Shouldn't Eat Raw Batter
This one isn't really a hack so much as it's a safety warning. There are tons of people out there who like to taste raw batter, but it turns out that it can make you really sick. You're basically eating raw eggs, which can have germs. So, you always want to wait until after you cook your batter to eat it. You may not get sick every time you taste raw batter, but it's still a possibility.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you thoroughly wash your bowl and countertop after handling raw batter so as not to spread any germs from the raw eggs.
Always Cook Eggs On Low Heat
You've probably heard this one before, but sometimes, when you're in a rush, it might be tempting to turn up the heat a bit to cook your eggs. Still, if you want the best-tasting eggs possible, then you should try and always cook them on low heat. This applies to most ways to cook eggs. The low heat allows the eggs to cook more evenly without completely drying them out.
You can heat your pan up on medium to low, but just remember to turn it down a notch before your eggs go into the pan and they'll taste much better for it.
Fat Makes For The Best Eggs
You may have heard this one before, but we're here to say it again: cooking eggs in fat makes for the best-flavored eggs. Fat can mean a couple of things, but a general rule of thumb is that the unhealthier it is, the better it's going to taste. For example, butter works great for cooking eggs, but it's probably not very healthy. Bacon grease works the best, but it's definitely not very healthy.
Olive oil is good, and it can give your eggs a bit of a char underneath, but eggs cooked in olive oil don't taste nearly as good as eggs cooked in the other two.
Eggshells Can Be Turned Into Candles
Here's another activity that's great to do with kids. The only thing is you're going to want to sterilize your eggshells by boiling them or some other way before getting started. But just pour some melted wax into your eggshell, then insert your wick and wait for it to solidify. You now have a collection of cute candles that work for the holidays. Candlewax can be found on Amazon or most places that sell crafts.
If you're doing this for Easter, then you might want to consider dyeing your eggs. You can dye them the same color as your wax or mix things up a bit.
Eggs Can Be Frozen
This hack probably isn't for everybody, but if you find that you have more eggs than you know what to do with for some reason, you can throw them in the freezer. Any type of container will work, but an ice tray is especially suited for the job. Just crack each egg open and put them in different compartments. You can add salt to help with the preservation process, but it isn't required.
Next, just cover your container and throw it in the freezer. The eggs should remain fresh for up to four months, but they can stay in the freezer for as long as a year.
Plastic Bottles Make Yolk Separation Easy
This is a pretty popular hack, but it's still worth mentioning for how well it works. You can use a plastic bottle to separate your egg yolk from your whites, and it's super quick and effective. Just squeeze the bottle before placing the mouth of the bottle over the yolk. Next, release the bottle, and the pressure inside should suck the yolk right up without puncturing it and leaving a mess.
It might seem too good to be true, but trust us, it works. There are a ton of videos online of people using this method to separate their eggs.
Eggs Should Actually Be Cooked All The Way Through
If you love your eggs a little runny, like we do, then you're probably not going to want to hear this one. However, technically you should always cook your eggs all the way through since around 1 in 20,000 have salmonella. If you're not cooking it all the way through, then you're putting yourself at risk of getting food sickness. However, this one does come with a sort of caveat.
Most people should be okay, even if their eggs have salmonella and they have not been cooked all the way through, although you will get a little sick. This is mainly for those who have an immune deficiency and are especially at risk for salmonella.
There's A "555" Rule For Instant Pots
So, this one only applies if you happen to have an Instant Pot at home, but the hack or rule makes for perfectly cooked eggs every time. If you're feeling like having some hard-boiled eggs, then set your Instant Pot to five minutes. After the five minutes are up, let them rest for another five minutes before setting them in an ice bath for, you guessed it, five more minutes.
We're not exactly sure who first discovered this or if it was meant to be a feature, but Delish does have the instructions listed on their website if you're interested.
Cook No Peel Boiled Eggs
This is a pretty unique recipe, but it makes for "boiled" eggs that don't require any peeling. First, crack a bunch of eggs into a loaf pan. You're going to want to wipe the pan down with a bit of oil beforehand. Next, place that pan inside another pan that has water in it. The steam from the water will help cook the eggs. Finally, set everything in your oven and let cook for around 30 minutes.
The result is basically "boiled" eggs that you don't have to peel and that are great for things like salads or sandwiches. Of course, you won't be able to use them for deviled eggs.
Shakshuka Should Be Your Go To Egg Breakfast
We won't get into the specifics here since there are a ton of different ways to cook it and recipes all over the internet, but shakshuka should be your new go-to breakfast meal. Despite how incredibly delicious it looks, it's actually quite simple to make, and it mixes things up a bit if you're craving eggs but are tired of making them the same old way you always make them.
The dish hails from the Middle East and North Africa, and the slightly runny eggs mix perfectly with tomatoes. You can use whatever kind of bread you like to eat with, but traditionally people use flatbread.
Eggshells Can Be Added To Coffee
Here's a hack that we bet you didn't know. You can add eggshells to coffee for a bit of a calcium boost and to cut the bitterness of the coffee. You're going to need to sterilize the eggshells first, but once you've done that, just add a couple of pieces of tiny shells to your hot coffee, and the alkaline will provide a smoother flavor since coffee is naturally acidic.
If you happen to be boiling loose coffee grounds while you're out camping or something, then adding some eggshells will help keep the grounds at the bottom of the pot.
The Trick To Perfectly Poached Eggs
This one comes straight from chefs like Gordon Ramsey, so you know it has to work. Apparently, there's a secret to making perfectly poached eggs, or at least a little tip that makes it easier. If you enjoy poached eggs, then try heating your water to the point where it barely starts to bubble. You don't want it to be so hot that the water is fizzing and about to boil over the top.
You still need a simmer, but the less of one you have, the more likely your poached eggs are going to turn out perfect, or at least very close to it.
Eggs Can Be Grilled
We've never thought about this one, but we guess it makes sense. It turns out that you can actually grill eggs. Just throw them on the grill while they're still in their shell and let them sit there until they're done, which usually takes around 10 minutes. You can find the instructions on Bon Appetit. You can also make an egg skewer by wrapping boiled eggs in different kinds of meat.
The type of meat is up to you, but bacon would probably be a good choice since those two are usually paired together for breakfast anyway and bacon is easy to wrap.
Get Rid Of Green Rings Inside Boiled Eggs
There's nothing wrong with eating boiled eggs that have green or gray rings, but it's just so much nicer when your hard-boiled eggs come out perfectly. Luckily, there's an easy way to get rid of those rings. There are a couple of things that causes them, including overcooking and water with too much iron. To cook your boiled eggs perfectly, use very hot water, but water that isn't necessarily boiling.
Next, you're going to want to throw them in an ice bath as soon as they come out so that they don't continue cooking on the inside after they're out of the water.
Use An Oven To Make Soft-Boiled Eggs
It turns out that the best way to cook your soft-boiled eggs doesn't actually involve boiling them. Instead, you can use the oven for perfectly cooked soft-boiled eggs. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and then use some nonstick spray to spray your pan. You can technically use any type of pan you want, but a muffin tin works well here. Next, add a bit of salt and pepper to each egg.
Finally, let them cook for around 15 minutes before taking them out and serving. Cooking time may vary depending on your oven and how you like your eggs cooked.
Use Brown Bread To Separate Eggs
There are a couple of different egg separation hacks on this list, but this hack is pretty incredible. You can use brown bread to help you pick up yolks with your fingers and separate them from your whites. Just rub your fingers on a bit of brown bread, then pick up the yolk. It should stay intact and easily separate from the egg white. The hack was originally introduced on TikTok.
We're not exactly sure about the science behind it, but it might have something to do with the bread drying out your fingers and, thus, providing you with a better grip.
Make This Fried Egg Cake For Special Occasions
There are all kinds of different ways to prepare eggs around the world, but this recipe has to be one of the most unique we've seen. These are called German fried egg cakes. The "egg yolk" on top of the cake isn't an actual yolk, but the recipe does call for eggs, so we're including it here. We're also not entirely sure about how we'd feel having an egg yolk on top of a sweet cake.
However, there are a couple of different places online where you can find the whole recipe, and it looks like the perfect cake to have after a dinner party or in the morning with coffee.