How to Steam Quail Eggs
Learn how to steam quail eggs using this simple trick. Quail eggs make a delicious healthy protein snack and can be consumed as is or added as an ingredient to your favorite recipes.
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Quail Eggs
The quail have begun laying once again and we are thrilled to be able to consume bite size eggs once again. We have learned over time that hard-boiling farm fresh eggs, regardless of the breed of poultry, will give you a beat-up looking egg. In other words, the egg whites are destroyed during the peeling process.
Steaming quail eggs is the best, and truly, only option, especially if you seek the most perfect hard boiled egg.
Farm fresh eggs that were laid within a few days do not peel nicely when hard-boiled. The damage done to the egg white is horrible, leaving you no option but to use them in an egg salad sandwich.
Eggs from the market tend to peel perfectly once they’ve been boiled. Have you ever wondered why?
The answer is pretty simple. Eggs from the supermarket are old, roughly 1 month to 6 months old. The FDA requires all eggs sold in America to be washed, which removes the protective bloom.
For those who raise poultry know the importance behind the bloom. We also know why it is necessary to keep it intact until the egg is ready to be consumed.
The Bloom
The bloom is a natural protective barrier placed on the egg as a bird lays its egg. This barrier prevents bacteria from entering the eggs.
Washing the egg removes the bloom and the egg becomes porous, allowing air to enter the eggshell. Air within the egg causes the albumen (egg white) to shrink. This also makes the albumen become more acidic. Over a short period of time the space between the membrane and the egg shell grows, causing eggs, which are hard-boiled, to then peel easily.
How to Steam Quail Eggs
Steaming quail eggs (or any type of farm fresh egg) is quite easy. The process is simple, and all you’ll need is:
Begin by adding roughly 1-inch of water is added to the pot. Make sure to add only enough water to sit below the steaming basket. To much water in the pot will cause the egg white to become brown in the area which was sitting in the liquid.
Once the water has reached a hard boil, add the quail eggs. Next, you will need to set your timer for 10 minutes, if you’d like a soft boiled egg the steaming time is 8 minutes.
Keep in mind, anything longer than 10 minutes will cause the egg whites to become rubbery in texture.
Once the steaming process is complete, immediately remove the eggs and place them into ice-cold water until they are cool to the touch. Cold water will do, but I like to speed up the chilling process by adding a handful of ice-cubes.
Once completely cooled, the egg shells will peel easily and what you have is the perfect egg for:
- salads
- pickled quail eggs
- or as an quick, pop in your mouth, protein snack.
If you’re still hard-boiling your farm fresh eggs, for the sake the everything farm fresh, please stop. No-ones wants to be served an ugly egg.
How to Steam Quail Eggs
Learn how to steam quail eggs for the perfect peeled egg.
Materials
- Farm fresh quail eggs
- Steaming basket
- 8-quart pot with lid
- Mixing bowl
Instructions
- Wash the fresh eggs to remove any bedding, dirt, or manure.
- Add 1-inch of water and steaming basket to the stock pot.
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Add the quail eggs to the steaming basket and place the lid onto the pot.
- Allow the eggs to steam for 10 minutes.
- As the eggs are steaming, place ice-cubes and cold water to the mixing bowl.
- Once the steaming time has ended, remove the eggs from the pot and immediately place them into the ice-water.
- Allow the eggs to cool prior to peeling them.
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Remember, steaming farm fresh eggs is the only way to go!
Cook’s Country came out with Steamed Hard Cooked Eggs a month ago. They have you steaming regular store bought eggs for 13 minutes and then an ice water bath. Are farm fresh that different than store bought with your 21 minute steam? Just curious…..
Oh, yes! Farm fresh eggs are very much different than store bought eggs and they do need to be steamed for at least 21 minutes.
I steam my farm fresh eggs for 15 mins and they come out perfect every single time!
15 minutes gives us a perfect soft boiled egg, which we LOVE!
Yes, farm fresh eggs can be boiled and shell slips off quite nicely if done this way. First, bring your water to a boil (enough to cover12 eggs). Using large spoon or tongs place eggs in water, cover, and boil for 15 minutes. Place in ice water for 15 minutes, then peel or refrigerate for future use. Works every time!