Question: I make my own hard-boiled eggs. Lately, when I try to peel them, it just turns into a mess. Large chunks of the egg white stick to the shell, the membrane sticks to the egg white, and it just doesn’t peel cleanly. What am I doing wrong? How can I get perfect (or nearly perfect) hard-boiled eggs? If you can help, I would be very grateful. Thanks. — John
Answer: Here are a few tips for making hard-boiled eggs easier to peel. Note: The fresher the egg, the more difficult it is to peel because the egg whites hold more firmly to the inner membrane.
Add a small amount of vegetable oil to the pot while boiling eggs. The shells absorb just enough of the oil so the shells slide off easier.
After boiling eggs, empty all of the hot water and fill the pan with cold water. Add two bowls of ice and let the eggs sit in the ice water for 10 minutes before peeling.
Take an egg in your hand and smash it on the table, then roll it back and forth like a rolling pin. This makes the shell peel off more easily.
Alternatively, try using a spoon and hit the egg all over so it cracks everywhere. Then, turn the spoon around and slip the tip under a piece of the shell, slide it around the entire egg. Rinse off any remaining shell.
Question: I want to clean my ceiling fan, but I keep putting it off because it is my least favourite job. Any tips to make it easier? Thanks. — Kelly
Answer: For regular ceiling fan cleaning, you can use a good quality long-handled microfibre dust cloth. If you clean your ceiling fan once every one to two weeks, then when you turn the fan on, less dust flies around the room and settles on other parts of the room or on your furniture. However, when grease and dust have built up to the point of becoming gummy and sticky, more drastic measures need to taken. You will need a step ladder, a gallon bucket of water, abrasive non-scratching cloth, and 1 tbsp. each of dish soap and vinegar. With the fan off (obviously), scrub each blade of the fan using the solution. Rinse with warm water and dry. To prevent ceiling fan blades from collecting dust, you can wipe them with furniture polish and a soft cloth — or a fabric softener sheet.
Feedback from Friendly Manitobans
— Avoiding food wastage: My wife, Linda, and I have found three-litre boxes of wine have almost a full glass left after the spigot has stopped pouring. That’s eight or nine per cent — about three bucks worth! Rob
— After purchasing berries, I remove them from the plastic carton. Then I wash them and place a paper towel onto the bottom of the carton. Place the berries back into the carton. The towel absorbs excess moisture which keeps the berries fresher longer. Margret
— I hear so many people talk about scrubbing their kitchen cupboards with all kinds of products. All you really need is dish soap and water. Scrub and rinse; the grease will disappear. Rhinold
— To make homemade pizza crispy, make sure to heat the empty pan in the oven at 450 F for about 10 minutes. Prepare your pizza on parchment paper, and then transfer it onto the hot pan. Skipping this step will result in a soggy pizza. Tony
Note: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of any suggestions in this column. Test all products/methods on an inconspicuous area first.
Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website: reena.ca. Email your tips and questions.
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