What makes boiled eggs stick to the shell?
Sometimes a boiled egg sticks to the shell and makes it hard to peel. The culprits are two thin membranes that lie between the white and the shell. The fresher the egg, the stickier the membrane, and the harder the egg-peeling job. There are a few tips and tricks to help make the task easier, however.Egg AnatomyBetween the shell of the egg and the white lie two thin membranes, simply known as the inner and outer membrane. These membranes are made of a whitish protein called albumen. The outer membrane’s job is to cling tightly to the shell; the inner membrane’s job is to cling tightly to the yolk. The two membranes also stick securely to each other.Old Eggs vs. New EggsThe shells of fresh eggs are more likely to stick than the shells of older eggs. As the egg ages, the inner and outer membrane release carbon dioxide and become less elastic–less sticky. You can easily tell the age of an egg just by observing it in the pot of water prior to cooking. If it lies on its side, it’s very fre
