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I was making about a dozen hard boiled eggs last night and a few of them cracked when boiling. The yolk partially came out of the shell but I continued to cook them as other ones in the pot were fine. Is it safe to consume the partially broken eggs after they cool?

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  • are you sure it was the yolk (yellow?) If some of the white comes out it's no big deal but I usually trim the part away that came out because it is rubbery. Use the cracked ones first. Dec 10, 2013 at 21:11
  • very little yolk but a lot of white (between all 12 eggs)
    – Zero
    Dec 10, 2013 at 21:13

2 Answers 2

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Yes, it certainly is safe to eat them, it happens all the time. They won't last quite as long in the fridge as ones which don't crack, but as long as you eat them in a couple of days you are fine. They may look like nuclear mutants but they will taste the same.

To avoid cracked eggs heat the water more gently so they come to a boil slower, heating too quickly can cause the eggs to crack.

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  • Heated water makes for better boiling? I feel there's something missing here
    – npst
    Nov 7, 2023 at 13:16
  • Heating the eggs too quickly can make eggs crack, heating the water more gently, i.e. slower helps to avoid that @npst.
    – GdD
    Nov 8, 2023 at 8:45
  • Ah, "gently". I see.
    – npst
    Nov 8, 2023 at 11:48
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    I've edited to rephrase, hope that is clearer.
    – GdD
    Nov 8, 2023 at 12:14
  • Maybe it was my fault for being someone who brings water to a boil before adding the eggs (for timing reasons). Now I understand your (valid) point
    – npst
    Nov 8, 2023 at 13:22
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Yes. They may taste watery but they won't hurt.

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