16. Mix Apple Cider Vinegar And Crushed Eggshells
Cost: $10*
Purpose: Remedy for acid reflux and aching joints, apparently
This remedy has been around for a long time. Though it might seem like an old wives’ tale, some people swear by it. The remedy involves making a tincture from apple cider vinegar and eggshells to relieve acid reflux.
Mix Apple Cider Vinegar And Crushed Eggshells ©ThamKC/Shutterstock
Break eggshells up in a glass jar. Then, cover the shells with apple cider vinegar and screw on the lid of the jar. Let the mix sit until the shells have totally dissolved (this should take two days). According to Prevention, this remedy won’t just help acid reflux; it’ll also help “sore, aching joints,” too.
17. Perfect Poached Eggs
Cost: $0*
Purpose: Make poached eggs with no hassle
Poached eggs are delicious, but they can be a bit tricky to make. Luckily, the Internet is here to help, and it is full of tips from people who have perfected the art of poaching eggs. You can even find a Gordon Ramsay tutorial on YouTube.
Perfect Poached Eggs @eggs/Pinterest
According to one chef on Simply Recipes, the main trick to making poached eggs is to use barely-simmering water. The fewer bubbles there are, the less chance that the egg will get broken up.
18. Add Eggshells To Hot Coffee
Cost: $0*
Purpose: Makes coffee less bitter
Believe it or not, you can add eggshells to hot coffee to make it less bitter. Coffee is acidic, while eggshells are alkaline. When you add the shells to coffee, they remove the bitterness, mellowing and smoothing out the flavor.
Add Eggshells To Hot Coffee @Google/Pinterest
You can also use eggshells when making campfire coffee (i.e. boiling loose grounds in a pot of water). The shells, when boiled along with the grounds, keep the grounds at the bottom of the pot. They also cut the coffee’s bitterness, too.
19. Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs With No Problem
Cost: $10-$15*
Purpose: Vinegar makes eggshells softer
Hard-boiled eggs are delicious and convenient, though they aren’t always easy to peel. The shells getting stuck can result in the egg getting ripped or broken (not to mention, it’s extremely annoying when that happens).
Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs With No Problem @realsimple/Pinterest
According to Allrecipes, you can add apple cider vinegar or white vinegar to your pot of water to make softer eggshells that are easy to peel. The vinegar’s acid dissolves the calcium carbonate of the eggshell’s tough exterior, breaking it down so you can peel it off.
20. Birds Love Eggshells
Cost: $0*
Purpose: Adds calcium to their diet for nesting season
If you have bird feeders, consider giving your avian friends a calcium boost during nesting season. The National Audubon Society says that you can put leftover chicken eggshells into your bird feeders, adding crucial calcium for nesting season.
Birds Love Eggshells ©Janemf1/Shutterstock
While you can buy calcium-enriched seeds and suet (those will also work if you add them to your bird feeder in place of eggshells), some birds, such as the ever-common robin, won’t eat them. So, for robins and the like, eggshells are best.
21. Make An Eggshell Seed Starter
Cost: $5-$10*
Purpose: Use eggshells as cups in which seedlings can start
It’s quite easy to use eggshells as seed starters, as long as the shells have broken in a way that is conducive to doing so. For this hack, large brown eggs are best. You need the shells, the egg’s container, soil, and seedlings.
Make An Eggshell Seed Starter @Google/Pinterest
Place an empty shell inside each of the egg carton’s slots. Fill each shell with soil and a seedling, leaving a bit of space between the soil and edge of the shell. As these are seedlings, they won’t have to fight for sunlight and space, so shells are fine to use as starters.
22. Shakshuka Will Make A Lot Of Eggs At Once
Cost: $15-$20 to make*
Purpose: Uses a lot of eggs at once
Do you have a lot of eggs that you want to use, but don’t know what dish to make? Rather than let eggs to waste, you can make shakshuka. This Middle Eastern and North African recipe makes a peal of poached eggs simmering in spiced tomato sauce.
Shakshuka Will Make A Lot Of Eggs At Once @tripadvisor/Pinterest
The sauce is made from tomatoes, peppers, olive oil, garlic, onion, and spices, and you can find the full recipe on NYT Cooking and other sites. It’s perfect for eating right out of the pan while using pita bread for a “spoon.”
23. Thank TikTok For These No-Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs
Cost: $3-$6*
Purpose: Makes no-peel eggs in the oven
TikTok is a great resource for cooking tips, and this one particular video, which shows off a boiled egg hack, has tens of millions of views. The hack comes courtesy of TikTokker @jamiefielding_, who found a way to easily get rid of boiled eggshells. This hack isn’t for deviled eggs; it’s for egg salad, breakfast sandwiches, and the like.
Thank TikTok For These No-Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs @Google/Pinterest
Use a paper towel and two teaspoons of oil to grease a loaf pan. Crack the eggs into the pan. Then, place the pan into a baking dish full of water. Put the water bath and the eggs into the oven for half an hour, and the eggs will come out hard-boiled with no green-gray lines.
24. Use The 5 5 5 Method
Cost: $99 for an Instant Pot, 6-qt.*
Purpose: Cooks hard-boiled eggs in an Instant Pot
This hack is specifically for people who have an Instant Pot, which you can find at Target for $99 (Instant Pot RIO Multi-Cooker, 6-Quart). If you want to make Instant Pot eggs, all you need to know is the 5 5 5 Method.
Use The 5 5 5 Method @Delish/Pinterest
The 5 5 5 in the title refers to five minutes of pressure cooking, five minutes of letting the eggs sit before opening the lid, and five minutes of an ice water bath. If you do that, you’ll have easy, convenient hard-boiled eggs. You can find the full how-to on Delish and other cooking sites.
25. Always Cook Eggs All The Way Through
Cost: N/A
Purpose: To keep vulnerable groups safe from salmonella
This is an important hack for those with a weakened immune system, as they’ll want to cook eggs thoroughly. The same goes for kids and the elderly. If you’re cooking for these groups (or if you are a member), be sure to cook your eggs all the way until the yolk is solid.
Always Cook Eggs All The Way Through ©pppfrommyview | ©enrouteksm/Shutterstock
According to the CDC, 1 in 20,000 eggs have Salmonella, a disease that can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, headache, vomiting, and nausea. This is true even for eggs with intact, clean shells. Be sure to cook eggs all the way, especially if the eggs are being consumed by a vulnerable group.
26. Make A Homemade Egg Cake
Cost: $15-$20 to make*
Purpose: Uses four eggs to make a light, fluffy cake
Egg cake is a recipe that everyone is sure to love, and it’s not hard to make. According to Aayis Recipes, you need a cup of butter, one and one-quarter cups sugar, one-and-a-half cups maida (all-purpose flour), a teaspoon of baking powder, four eggs, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Make A Homemade Egg Cake @Google/Pinterest
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and sieve your flour and baking powder. Beat sugar in the butter in a separate bowl until it makes a smooth paste, and then add one egg at a time, followed by the vanilla. Combine it all together slowly, and bake for forty minutes.
27. Nutella + Egg = Makeshift Souffle
Cost: $1-$3*
Purpose: Two-ingredient souffle that takes 15 min.
Tasty came up with this two-ingredient souffle, which first requires you to preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Separate your yolks from your whites, placing them in separate bowls. Mix one-half cup Nutella in with the egg yolks. Then, in the other bowl, whisk the whites until they are in peaks.
Nutella + Egg = Makeshift Souffle @buzzfeed/Pinterest
Fold, gently and slowly, the egg whites with the Nutella-yolk mixture. Pour the mix into a greased ramekin, and then bake for fifteen to seventeen minutes. Don’t forget to clean the ramekin’s rims so that the souffle rises evenly.
28. Make Eggs In A Waffle-Maker
Cost: $30-$50 for a small waffle-maker*
Purpose: Makes fluffy, quick eggs that taste really good
While you might think of your waffle iron as good for, well, waffles, you can also use this equipment to make a savory dish, too. You can make waffle iron omelets that are ready in minutes and turn out very, very fluffy.
Make Eggs In A Waffle-Maker @buzzfeed/Pinterest
Pick your fillings and then pour the mixture onto your waffle iron at low heat. Check it frequently, as this omelet shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to make. According to The Cozy Cook, who made these, this waffle iron omelet was the fluffiest, most “delicious” egg dish ever.
29. Use A Plastic Water Bottle To Separate Yolks and Whites
Cost: $1-$2*
Purpose: Easily separates whites and yolks
This life hack has been swirling around the Internet for a while, so we’re just bringing it to your attention if you don’t know about it. To separate yolks and whites, all you need for this hack is a 20-oz., empty water bottle ($1-$2).
Use A Plastic Water Bottle To Separate Yolks And Whites @wonderhowto/Pinterest
Crack your egg onto a plate. Squeeze the bottle, placing the mouth onto the egg yolk while holding it upside-down. Lightly release the pressure on the bottle. The yolk, because of its different density, will be sucked into the bottle without bringing the whites with it.
30. Make “Chalk” With Eggshells
Cost: $5-$10 to make*
Purpose: Fun DIY activity with kids
If you’re looking for a DIY activity to do with kids, especially if you’re trying to entertain them in the summer, you can make chalk using eggshells, hot water, flour, and food coloring. You’ll want to first wash the eggshells well before drying them and grinding them in a food processor.
Make “Chalk” With Eggshells @Google/Pinterest
You need just one tablespoonful of eggshell powder to make a stick of chalk. Stir one teaspoon of hot water and one teaspoon of flour together. Make a paste, and then add the eggshell powder to the paste, along with the food coloring. Shape the mix into a chalk stick, roll it in a paper towel strip, and let it dry for one to three days until it’s ready to make sidewalk art.