[Abacus]

Had a couple of small visitors yesterday and while our backs were turned they sorted out the eggs in kitchen including the boiled ones so now I have a tray of mixed raw & boiled eggs... How do I tell the difference??

[Casey76]

Try candling them.  the boiled ones will be all dark (except for the air cell) the uncooked ones will be clear

[Lindeggs]

My Mum used to spin the eggs on the tabletop.  From memory, a boiled egg will keep spinning longer and steadier because it has a solid inside.  The raw egg will go wobbly because it is full of liquid.

Gosh, that's delving waaaay back in my memory banks.  I wonder if I have remembered correctly?! 

[Vecten]

A boiled egg floats, a raw egg sinks.

[Casey76]

A boiled egg floats, a raw egg sinks.

Unless it's old

[Vecten]

A boiled egg floats, a raw egg sinks.

Unless it's old

Haha. I was toying with adding that. I wish I had now.

[hillfooter]

The simplest way which is incidentally fool proof is to spin the egg on a hard surface (a tray for example) and then quickly stop it spinning by briefly placing your finger on the top and quickly removing it.  A raw egg will start turning again slightly whereas a hardboiled egg will remain still.  This is because the yolk spins but isn't stopped completely when you briefly place your finger on the shell and will start the shell spinning again when you release it.

Also a raw egg has more inertia due to it's liquid interior than a boiled egg so roll them down a slope and the hard boiled egg will accelerate quicker than the raw egg and reach the bottom of the slope first!  make sure they have a soft landing otherwise the foolproof method of breaking the shell will give you a definative result!    Floating eggs and the like are a bit hit and miss.

It's the appliance of science!
HF

[Lindeggs]

Hillfooter, are you my mother?

[hillfooter]

Hillfooter, are you my mother?

Yes my dear! OMG I thought you'd never spot me but now I've been unmasked I have to admit it

I'm very disappointed dear that you seem to be finding it hard to remember what your poor old ma taught you before I had to leave you on that convent's doorstep.  

However I've only just now read your post and in fact you have remembered correctly what your old mother taught you.  That is also a way of telling a hardboiled egg from a fresh one.  A hard  boiled one will spin faster and for longer than a fresh one.

Now young lady what's all this nonsense about you keeping chickens

Your ole ma
HF

[joyfull]

 
Oh dear Lindeggs I really hope you take after your father