How to Boil, Peel and Crack Quail Eggs

So you’ve got a package of quail eggs on hand but aren’t quite sure what the best way to prepare them is.

Fear not! Quail eggs are a lot like other eggs. You’ll be able to boil, crack or peel them like a pro in no time. 

Just follow our steps below!

How to (Hard) Boil Quail Eggs

Many of us know how to boil a standard chicken egg. But because quail eggs are smaller, cuter and a bit more fragile, they need to be boiled a bit differently.

Since quail eggs are so small, using a pan instead of a pot will make the water boil faster. Just make sure the eggs can be entirely covered by water!

We also recommend boiling room-temperature eggs as this will prevent them from cracking early! Just add them to a bowl of warm water for a few minutes before boiling.

1. Place the pot or pan on a stovetop and heat on high, bringing the water to a rolling boil. Once boiling, add the quail eggs.

2. Start your timer! Let the eggs boil for two minutes (soft-boiled), three minutes (medium-boiled) or three and a half minutes (hard-boiled).

3. When the time is up, move the eggs to a bowl of cold water (we recommend adding some ice cubes). Dip a slotted spoon into the water and fish out each egg, placing each one into the bowl of water. They should cool off in a minute or two.

4. Once they’re cool enough to handle with your bare hands, take them out and get peeling!

The cool water makes the shells come off a lot easier while you peel them. You’ll see in the next section!

How to Peel Quail Eggs

Peeling a quail egg is like peeling a chicken egg, but the quail egg’s size means it’s a touch more fragile and needs to be handled gently.

1. Put down a paper towel to catch any eggshell pieces that fall as you peel the eggs.

2. Take each egg out of the bowl of water where they’ve cooled. 

3. Tap each egg on something hard to crack the shell.

4. Gently roll each egg to crack the rest of its shell. Don’t apply too much pressure while rolling the egg or you’ll crush it! Just do it lightly.

5. Get rid of the shell as well as the membrane around each egg.

6. Enjoy!

If you soft-boiled your eggs, it’s best to enjoy them immediately with a pinch of salt. If you hard-boiled them, the peeled eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for 3–5 days.

Eat them as a snack, add them to salads, or chop them up for a fun take on egg salad. 

If you’d rather not boil them yourself, you can buy boiled and peeled Spring Creek eggs in brine at a range of grocery stores.

How to Crack Quail Eggs

Don’t try cracking quail eggs on the side of a bowl, like you would chicken eggs — this is because the membrane underneath the shell is thicker!

Instead, crack your quail eggs with a paring knife or serrated knife. You can also use a special quail egg scissor or cutting tool. 

1. Grab an egg and hold it with the narrow side down. 

2. With your chosen tool, cut the top of the eggshell, roughly a quarter of the way from the top. Keeping your fingers away from the blade, cut around the egg until the top part comes off. Be careful — the eggs can get slippery.

3. With the top removed from the egg, simply turn the egg upside down and empty it into your pan or bowl! The white and yolk will come out together. (Tip: it’s best to crack all of the eggs you’re cooking at once!)

4. Boil, fry, scramble, poach or blend and enjoy the goodness!

No matter how you enjoy your quail eggs, they’re sure to spice up your egg life! 

Find a store carrying Spring Creek quail eggs today — and if you can’t find one, request them.