Egg salad is a classic sandwich filling and popular picnic food. The creamy texture and tasty flavor of egg salad makes it a go-to potluck contribution. While specialized egg slicers can create beautiful, uniform slices of hard boiled egg, don’t worry if you don’t have one. With a few simple kitchen tools and tricks, you can make perfect egg salad slices and whip up this versatile dish.
Why Make Egg Salad?
There are many great reasons to make homemade egg salad:
- It’s delicious – the creamy, eggy flavor is hard to beat.
- It’s flexible – use egg salad as a sandwich filling, top crackers, stuff into a tomato or avocado, or eat with a fork.
- It’s easy to make – boil eggs, mash with a few ingredients, and mix up the filling.
- It uses up extra eggs – an easy way to use up leftovers.
- It’s potluck friendly – transportable in a container and appeals to many.
- You control the ingredients – make it to your taste and dietary needs.
The downside is it requires uniform, sliced eggs. But there are plenty of ways to slice hard boiled eggs without a special tool.
Hard Boil Eggs Perfectly
The starting point for great egg salad is perfectly hard boiled eggs. Here are a few tips:
- Use eggs that have been refrigerated – they will peel more easily.
- Gently place eggs in a saucepan and cover with 1 inch of water.
- Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, remove pan from heat.
- Cover and let eggs sit for 12 minutes.
- Drain eggs and rinse under cold water until cooled.
- Tap each egg gently to crack the shell. Starting at the wider end, peel off the shell.
Hard boiled eggs can be stored in the refrigerator in their shells up to 1 week. Peeled eggs should be tightly covered and will last up to 5 days.
Slice Eggs Without a Slicer
With perfectly hard boiled eggs, it’s time to slice them up. You’ll want uniform slices or cubes to make attractive egg salad. Here are some slicer-free methods to cut hard boiled eggs:
Knife Slices
- Use a serrated knife for clean cuts. A typical bread knife works well.
- Place egg on a cutting board. Trim the ends off so it sits flat.
- Slice the egg horizontally into rounds. Aim for 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness.
- Stack 2-3 rounds and cut vertically into strips. Then dice the strips.
- Place diced egg pieces in a bowl. Repeat with remaining eggs.
Egg Wedger
- An egg wedger is a tool that slices eggs into uniform wedges.
- Simply place the wedger over the egg and press down firmly.
- Rotate the egg and repeat to cut it into even wedges.
Wire Egg Slicer
- A wire egg slicer contains wires tight together in a grid.
- Place the egg in the cradle on its side and close the slicer over the egg.
- Press the handles together to slice the egg.
- Rotate the egg 90 degrees and slice again for cubes.
Make the Egg Salad Filling
Once your eggs are diced into the desired shape and size, you can mix up the tasty salad filling:
Ingredients
- 6 hard boiled eggs, diced
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1-2 tablespoons mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 rib celery, diced (optional)
- 1 green onion, sliced (optional)
- 1 dill pickle, diced (optional)
Directions
- In a medium bowl, combine diced eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper.
- Stir mixture until eggs are evenly coated.
- Stir in any optional ingredients like celery, onion, pickle, etc.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
- For best flavor, refrigerate 1-2 hours before serving.
This easy egg salad is ready to eat! Use it to make sandwiches, serve over lettuce, or eat with crackers. The options are endless.
Egg Salad Sandwich Ideas
Now that you have delicious egg salad made, try it out in some tasty sandwiches:
Classic Egg Salad Sandwich
- Egg salad
- Bread – white, whole wheat, rye, etc.
- Lettuce or spinach
- Tomato slices (optional)
- Serve open faced or as a classic sandwich
Egg Salad Wrap
- Egg salad
- Flour tortilla
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Ranch dressing (optional)
Loaded Egg Salad Sandwich
- Egg salad
- Croissant, club roll, or bread
- Swiss cheese
- crisp bacon
- Avocado slices
- Romaine lettuce
Egg Salad Alternatives
Switch up your standard egg salad with one of these fun flavor twists:
Curry Egg Salad
- Add 2 tsp curry powder and 1/4 cup mango chutney
Blue Cheese Egg Salad
- Mix in 1/4 crumbled blue cheese and 1 tbsp ranch dressing
Bacon Ranch Egg Salad
- Top with cooked crumbled bacon
- Use ranch dressing instead of mayo
Tzatziki Egg Salad
- Fold in 1/4 cup tzatziki sauce
- Add diced cucumber
- Top with feta cheese
Tex-Mex Egg Salad
- Add 1/4 cup salsa
- Top with shredded cheese
- Use in tacos or quesadillas
Storing Leftover Egg Salad
Egg salad will keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days in an airtight container. Here are some serving ideas for leftovers:
- On top of a baked potato
- Stuffed into a pita pocket
- On pasta or grain salad
- On crackers as a snack
- As a breakfast sandwich filling
You can also freeze any extra egg salad. Allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
Conclusion
With a few simple tools and some easy techniques, you can slice hard boiled eggs for egg salad without using a special egg slicer. Hard boil eggs perfectly every time. Then slice with a serrated knife, egg wedger, or wire slicer into your desired shape and size. Mix up the egg salad filling with mayo, mustard, and seasonings until creamy and delicious. Enjoy your egg salad in sandwiches, wraps, on salads, and more. With the right approach, it’s easy to make this tasty classic any time.