Do you have to check boiled eggs?

Question

Is it necessary to check hard or soft boiled eggs for blood spots?
I've never seen anyone do it, so perhaps it is not, but if so, why?

score 5 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 14 '11 at 22:52

In answer to your question, according to this article from OU, no:

There is no problem with eating eggs cooked in the shell (boiled or roasted), even though these cannot be checked.

However, note that this would only apply to non-fertilized eggs (as are commonly available today). If you're dealing with fertile eggs (usually available at a premium), consult a Rabbi for guidelines.

I also saw here that even fertilized hard-boiled eggs would not need checking. Only soft-boiled ever needed checking (when fertilized).

Also interesting from here:

When eating hard boiled eggs, Harav Moshe Feinstein zt"l had the custom to peel back the white to check the surface of the yolk for blood spots, which would appear as black spots.

Does your last quote come from http://www.thehalacha.com/attach/Volume4/Issue18.pdf? You're missing a link. — Menachem, Jun 11 '12 at 04:35

Double AA · Answer 2 · 2011-12-14T23:37:09.347

2

You don't have to. In fact, it is impossible to do so since after cooking, the blood can get mixed up and not be noticeable. Since it is impossible to check, we rely on the rov (majority) or eggs that are not bloody.

Source: here

edited Dec 14 '11 at 23:37

answered Dec 14 '11 at 21:49

Double AA

98,894
6
250
713

2

How does the blood get more mixed up than in a egg cooked after being shelled, e.g. a sunny side up? Also, what's the source for this? – HodofHod Dec 14 '11 at 21:58
@HodofHod It gets mixed up the same amount just by if you shell it before cooking you have a chance to check. For hard boiled eggs you can't check. We always check when we can. – Double AA Dec 14 '11 at 23:36
So you're saying that the cooking mixes it up. – HodofHod Dec 14 '11 at 23:56
@HodofHod "It is permitted to boil eggs in the shell and rely on the rov, since it is not possible to check it without breaking it." is the direct quote from the article I cited. – Double AA Dec 15 '11 at 00:11

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 14 '11 at 23:56

When the Lubavitcher Rebbe would eat the Beitza by the Seder, he would not check it for blood. Otzar Minhagei Chabad quotes the Taamei Hamitzvos who says that the AriZal would eat fried eggs and was not concerned for the occasional blood spot.

The Eishel Avraham (Buczacz) writes that because a majority of eggs have no blood-spots and it's hard to check them, one doesn't have to be machmir and find other food to eat.

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 15 '11 at 16:48

From Halachically Speaking Volume 4 Issue 18, "Blood Spots In Eggs":

When eating hard boiled eggs, Harav Moshe Feinstein zt”l had the custom to peel back the white to check the surface of the yolk for blood spots, which would appear as black spots. [ This is not required (This is the opinion of Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita (Hakhel Janurary 2006 daily e-mail).]

And

As mentioned before, according to the Rama, before using eggs in food, one should check to see if there are any blood spots. However, if it was not done, it is permitted to eat a hard boiled egg which was not checked beforehand since we can rely on the fact that most eggs are not fertilized

See there for sources.

Do you have to check boiled eggs?

4 Answers4

Linked