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Learn how to make perfect hard boiled eggs that are easy to peel and have a creamy yellow yolk every time by using these tips. Only 6-7 minutes to make.
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A bad hard-boiled egg can ruin your breakfast. Have you had a complimentary hotel breakfast where you grab an egg from the breakfast buffet only to find out later that it’s overcooked – gray-green ring around the yolk. Yuck. Here I am sharing with you my tips for making perfect eggs every time.
The perfect egg has no green ring around the yolk; the yolk is creamy and mellow; and if you want, you can stop short of the hard-boil and make them gooey soft-boiled instead.
Many people recommend different ways of cooking the perfect hard boil egg. Some suggest removing the saucepan with the eggs from the heat once the water starts boiling and to let them sit for about 15 minutes. I even found one recipe where the author recommended baking the eggs in the oven for 30 minutes. That’s a lot of time for me. You can cook a whole meal for that amount of time.
You can also cook eggs in the Instant Pot and cook them for only 5 minutes.
How to boil eggs quickly & easily
I believe hard-boiled eggs should be quick & easy to cook. You can cook a beautiful creamy egg for only 6-7 minutes. Why spend half an hour when you can have perfect eggs within minutes? Especially when I cook eggs in the morning for breakfast, the last thing I want to do is wait so long for the eggs to cook.
Eggs are a convenient and affordable source of protein. With hard-boiled eggs on hand, you have the components of a satisfying breakfast, lunch, snack, appetizer, or dinner. So get cracking! 🙂
What you’ll need for Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
You will need eggs, water and ice to make the best hard boiled eggs.
Equipment
Saucepan
Timer
Slotted spoon
Bowl for the ice bath
How to Hard Boil Eggs
- Place eggs in a single layer in a large saucepan. Cover them with cool water by 1 inch.
- Cover the pan with a lid and bring water to a rolling boil over high heat; when the water has reached a boil, reduce heat to medium-high and maintain a gentle boil. Set the timer for the desired time and boil for 6 – 7 minutes over medium-high heat for perfect hard boiled eggs.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer them to a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process and let them cool for a few minutes. Or you can place them under cool running water to stop the cooking. This will also help the eggs peel easily.
- Remove the eggs from the cold water and tap the egg on a solid surface, then gently roll to crack the shell on all sides before peeling the egg shell. (Skip this step if your eggs are soft-boiled with runny yolks or if you’re planning to dye your eggs for Easter.)
Check out my video where I show you how to make these eggs for only 7 minutes.
Hard Boiled Eggs Time Chart
Here are the times for boiling eggs:
- For soft-boiled eggs: 4 minutes
- For slightly soft-boiled eggs: 5 minutes
- For custardy yet firm soft-boiled eggs: 6 minutes
- For creamy hard-boiled eggs: 7 minutes
- For firm yet still creamy hard-boiled eggs: 8 minutes
- For very firm hard boiled eggs: 9 minutes
How to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
After boiling the eggs and cooling them in ice-cold water, gently crack the shell and roll them on the counter. The shell will fall off easily.
If you notice that some eggs are hard to peel, crack them all around without peeling them and place them under a little bit of running water or soak them in a bowl with water for a while. The water penetrates under the shell and makes it easier to peel.
How long do hard boiled eggs last?
Make sure the eggs are refrigerated within two hours after cooking. They can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. (If you notice a gassy odor in the refrigerator, that is normal and harmless, it’s caused by hydrogen sulfide that forms when the eggs are boiled.)I prefer to peel their shells before refrigerating. They are harder to peel after they have been refrigerated.
How to use Perfect Boiled Eggs
- Sandwiches. These eggs are perfect to make Egg Salad Sandwiches or any other sandwich you make.
- Salads. Use hard boiled eggs as an addition to your favorite salad, or use them in Cobb Salad, Chef Salad, 7 Layer Salad, Potato Salad, Russian Salad Olivier, and any other salad you want to add more protein to.
- Appetizers. These boiled eggs are great to make Deviled Eggs.
- Breakfast. For a simple breakfast serve them sliced on an Avocado Toast, on a cheese bagel, or simply with bacon.
TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN
Tips and Notes for perfect eggs every time
- Don’t place the cold eggs from the fridge in the hot water on the stove. Place the eggs in cold water and then turn on the cooktop. If an egg has a crack, you can add a little bit of vinegar to the pot. It will help to congeal the egg white if it starts to leak out from the shell.
- Boil the eggs over medium-high heat.
- Set a timer and don’t cook the eggs for more than the recommended time.
- If you are planning to make Easter eggs and want to make sure they will be easy to peel, it’s best to buy eggs at least a week in advance. Older eggs are easier to peel.
- To make the eggs easier to peel, use some of these suggestions:
- Use older eggs (~ 1 week old). A few days old eggs are easier to peel.
- Add 1/2 tsp salt to the water. Adding salt to the water may help make the eggs easier to peel.
- Add 1/2 tsp of baking soda. Some people suggest adding baking soda to the water which increases the alkalinity of the water and makes the eggs easy to peel.
- Add vinegar (if you are using farm fresh eggs). You can easily peel hard-boiled eggs by adding a little bit of vinegar to the water which makes the shell softer.
- If you would like to hard boil a dozen eggs, you can use a pressure cooker to make Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
More egg recipes
How To Make Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
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Equipment
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place eggs in a single layer in a large saucepan. Cover them with cool water by 1 inch.
- Cover with a lid and bring water to a boil over high heat; when the water has reached a full rolling boil, reduce the heat to medium-high and maintain a gentle boil. Set the timer for the desired time and boil for 6 – 7 minutes over medium-high heat for perfect hard-boiled eggs.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer them to a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process and let them cool for a few minutes. Or you can place them under cool running water to stop the cooking. This will also help the eggs peel easily.
- Remove the eggs from the cold water and tap the egg on a solid surface, then gently roll to crack the shell on all sides before peeling the egg shell. You can sprinkle some paprika or chives on top. (Skip this step if your eggs are soft-boiled with runny yolks or if you’re planning to dye your eggs for Easter.)
TIPS & NOTES
Boiling eggs Cook Time Chart
- For soft-boiled eggs boil eggs – 4 minutes from the time water starts boiling
- For slightly soft-boiled eggs boil eggs – 5 minutes from the time water starts boiling
- For custardy yet firm soft-boiled eggs boil eggs – 6 minutes from the time water starts boiling
- For creamy hard-boiled eggs boil eggs – 7 minutes from the time water starts boiling
- For firm yet still creamy hard-boiled eggs boil eggs – 8 minutes from the time water starts boiling
- For very firm hard boiled eggs boil eggs – 9 minutes from the time water starts boiling
Easy to peel hard boiled eggs
- Use older eggs (~ 1 week old). A few days old eggs are easier to peel.
- Add 1/2 tsp salt to the water. Adding salt to the water may help make the eggs easier to peel.
- Add 1/2 tsp of baking soda. Some people suggest adding baking soda to the water which increases the alkalinity of the water and makes the eggs easy to peel.
- Add vinegar (if you are using farm fresh eggs). You can easily peel hard-boiled eggs by adding a little bit of vinegar to the water which makes the shell softer.
- Roll them on the counter. After you boil the eggs and cool them in ice-cold water, roll them on the counter to remove the shell. It will fall off easily.
How to prevent your eggs from cracking
Don’t place the cold eggs from the fridge in the hot water on the stove. Place the eggs in cold water and then turn on the cooktop. If an egg has a crack, you can add a little bit of vinegar to the pot. It will help to congeal the egg white if it starts to leak out from the shell.How to store boiled eggs
Refrigerate any unused eggs, with their shells removed, for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.NUTRITION
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Once it reaches a boil, do uncover the lid or leave it covered ?
Leave the lid covered. If it starts overflowing, open it up a little bit.
Glad this question was answered. In the video, there was no cover.
I did try your way of cooking eggs loved it!!!! My grandma showed me when i was younger it was to bring to a fast boil then take off let set 10 min coverd, then place in cold water the water we drawed up from a well next to the farm house it was always very cold water we didnt have indoor plumbing and cooked on a wood fired cook stove. We would take them with us as we did our chores on the farm. Now that im a service plumbing Tech i still cook them and take with me for a snack or lunch now im out the door faster and have them anyway i please!
Thanks for stopping by, Gordon! Yes, this is a much faster way to make hard-boiled eggs. I am glad you love it! 🙂
Do you have to have a cover? I didn’t cover mine so wondering if need to add cooking time?
No, you don’t have to adjust the cooking time. It’s good to cover the eggs otherwise the water will evaporate quicker and there might not be enough water to cover the eggs. This can result in undercooked eggs.
Learning how to perfectly hard boil an egg to your exact specifications is life changing!
Thanks, Elena!
We love hard boiled eggs here. I have to admit that I have never tried to do anything other than a firm yellow yolk but I might have to try your chart and test it out!
Hope you give it a try, Erin! I think you will love it!
Love the simplicity and I totally agree, boiled eggs are such a great to-go protein. Nice!
Thanks, Debra!
I’ve never been a big egg fan, but my husband loves them. I’ve always struggled with hard-boiled eggs for him so this guide is great! I’m guessing a minute or two adjustment for higher altitudes.
Hi Alisa! Yes, I would adjust a minute or two for higher altitudes. Glad you find this guide helpful!
Great tutorial! I love me some soft cooked eggggsss!
Thanks, Kathi! I can eat eggs every day, cooked any way. 🙂
i love hard boiled eggs too. My mother and grandmother cooked eggs for 20 to 25 min. Without placin a lid on pot. I can’t wait to cook eggs the correct way. I have over cooked my eggs for over a two decades. I might have eggs everyday next week
This is how my mom also taught me to cook boiled eggs. I said the same thing been over cooking them more than 20 years. I can’t wait to make it this way, its much faster and no grey yolk
Loving the visual! Such a good reference.
Thanks, Lauren!
I love the visual you have here! I always seem to second guess myself and boil eggs too long, so it’s great to see how just an extra minute or two can change things. Will have to experiment with this for my lunch next week!
Thanks, Chrisy! Hope you give it a try!
Perfection!! I can’t wait to try this different versions!
Thanks, Sam!
I tried this recipe today on a snow day perfect hard boiled eggs thanks