Learn how to make hard boiled eggs perfectly every time! With this easy method, they'll be easy to peel and have vibrant yellow yolks.
cooking basics / vegetarian — Jump to recipe
Here’s the good news: perfect hard boiled eggs are easy to make. …And the bad news: so are less-than-perfect ones. I don’t know about you, but I’ve certainly cooked my fair share of the latter. When you try to peel away the shell, half the whites come along with it, or when you cut it open, the yolk is slightly green instead of brilliant yellow. Pretty disappointing, if you ask me.
See, cooking perfect hard boiled eggs is easy, but that doesn’t mean that the process you use doesn’t matter. After years of trial and error, I’m happy to say that this method for how to make hard boiled eggs works every time! The yolks are always sunshine yellow, and the shells slide right off. Whether you’re getting ready for Easter, prepping for Passover, or just on the hunt for a protein-packed snack, this easy hard boiled egg recipe is guaranteed to please.
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs
Follow these simple steps to make perfect hard boiled eggs every time:
First, boil the eggs. Place them in a pot and cover them with cold water by 1 inch. Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
Then, let them sit in the hot water. As soon as the water begins to boil, turn off the heat and cover the pot. Leave the eggs in the hot water for anywhere from 10-12 minutes, depending on how you like your eggs. The 10-minute eggs will have vibrant, creamy yolks, while the 12-minute yolks will be paler and opaque, with a chalkier texture.
Finally, move them to an ice bath. When the time is up, drain the eggs and transfer them to a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Leave them in the ice bath for at least 14 minutes before you peel the eggs.
If you’re not planning to eat the eggs right away, feel free to leave them in the shells and store them in the fridge. But even if this is the case, don’t cut the ice bath short! It’s crucial for stopping the cooking process and making the eggs easy to peel later on.
See below for the complete recipe!
Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs Tips
- Buy the eggs in advance.If I’m cooking sunny side up eggs, fresh eggs will yield the best results every time. But if I’m hard boiling them, the opposite is true! Boiled farm-fresh eggs are more difficult to peel than older eggs. If you want to make perfect hard boiled eggs, it pays to buy them in advance and cook them after a few days in the fridge.
- Store the eggs upside down. This tip comes from Jack’s mom, who makes the BEST deviled eggs for family gatherings. In order for the yolks to land right in the center of the hard boiled eggs, she recommends storing the raw eggs upside down before you cook them.
- Don’t skip the ice bath! Overcooked hard boiled eggs have an unappealing greenish ring around the yolks. We want our yolks to come out sunshine-yellow, so transfer the eggs to an ice bath to stop the cooking process as soon as they come out of the pot. This step is also crucial for making hard boiled eggs that are easy to peel. The ice bath helps separate the egg membrane from the shell, so you’ll be able to peel away the shell without ripping off chunks of egg white.
- Peel them carefully.The ice bath should set you up for success here, but that doesn’t mean the shell will all come off in one piece. Gently rap the egg on the counter to break the entire shell into small pieces. Carefully peel it away along the fractures, leaving the egg whites as intact as possible.
Storing and Serving Suggestions
Peeled or unpeeled hard boiled eggs will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Enjoy them as a protein-packed snack with salt and pepper or Everything Bagel Seasoning, slice them into salads, add them to grain bowls, or top them onto avocado toast. I also love to make hard boiled eggs to turn into deviled eggs, pickled eggs, or healthy egg salad!
How do you like to eat hard boiled eggs? Let me know in the comments!
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs
This easy method for how to hard boil eggs works every time! They're easy to peel, and they have perfect yellow yolks. Enjoy them as a snack, add them to salads, and more!
Instructions
Place eggs in a medium pot and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, then cover the pot and turn off the heat. Let the eggs cook, covered, for 9 to 12 minutes, depending on your desired done-ness (see photo).
Transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water and chill for 14 minutes. This makes the eggs easier to peel. Peel and enjoy!
Notes
*Eggs may vary based on size, type, and freshness. Farm-fresh eggs are more difficult to peel than older eggs.
FAQs
Instructions
- Place your eggs in a single layer on the bottom of your pot and cover with cold water. ...
- Over high heat, bring your eggs to a rolling boil.
- Remove from heat and let stand in water for 10-12 minutes for large eggs. ...
- Drain water and immediately run cold water over eggs until cooled.
2 to 3 lemon slices: Adding lemon slices to the boiling water infuses a subtle citrus flavor and can help make the eggshells easier to peel. Ice cubes: Crucial for stopping the cooking process immediately after boiling, ice cubes cool the eggs quickly, which also aids in easier peeling.
How long should I boil for a hard boiled egg? ›
As soon as the water begins to boil, turn off the heat and cover the pot. Leave the eggs in the hot water for anywhere from 10-12 minutes, depending on how you like your eggs. The 10-minute eggs will have vibrant, creamy yolks, while the 12-minute yolks will be paler and opaque, with a chalkier texture.
How to make boiled eggs better? ›
Below, you'll find 4 simple, delicious ingredient combinations to truly elevate a classic hard boiled egg.
- Super Seedy. This mix of 4 different seeds packs in tons of heart-healthy fats (like omega-3s), dietary fibre, and extra protein. ...
- Curried Yogurt Dip. ...
- Herby Cream Cheese. ...
- Soy Sauce and Seaweed.
How to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs, Step-by-Step
- Step 1: Plunge the Boiled Eggs Into an Ice Bath.
- Step 2: Gently Crack the Egg.
- Step 3: Roll the Egg.
- Step 4: Start Peeling at the Large End.
- Step 5: Use Cold Water for an Extra Assist.
- Start with Slightly Older Eggs.
- Add Baking Soda.
- Cook the eggs In Boiling Water.
Once water is boiling, add the eggs and adjust the temperature to maintain a rolling boil. Start a timer for 12 minutes and prepare an ice bath. When the timer goes off, remove eggs from the pot and immediately place into ice bath for at least 10 minutes before peeling.
How much lemon juice to put in eggs? ›
Add a little lemon juice before—or after—cooking.
A wee bit of acid encourages the egg's proteins to hook up and be creamy and tender. You don't need much juice—just about ½ teaspoon per 2 to 3 eggs. You can also add a touch of lemon juice just before serving.
What does lemon do to egg? ›
The albumin, or protein structure inside an egg, reacts with acid from the lemon juice to create a sturdier inner structure that holds air bubbles. As the eggs cook, the air bubbles cause them to become lighter and fluffier.
What happens when you add vinegar to hard-boiled eggs? ›
The vinegar in the water makes the eggs easier to peel. Here's why: The vinegar's acid not only dissolves some of the calcium carbonate in the shell, it also helps the whites set faster. Running the hard-boiled eggs under cold running water as you're peeling, meanwhile, helps the shell separate from the membrane.
Do you hard boil eggs before or after the water boils? ›
You might have heard that you should drop your eggs into room temperature or cold water and then bring the water to a boil. This is a myth. In our tests, bringing the water to a boil first and then lowering the eggs into the bath made for easy peeling and more accurate timing.
Instead, check for feel: if you peel an egg and it still feels really soft, leave it whole and pop it back in the boiling water for 1-2 minutes more. If you're still unsure, slice one open and get eyes on the yolk.
What is the secret to perfect boiled eggs? ›
Lower the heat slightly – so the eggs don't crack due to being bashed around but water is still at a gentle boil. Start the timer – 6 minutes for runny yolks, 8 minutes for soft boiled, 10 minutes for classic hard boiled, 15 minutes for unpleasant rubbery whites and powdery dry yolks.
What not to do when boiling eggs? ›
Using the wrong pot.
Don't try to cram too many egg in a pot that's two sizes too small. Not only will the eggs cook unevenly, but there's more risk of an egg cracking.
What should I add to the water when boiling eggs? ›
It's not necessary to add anything to the water. Some people also swear that adding a bit of salt, vinegar or even baking soda to the boiling water makes eggs easier to peel and/or makes them taste better. We, however, prefer the simplicity of plain ol' water.
What makes boiled eggs harder to peel? ›
The fresher the eggs, the harder they are to peel. This is because the egg white or “albumen” in a fresh egg has a relatively low pH level, making it acidic. When cooked, these fresh egg whites bond strongly to the inner shell's membrane.
Why add vinegar to hard-boiled eggs? ›
The vinegar in the water makes the eggs easier to peel. Here's why: The vinegar's acid not only dissolves some of the calcium carbonate in the shell, it also helps the whites set faster. Running the hard-boiled eggs under cold running water as you're peeling, meanwhile, helps the shell separate from the membrane.
What to do if my eggs won't hard boil? ›
Too little water causes parts of the eggs to be exposed and end up undercooked. If you have 2 or 3 layers of eggs stacked up in a small pot, they may cook unevenly. Use a large pan and limit cooking to two (2) dozen eggs at a time only.
