Learn the best method for how to boil eggs to produce the perfect hard boiled egg every single time without any fuss.
Step 1: Place eggs in the bottom of a saucepan. Be sure not to crowd the eggs in the pan. They should fit comfortably.
Step 2: Fill the pan with cold water, 1 inch above the eggs.
Step 3: Bring the water to a rapid boil on the stovetop over high heat.
Step 4: Once the water comes to a boil, cover the pan with a lid and remove the pan from the heat. Do not lift the lid. Set a timer for the type of boiled egg you want, from 4 minutes to 12 minutes.
Step 5: Fill a large bowl with ice and water.
Step 6: When the eggs reach the desired cooking time, use tongs to remove the eggs from the hot water and immerse gently into the prepared ice water to cool, about 10 minutes.
Step 7: Gently tap the eggs against a hard surface and peel away the shell. Rinse the egg under cold water to remove any bits of shell and pat dry.
How many minutes should I cook my egg?
Soft Boiled (runny or very soft yolk) – 4 to 6 minutes
Hard Boiled (solid cooked yolk) – 8 to 12 minutes
TROUBLESHOOTING
Why does my yolk have a green circle around it?
Unfortunately, a green yolk means you’ve overcooked your eggs.
One of my eggs cracked while boiling. Can I still eat it?
Every once in a while an egg cracks while boiling and may leak some of the interior white and even yolk. The egg is technically still edible as it has been cooked, albeit a slightly different method. Usually I simply discard these eggs.
Why doesn’t my egg peel smoothly?
Sometimes when you peel the egg you may notice that bits and pieces of the egg come off with the shell. This is completely normal and will not affect the taste of the egg, only the appearance. There are many reasons why eggs do not peel smoothly. Fresh eggs are difficult to peel, while older eggs peel easier. There are many tips, tricks, and old wives tales as to how to peel an egg smoothly. Add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water, or a teaspoon of vinegar. Poke the bottom of the egg with a needle before cooking. Crack the eggs all over before putting them in the ice bath. These are just a few of the many tips and tricks out there.
GREAT and EASY Recipe! Eggs came out PERFECT!
This is the Perfect way to cook hard boiled eggs. Wow! I am amazed. I wish I learned this way sooner.
Works like I says.
Thank you so much for this recipe for the perfect hard boiled egg! Mine turned out the exact way I wanted them to! Will definitely check out more of your recipes!! Have a blessed day!
Best ever hard boiled eggs…yolk was a lemony yellow..10 minutes timing used for egg salad…would have been beautiful sliced and decorating the top of potatoe or greens.
Love all your recipes…you do a great job presenting the recipes and I so love trying new recipes…I don’t use any other recipe books now that I follow you…before I started following you I shied away from any recipe that used plain flour, baking powder, or baking soda..with your recipes I now have confidence in using these ingredients when baking…thank you baking now is a joy for me.
Very good recipe for boiling eggs.
Thank you very much
Perfect evert time if you follow Rachel’s recipe. Thanks for settling family dispute on how to boil an egg! You are amazing.
Works great if you follow the directions. Eggs are easy to peel.
I’m starting my journey of trying to eat healthily. Since I normally only eat them when I am going to the gym, I have been paying $2 for 6 boiled eggs. I know the absurdity of it, and finally broke down and typed it into Google.
I’ve got to say between the pictures and the writing, this is the best guide or recipe I have ever experienced. Thank you so much for the chart on for getting the yolk perfect!
The hard boiled eggs I buy (only in an emergency) are $6 for 6 eggs. 😬 But their yolks are twice the size of the ones in the photo. I’ve never seen eggs with such tiny yolks. So strange. But the regular eggs I buy are the same brand as the hard boiled ones, and their yolks are large and deeply golden. So, I’m assuming they’ll be fabulous when I use this recipe instead of the traditional one.