Hard boiled eggs are so easy to make and they are perfect as a healthy snack or a great addition to so many recipes. Learn how to make hard boiled eggs with these simple instructions.
When I was first learning to cook, there was something incredibly intimidating about learning how to hard boil eggs. It seemed like only a wizard could pull off that perfect hard boiled egg.
It’s actually so easy to hard boil an egg, but there are a few tips and tricks that make it work out better. If you have a pressure cooker, I find Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs even easier.
How to Hard Boil Eggs
Here is a brief overview of how to make hard boiled eggs. Don’t miss the full printable recipe at the bottom of the post.
Place Eggs in a Saucepan and Boil
Cover with water so there is an inch of water above the eggs and place the stove top. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes.
Move Eggs to Ice Bath
While the eggs are cooking, fill a bowl with ice and then top with cold water. After 10 minutes, immediately transfer the eggs to the ice bath. Let sit for five minutes.
Peel the Eggs
Crack eggs on all sides and peel. It helps to crack the egg all over and start peeling from the air pocket between the egg and shell. See my recommendations for storing hard boiled eggs below.
Tips and Tricks
- Start with older eggs. (Unless making deviled eggs.) The longer they sit in the refrigerator, the more the membrane separates from the shell making it easier for them to peel after hard boiling. (If you should only have fresh eggs, this method will still work.)
- For deviled eggs, use fresh eggs. Fresh eggs still have the membranes in tact that hold the yolk in the center of the egg. This way when you remove the yolk to make the deviled egg, it won’t rip.
- Don’t start with boiling water. Cooking the eggs in hot water, not boiling water, and moving the eggs to ice water after the water comes to a boil prevents the green ring that can sometimes form around the yolk.
- Immediately remove the eggs from ice water after cooling them. It will help them to peel easier.
- If you peel immediately you should eat the egg that day. If you keep them in the peel they can stay refrigerated in a sealed container for up to one week.
- Pull the eggs out of the ice bath right at five minutes. Leaving them in the ice bath longer can make them difficult to peel.
- Crack the eggs on all sides. This will help with peeling the eggs. Then start peeling the shell where the air pocket is.
Soft Boiled Eggs
If you would like to make soft boiled eggs, you would use the exact same method. The only difference is that once the water comes to a boil, turn off the heat and let the eggs sit in the hot water for 6 minutes. Cutting four minutes off the sit time will give you that perfect soft yolk that you are looking for. I love that in my Easy Ramen recipe.
Storing Hard Boiled Eggs
As far as how long do hard boiled eggs last in the fridge, it depends on if they are peeled or still have their shell. Hard boiled eggs can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container with their shell on for one week.
Hard boiled eggs that are peeled should be eaten that day. Always use your best discretion with hard boiled eggs.
How to Eat Hard Boiled Eggs
- Salt & Pepper: Probably the most common way to eat these as a snack is just with a little salt and pepper on them.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning: If you need to add a little more flavor to your snacking life, this is a great substitute for salt and pepper.
- Egg Salad: My egg salad gets such great reviews. It is so worth a try. Or mix it up with my Avocado Egg Salad.
- In salads: These are such a classic ingredient in salads. We love them in our Cobb Salad, Pea Salad, Seven Layer Salad, and Potato Salad.
- Deviled Eggs: This is the perfect start to making my secret ingredient deviled eggs. Of course you can mix it up and make Everything Bagel Deviled Eggs.
- Pickled: Pickled Eggs is my go to snack. I love making a jar or two of them because they last in the refrigerator for 3-4 months. They are a great after work out snack, and I love them paired with a little fruit when my energy starts to dip in the afternoon.
If you make this hard boil eggs recipe, please let me know what you think by leaving a comment below!
How to make hard boiled eggs
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
Instructions
- Add the eggs in a single layer to a pan. Add water to the pan so that they are covered by an inch of water.
- Bring to a roaring boil. Turn off the heat and cover. Let sit for 10 minutes.
- While waiting for the eggs, fill a bowl with ice and then top with cold water. After 10 minutes, immediately transfer the eggs to the ice bath. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Crack eggs on all sides and peel. Eat the peeled eggs right away or store unpeeled eggs in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Recipe Video
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
Bookmarking this because I can never remember how exactly to do this when I need to! Lol! Thanks for linking to my lasagna!
Michele Mastromatteo says
Hello Lisa,Just wanted to let you know that I just made your death by chocolate brownies and your linguine and clams tonight and my Husband must of said Delicious 10 times during dinner.The Brownies are Delicious also,I’ve made your best Italian Meatballs and took them to a party and everyone wanted the Recipe.Thank you for all the Fantastic Recipes and making me a better cook and Baker!!!
Ah, this just makes my day, Michele. Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and tell me!