Follow these simple tips on how to make perfectly cooked hard boiled eggs, which result in tender, creamy eggs every time. And no green ring!
I complain endlessly a lot about how my kids don’t really like Mexican food. Can you blame me, though? BUT nothing compares to a kid who doesn’t like eggs.
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I was talking to a mom the other day who told me that neither of her kids like eggs. Any kind. Scrambled eggs, poached eggs, omelette, fried, hard boiled eggs. Nope. My jaw agape, I almost wept for her. I cannot even imagine this!
My kids absolutely love eggs. I could serve them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and we’d all be happy. Not a week goes by without me making hard boiled eggs – they’re perfect for beet pickled eggs, scotch egg, egg salad, and just on their own as a snack with a little dash of salt.
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How To Hard Boil Eggs
There are many different ways to make hard boiled eggs, but my favorite way is with a pot of water and an ice bath. There’s a reason this method has been around forever – because it’s tried and true! (However, scroll down if you want to use your air fryer or instant pot instead.)
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You’ll need: 8 large cold eggs, cold water, and ice
- Gently place the eggs in a single layer at the bottom of a medium pot. Fill with cold water to cover eggs by 1-2 inches. Heat the pot on high and bring the water to a rolling boil. Once it starts boiling, turn off the heat, remove the pan from the burner, cover, and let sit for 12 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the eggs to a large bowl of ice water and let cool until just slightly warm, about 4-5 minutes. (This will cool them quickly and prevent further cooking, plus make them easier to peel.)
- When the eggs are cool to the touch, peel by gently tapping the eggs on the countertop so they’re crackled all over, rolling eggs between your hands to loosen the shell. Holding the egg under cold running water, start peeling at the large end where the air pocket is.
- Slice, dice, or enjoy whole.
How Long to Hard Boil Eggs
The perfect cooking time for hard boiled eggs is the magic question! Well, this is sort of subjective, right? It depends how you like your yolk. And it also depends if you boil constantly the entire time or use my cooking method where you bring to a boil, then remove from the heat and put the lid on. I think 12 minutes (using my cooking method) is ideal. It cooks the yolk through, but still leaves them pretty, tender, and creamy.
Hard Boiled Egg Time
It’s really a matter of personal preference. The picture below gives a nice visual for results with different cooking times for hard boiled eggs.
6 minutes: the yolk is pretty liquid-y still and the white is very soft.8 minutes: a soft yolk but firm enough that it doesn’t run.10 minutes: just a smidge of softness in the middle.12 minutes: a perfect hard boiled egg (IMHO) that is cooked through, but still tender and creamy.14 minutes: the lightest yolk and a firm white, but not overcooked yet.
Why some hard boiled eggs have a green ring and how to avoid it!
Pet peeve of mine? Seeing hard boiled eggs with a green ring around the yolk. Just…no. That greenish-gray outline appears around the egg yolk from over-cooking the eggs (and sometimes from having too much iron in the cooking water.) It’s caused from a chemical reaction – the sulfur (from the egg white) and iron (from the egg yolk), creating a slight sulphuric flavor. Eggs with a green ring aren’t bad for you, but they certainly aren’t pretty!
Cooking Tips!
- Make sure not to overcrowd the pot. You want the eggs in a single layer and not touching.
- 7-10 day old eggs are far easier to peel than fresh eggs. I also find that it’s easier to peel them under some running water, which seems to release that tricky membrane.
- Have an ice bath ready! This will cool the cooked eggs quickly and prevent further cooking, plus make them easier to peel
- There are variables. Altitude, your stove, the size of your pot, size of the eggs, and the amount of water all play a role in getting those eggs perfect.
Does it matter if I have a gas or electric stove?
Nope! Because either way, once you achieve that rolling boil, you’re removing the pot from the heat source. I’ve used my method on gas, electric, and induction all with the same great results.
How long do hard boiled eggs last?
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If you want to make the hard boiled eggs ahead of time, cook and peel as directed, then store them in a tightly sealed container and place in the refrigerator up to 5 days.
Hard Boiled Egg Calories
One hard boiled egg is 81 calories and contains 7 grams protein and 5 grams of fat. They are rich in potassium and calcium. Hard cooked eggs really make a great addition to salads or a nice on-the-go snack!
Alternative Methods for Hard Boiled Eggs
So you’ve got yourself an air fryer and an instant pot and want to make hard cooked eggs that way instead? No problem.
Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs:
- You can cook 1-6 large eggs (cold from the fridge) this way.
- Preheat a 3.5-quart air fryer to 270 degrees F. Add the eggs to the fryer basket and cook 15 minutes. Remove the eggs and plunge them into an ice bath. Peel when cool enough to handle and enjoy!
- NOTE: Every air fryer is different and might take longer or less time to cook. It’s also personal preference how well cooked you like your eggs. If this is your first time trying this, cook 1 or 2 eggs at first and adjust from there.
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs:
- You can cook 1-12 eggs (cold from the fridge) this way, as long as they are in a single layer and aren’t wedged together or overlapping.
- We like the 5-5-5 method. 5 minutes at pressure, 5 minutes before releasing pressure (if it doesn’t naturally release first), and then 5 minutes in an ice bath before peeling.
- Check the manual that came with your pressure cooker for the minimum requirement of liquid to use, and add at least that amount. If no instructions are given, add 1 inch of water. You can use a standard metal or silicone steamer basket instead if your pressure cooker didn’t come with its own. (If you don’t have a steamer basket, you can skip it, but you might end up with cracked eggs.)
Recipes Using Hard Boiled Eggs
- Beet Pickled Eggs
- Soy Sauce Eggs
- Scotch Eggs
- Deviled Eggs
- Egg Salad
Other Classic Egg Recipes
- The Best Scrambled Eggs
- Perfect Poached Eggs
- How to Make an Omelette
Watch the video for perfect hard boiled eggs
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
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