How to make the Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs (every time). This is our family easy go-to method for making perfectly cooked, easy to peel eggs every time. Boiled eggs may be used as a base for an amazing snack, appetizer, or breakfast. They are very often used in freshly homemade salads as well.
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Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs (every time):
Do you overcook your eggs just to be sure they are done? Are you tired of getting overcooked eggs every time with the dark green color around the yolk? What about soft boiled eggs with an oozing yolk when you need a firm one for your Cucumber Radish Salad or Olivye Salad?
Learn how to make hard-boiled eggs in under 15 minutes, with our tried and true method for decades. The only method my family uses every time we need hard boiled eggs.
Boiling eggs isn’t really a science, but even for someone who cooks daily it can feel like it is. Every cook should know how to cook eggs and have their staple method for cooking perfectly hard-boiled eggs every time.
You don’t need another appliance for this to take space in your pantry or kitchen. Just a regular saucepan that you use daily. We keep it old-school and simple to achieve great results every time!
Possibilities for Hard-Boiled Eggs are Endless:
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Eggs are such a versatile ingredient and they go well with so many recipes. We like to keep few boiled eggs in the fridge all the time for a healthy snack or quick breakfast.
We most often use boiled eggs in salads for their rich flavor and texture. Our Cucumber Radish Salad is the most popular and the staple recipe for the ‘spur of the moment’ or for unexpected guests.
What are the Best Eggs for Boiling?
Eggs come in different sizes, from small to jumbo and many different varieties. We usually get natural or organic, but there are also regular, omega-3 and others. The important things to consider for boiled eggs are:
- Egg Freshness – Older eggs are easier to peel rather than fresh eggs. If you’re planning to make hard-boiled eggs for Easter, buy at least a week ahead of time. This will ensure the eggs peel easily.
- Size Does Matter – We always use Large Grade AA eggs, no matter the variety. Large eggs are the standard size in most recipes, so we always use large. Medium eggs cook faster and Extra Large or Jumbo eggs will cook slightly longer.
Sometime genetic store eggs might have unusual aroma to them, either raw or boiled. Therefore, I most often purchase regular eggs for baking and keep organic or natural for snacking. Storing eggs in these stackable containers saves space in fridge and we love everything about these.
Tips for Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs:
- Use the same pan (preferably stainless steel) every time for consistent results. We like to use a medium stainless steel saucepan with glass lid. Having saucepan with glass lid, lets you see when the water starts boiling. Nonstick pans or dutch oven can take longer to come to a boil, which may need less cooking time once eggs are boiling.
- Cover with lid to keep the steam in and boiling water boiling. If your saucepan does not come with glass lid, cover with lid anyway and leave an inch open so you can see when the water starts boiling. Keeping the lid on helps keep the steam in and eggs cook faster. If you cook without lid, eggs will need to be cooked by 1-2 minutes longer once the water starts boiling.
- Do not overcrowd your saucepan with eggs. You want the eggs with about an inch extra water on top of them to ensure even cooking. Overcrowding can also make egg shells break during the boiling process.
- Set a timer as soon as the water is at a boil. Keep watching to see when the water starts boiling, so you won’t be guessing your timings.
- Prepare a bowl of ice water so you can lower the eggs into there as soon as the timer goes off. This stops the cooking process and ensures the eggs are easy-peel. (If you don’t have ice on hand, strain the hot water from the pan and run cold water over the eggs for about 3-5 minutes until the water stays cold).
How to Boil Eggs:
Hard-boiled eggs should be quick and easy to cook. Boiled eggs are a convenient source of protein. With boiled eggs on hand, you can satisfy your breakfast, lunch and dinner cravings.
- Place cold eggs into a medium stainless steel saucepan and cover with cold water, filling 1-inch over the surface of the eggs. Cover with lid and bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat.
- As soon as the water comes to a boil, set your timer to 7 minutes (for perfectly hard-boiled eggs) and reduce the heat to medium-low (to keep at a medium boil).
- Prepare the bowl of ice water and as soon as the timer is done, turn off the heat and transfer the eggs into the ice water. If no ice, strain the hot water from the pan and run cold water over the eggs for about 3-5 minutes until the water stays cold. (The cold water cools them quickly and prevents eggs from cooking further).
- Leave eggs in cold water until cooled. Refrigerate eggs once cool and peel when ready to use.
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A perfect hard-boiled egg should have a bright yellow center and fully set egg whites. If they have green tinge around the yolk that means you overcooked them.
How to Easily Peel Boiled Eggs?
- Start peeling at the thick end. Gently tap the egg at the thick end of the egg first and start peeling.
- Peel eggs under cold running water. Using your hands, peel the cracked and cooled eggs under cold running water. The water seeps under the thin film that clings to the whites and helps release the shell.
Recipes to Make with Hard-Boiled Eggs:
Hard boiled eggs can not only be used for breakfast, but in salads and in other creative ways. Here are some of our favorite ways to use boiled eggs:
- Cucumber Radish Salad – simple and excellent for quick salad idea. This salad is our #1 for family gatherings and everyone loves how fresh and crunchy it is!
- Olivye Salad (Ukrainian Potato Salad) – the #1 must-salad for major holidays! This salad is loved by every child and is a staple at every Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving.
- Cabbage Egg Salad – rich in flavor with simple ingredients!
- Mimosa Salad (Layered Egg and Cheese Salad) – elegant, festive and a crowd-pleaser! Every ingredient is finely grated and scattered equally throughout the salad plate.
- Shchavel Borscht (Sorrel Soup) – healthy summer soup! if you don’t grow sorrel at home just yet, it’s time you do. This soup will change your mind!
Choosing Best Eggs for Salads:
When I work with salads, I like salads to have bright, contrasting colors. I try to choose eggs that come with bright yellow yolks. Couple of favorite brands to use are the Eggland’s or Happy Eggs. They always have bright yellow yolks, either raw or boiled.
This tutorial was first published in June 2017. We updated the photos and shared additional tips for perfect hard-boiled eggs in January 2020.
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