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. For the full recipe, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Place eggs in a saucepan. Cover with water so there is an inch of water above the eggs and place the stove top.
- Boil the eggs. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Make an 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 and enjoy! Crack eggs on all sides and peel. See my recommendations for storing hard boiled eggs below.
Tips for How to Make Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
- 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.
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.
Make Them in the Instant Pot
Like I said above, hard boiled eggs can also be made even easier in your instant pot! Not only is it a very simple hands-off process, they peel perfectly every single time. See my steps and cooking times in this Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs Recipe.
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
How to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
Peeling hard-boiled eggs can sometimes be a tricky task, but with a few tricks, you can make the process much smoother. Here are some tips for peeling hard-boiled eggs easily.
Transferring the eggs to the ice bath helps this process. The rapid cooling helps contract the egg whites, making them separate from the membrane and easier to peel. Make sure to set a timer and remove the eggs from the ice bath as soon as the five minutes is up. Leaving them in there longer than that can make them difficult to peel.
My biggest tip for peeling hard boiled eggs is to crack them on all sides. Begin peeling from the wider end of the egg where the air pocket is. This is often the easiest place to start, and the membrane tends to separate more easily.
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.
Pickled Eggs
How to Eat Hard Boiled Eggs
We love having hard boiled eggs on hand in our house for a quick protein snack. There are a few different ways that I love to eat them as a snack, and I have more complex recipes listed below that use them as an ingredient.
- 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.
- 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.
FAQ
Yes, they should be kept in the refrigerator whether they are peeled or not.
I don’t recommend freezing hard boiled eggs.
The key is to have the eggs in a single layer in your pot. If your pot is large enough to have more than six eggs in a single layer, you can make more. Otherwise, I recommend cooking them in batches.
Recipes With Hard Boiled Eggs
Aside from a delicious and nutritious snack, there are many great recipes that you can make with these easy peel hard boiled eggs! Here are a few of my favorites.
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.
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!