Everyone should know how to make perfect hard boiled eggs. Here's the method to making hard boiled eggs on the stove, without any fancy egg cookers or appliances and they peel so easily too.
Perfect hard boiled eggs are so simple, but so many things can go wrong if you don't cook them correctly. Of course, if you're making hard boiled eggs, you want them to turn out perfectly, just how you like them, but there's no way to check for doneness. With this reliable method, you'll have eggs that are just right, not undercooked or overcooked.
Plus, not only will the eggs be perfectly cooked, they will peel very easily too. Instead of getting ugly, cracked and marked up eggs, these will be smooth and beautiful.
Do you put eggs in hot or cold water to boil?
I used to cook hard boiled eggs by putting the eggs into cold water and bringing them to a rolling boil on the stove, turning it off and leaving the eggs in the boiled water, covered, for 10-15 minutes. It worked great, the eggs were perfectly cooked, BUT they didn't always peel easily. This was the only thing that I didn't like about this method. Then I discovered cooking eggs in the Instant Pot. The eggs peeled like a dream and I started to think that there might be something to cooking them a different way, so I tried steaming them on the stove and introducing the eggs to the water after it boiled, not bringing it up to a boil along with the eggs. THIS was the secret to having perfectly cooked eggs that peeled so easily too.
How to make perfect hard boiled eggs that peel easily:
- Start with refrigerated eggs. Since we need consistent results, using the exact same eggs will give you the same results. I also use large eggs for this method. If you use smaller or larger eggs, adjust the time.
- Choose eggs that are not cracked. If the eggs are cracked they can crack even more when introduced to the hot water.
- Bring the water to a boil FIRST, before adding the eggs.
- If you're using a pot filled with water, make sure there is enough water to cover the eggs by at least 1 inch. Using a steaming basket is really convenient since you don't need to use a slotted spoon to transfer the eggs in and out of boiling water. You will get the same results by cooking the eggs submerged in water or cooking over the steam. Add 1-2 inches of water to a pot and place the steaming basket on top, the water shouldn't be touching the steaming basket.
- Carefully add the eggs. When the water is at a rolling boil, gently lower the eggs into the boiling water using a slotted spoon or a spider strainer. If using a steaming basket, gently place the eggs on top of it.
- Close with a lid, reduce the heat to a medium simmer. Cook for 10-15 minutes.
- Take the eggs off the heat and into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
Gently tap the eggs on a hard surface, like the counter and then roll, also gently. If there is any resistance when peeling, lower the egg back into the water and peel under water. It works like magic and will also get rid of all the egg shell off the egg. If your eggs peel without a hitch without water but have little bits of eggshell on them, you can also rinse them off in the same water. For this reason, I use filtered water and ice for the ice bath.
How Long Should You Boil the Eggs?
10 minutes will be long enough to cook the eggs all the way through and set the yolks, but they will be slightly more wet, even though they are completely hard boiled. If you boil the eggs for 13-15 minutes, the egg yolks will be even more set but not overcooked. Do not boil eggs longer than 15 minutes, or they will have a gray/green tinge around them later.
How to Store Hard Boiled Eggs:
Store peeled hard boiled eggs in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and unpeeled for about a week. I recommend peeling the eggs right away and storing them in an airtight container because they peel the best right after cooking. They will not peel as easily if you store them in the refrigerator unpeeled.
Delicious Recipes To Enjoy Hard Boiled Eggs:
- Tuna Deviled Eggs
- Ranch Potato Salad
- Russian Salad "Olivie"
- Roasted Asparagus With Hard Boiled Eggs and Hollandaise Sauce
- Cold Beet Soup
Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs
A reliable method to cooking perfect hard boiled eggs, where the eggs are tender and not overcooked, the yolks are golden and cooked all the way and the eggs peel so easily too.
- Cook Time: 10-15 min
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Category: Breakfast
Ingredients
- eggs
Instructions
- Fill a pot with water so that they eggs will be covered by at least an inch, or place a steaming basket inside the pot and fill the bottom with 1-2 inches of water.
- Bring the water to a rolling boil.
- Place the eggs into the water using a slotted spoon or a spider strainer or into the steaming basket. Cover with a lid, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes. Turn off the heat and immediately place the eggs into ice water to stop the cooking process.
- When the eggs are cool enough to handle, peel.
- Gently tap the eggs on a hard surface, like the counter and roll, also gently.
- If there is any resistance when peeling, lower the egg back into the water and peel under water. It works like magic and will also get rid of all the egg shell off the egg. If your eggs peel without a hitch without water but have little bits of eggshell on them, you can also rinse them off in the same water. For this reason, I use filtered water and ice for the ice bath.
- Store peeled eggs in the refrigerator for about 3 days or unpeeled for up to a week. However, the eggs are much easier to peel right away and may not peel easily if you store them in the refrigerator even if you use this cooking method.
Wow! Thank you Olgak7!
I have learned a lot about boiling the perfect egg. How to center the yolk was amazing!
Thanks again.
I'm glad you found it helpful, Deborah.
Got it:) thank you!! sorry sometimes u just dont get it:) he he he lol
Yeah u got confused there as well
Oksana and Alena,
After the eggs come to a rolling boil and you cover them with a lid, take them off the heat, off the burner and then let them stand for 15 minutes. Immediately after 15 minutes, pour off all the hot water and put the eggs into an ice bath.
O mine! I was confused myself lol thanx for the clarification!! 😉
Thanks, now i got it! 🙂
So, to clarify: just boil eggs in rolling boiling water for 1-2 min, that turn OFF the heat, cover and let it stay RIGHT on the (hot/warm) stove top for 15 min? Or take off the stove top? and immediately AFTER 15 min, you do the ice bath??? i got all confused... sorry (i guess the word immediatelly threw me off.
That's a really cool tip 😉 never knew that 🙂 thanks so much Olga !!! Ur great !;)
Thanks for this tip. This time all of my eggs were so easy to peal! But how do I make sure the yolk is always in the center of the egg?
That's a great question Olga! Put the egg carton on its side the night before you hardboil them. Centered egg yolks, as easy as that:).
This is the best thing I've read all week!
Love ur recipes! can you post some more cakes?:) yay