Learn how to boil eggs perfectly every time! With this easy method, you will have easy to peel eggs just the way you like them every time.
How To Hard Boil Eggs
Follow these easy steps to make perfect hard boiled eggs every time:
- Fill the pot with enough water to cover the eggs with 1-inch of water. Bring the water to a rapid boil.
- After the water has come to a boil. Add in the eggs with a pair of tongs keeping them separated in the pot. Set a timer for the firmness of yolk that you want, 8 -14 minutes.
- While the eggs are cooking fill a large bowl with ice and water.
- Once the eggs have reached your desired cooking time. Remove them from the boiling water with tongs or a slotted spoon and add them into the ice-water bath to stop the cooking for 5 – 10 minutes.
The Science Behind It
Adding eggs to cold water and letting the water come to a boil. Causes the proteins in the egg to coagulate slowly. This allows the protein to fuse to the inside of the eggshell. This makes it had to peel the eggs and does not make for a good presentation.
Adding eggs to water that is already boiling water. Makes the protein in the egg coagulate fast so it does not have time to fuse to the eggshell. This makes it much easier to peel the egg and gives you a perfect egg every time.
How Long Do You Boil Eggs
These are times to use for how long to boil eggs. If you are using the add the eggs to the boiling water or the steamer method.
- 8 minutes for soft boiled eggs (runny soft yolk)
- 10 minutes for soft / medium boiled eggs (soft firm yolk)
- 12 minutes for medium boiled eggs (medium firm yolk)
- 14 minutes for hard boiled eggs (solid cooked yolk)
If you find that your egg yolk has a green circle around it. It means that you have overcooked the egg. They are typically dry and don’t taste good if they are over cooked.
How To Hard Boil Eggs In Instant Pot
- Place steamer basket in the Instant Pot. Then, pour in 1 cup of water and carefully arrange 1-6 large eggs. So that they are not touching.
- Put the lid on Instant Pot and set the valve to sealing. Select pressure cook, high pressure. Set time to cook for 4 minutes for soft eggs, 5 minutes for medium cooked eggs, and 6 minutes for hard-cooked eggs.
- When eggs are done cooking. Turn off the Instant Pot and open the valve to release pressure. Remove move lid and place the eggs in an ice-water bath to stop the cooking for 5 minutes.
If you are wanting to eat your eggs while they are still warm. Remove them from the Instant Pot and place them in a bowl of cool water for 1 minute.
I found that cooking them in the Instant Pot worked very well. Just like adding the eggs to boiling water. The protein in the egg was cooked fast enough. So that it did not have time to fuse to the eggshell. I would highly recommend this method to boil eggs. As it takes about half of the time of boiling them in a pot.
How To Hard Boil Eggs In Air Fryer
- Place 1-6 large eggs in the Air Fryer basket. Set the temperature to 300 degrees and cook for 12-13 minutes for medium-cooked eggs and 14-15 for hard-cooked eggs.
- Once the eggs are done cooking remove them from the air fryer. Then place them in an ice-water bath to stop the cooking for 5 minutes.
*Disclaimer: Not all air fryers will cook at the same rate. They are very similar to microwaves and have different wattages. That means that you may have to adjust the time and temperature of your air fryer. I have found that this works great in 1400 to 1700 watt air fryers. I recommend that you start with 1-2 eggs at a time. So that you can adjust the temperature and wattage as needed.
I have also found that the eggshell sticks to the egg about half of the time. So this is not my favorite method, but it works well if you are in a hurry. The other thing that I have found. Is that if you haven’t cleaned your air fryer in a while. You may get brown spots on the outside of the eggs. This is from residual oil in the air fryer and will not affect your eggs at all.
How To Peel An Egg
Gently tap the eggshell against a hard surface to break the entire shell into small pieces. Carefully peel away the shell, while rinsing the egg under cold water to remove any bits of shell. I like to place a strainer in the sink to catch the eggshells as I peel them. This makes for easy clean up later.
Are Your Eggs Fresh?
I like to use fresh eggs when boiling them. Fresh eggs will boil better and look better in dishes like deviled eggs and egg salad. The easiest way to tell is to put the eggs in a bowl of water. If they are fresh they will sink to the bottom and lay on its side. Older eggs will sink to the bottom and stand up. Expired eggs will float to the top and you should not use them.
Myths For Easy-peel Hard-boiled Eggs
When I set out how to make boiled eggs that peel perfectly every time. I wanted to test a lot of the old wise tales and myths that make them easier to peel. I found that they worked about half of the time and have concluded that. The only method that worked every time was adding the eggs to boiling water. This was the only method that made the eggs easy to peel consistently. Here are some of the ones that I tried.
- Older eggs are easier to peel than fresh eggs.
- Adding a tsp of baking powder or vinegar to the water.
- Poking a whole in the bottom of the egg with a needle before cooking. (This one just made a mess in the water)
- Cracking the eggs before putting them in a ice bath.
These are just a few of them that are out there. If you have tried anything else I would love to hear your experience.
How To Boil Eggs
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs
- 4 cups water (should be enough water to cover eggs by 1-inch)
Instructions
- Fill pot with enough water to cover the eggs with 1-inch of water. Bring the water to a rapid boil.
- After the water has come to a boil. Add in the eggs with a pair of tongs keeping them separated in the pot. Set a timer for the firmness of yolk that you want, 8 -14 minutes.
- While the eggs are cooking fill a large bowl with ice and water.
- Once the eggs have reached your desired cooking time. Remove them from the boiling water with tongs or a slotted spoon and add in to the ice-water bath to stop the cooking for 5 – 10 minutes.
- Gently tap the eggshell against a hard surface to break the entire shell into small pieces. Carefully peel away the shell, while rinsing the egg under cold water to remove any bits of shell.
Love this guide! I do it very similar! I fall in the 12-13 minute range!! Love that you show the photos of the different cook times, very helpful!
That is how I like my eggs as well.
this is great to come across my shells always stick going to try this method
I hope this makes it much easier for you!
I love boiled eggs, but hate peeling them. I will give this method, I bet it will cut my mornings by a ton of time.
I hated peeling eggs too, but now I can peel them fast!
Wow, so many great tips here! I love that you included a scientific breakdown for why this method works best, as well as the tips for the slow cooker and air fryer.
Thank you!
Yum! My daughter and I love making eggs this way! So delicious and easy! I can’t wait to show her this recipe!
Thank you, It’s the only way I make hard boiled eggs now!
Such a helpful guide. I’m going to pass this on to my student daughter!
I hope that she finds it useful.
I always seem to mess up boiling eggs so I’m glad to find this helpful guide!
This will give you perfect eggs every time.
We love our eggs runny, with sourdough dipped in them.
That sounds like a great way to eat eggs.
What an informative post. Next time I boil some eggs I will definitely be adding them to boiling water.
Thank you, Im glad this post helps!
Such great tips. Thank you so much for sharing these. I’m gonna try when I next boil eggs 🙂
Your welcome, I can’t wait to hear how they turn out!