Whether you prefer your eggs soft-boiled or hard-boiled, we'll show you how to boil them. What makes an ideal boiled egg? The yolks are cooked but still creamy, and the whites are firm but not rubbery. We'll go over a foolproof method for boiling eggs on the stovetop, as well as how long to boil them for to get the desired degree of doneness in the yolks. Continue reading, and we'll demonstrate two more methods for cooking eggs in their shells: in the oven and in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot.
Attention: Older eggs are actually simpler to
peel, while very fresh eggs are wonderful fried or scrambled. Pick eggs that
have been in the refrigerator for a week or two if you want hard-boiled eggs
that are simple to peel.
On-Stove Egg Boiling Instructions
Two
inquiries regarding eggs are frequently asked:
Which
came first, the egg or the chicken?
When
boiling eggs, do you begin with cold water or with boiling water?
We suggest a
4-step process that begins with cold water. Why? The eggs won't be overcooked
because of this. Never again will you have to cope with overcooked, dry, chalky
eggs with strangely greenish yolks. I just have wonderful texture and gorgeous,
bright yellow yolks to offer you! You'll want to eat them with only a dash of
salt since they are so wonderful.
 |
| How to Perfectly Boil Eggs Every Time |
Perfect Hard Boiled or Soft Boiled Eggs in Three Easy Steps
1. Fill a
kettle or saucepan with cold water and add the eggs.
Water comes
after the eggs. Why? The eggs can shatter if you add them later and they will
fall to the bottom of the pan. Learning this the hard way is not fun.
2. Heat
water in a pan over high heat until it is boiling. Turn off the heat and cover
the pan.
How long
does boiling an egg take? Actually, you only want the water to briefly reach a
boil before stopping. Long-term exposure to intense heat causes eggs to undergo
a chemical process that causes the yolks to turn green. Therefore, the answer
to the question "How long do you cook hard boiled eggs?" is almost
nothing. Some people prefer the phrase "hard-cooked" eggs over
"hard-boiled" eggs because the eggs are cooked in water that isn't
actually boiling.
3. Quickly drain the eggs and place them in a basin with water and ice cubes.
Why is the
water ice cold? The eggs are cooled, and the green yolk issue is avoided. You
want cold water with lots of ice cubes floating in it (chilled water isn't cold
enough for this). For the eggs to peel as easily as possible, break them
slightly before putting them in the ice water and letting them sit for an hour.
Time Required to Boil Eggs
- Depending on how firm or set you want the yolks to be, leave the eggs standing in the hot water for 4 to 12 minutes.
- Why this historical period? For soft boiled eggs, allow less time in the hot water, and for hard boiled eggs, allow more time. The longer the eggs lie in the hot water, the more cooked the yolk will be. Follow these time recommendations for big eggs:
- Extra-large or jumbo eggs will require more time than smaller eggs.
|
Boiling Time |
Egg Yolks |
Egg Whites |
|
2-4 minutes |
Soft, runny |
Soft, runny |
|
6-8 minutes |
Soft but set |
Firm |
|
10-15 minutes |
Fully set |
Fully set |
Uses for Boiling Eggs
- Recipes for egg salad
- Recipes for Deviled Eggs
- Christmas Recipes
- Here is a cheat sheet with many of delicious tips for enjoying hard-boiled eggs in soups, on sandwiches, in salad dressing, with potatoes, and pickled just right!
- Any leftover hard-boiled eggs should be kept in the fridge in a closed container to keep odours inside the fridge.
How to Keep Hard-Boiled Eggs Fresh
- Hard boiled eggs can be kept in their shells for up to a week in the refrigerator. The shell will aid in limiting the cooked white's ability to absorb refrigerator odours.
- Hard boiled eggs that have previously been peeled can be kept for up to a week in an airtight container with a damp paper towel. Every day, change the damp towel.
What Is the Shelf Life of Hard-Boiled Eggs in the Fridge?
- Hard boiled eggs can be kept for a week to seven days if they are properly stored in the refrigerator. Keep your boiled eggs in their shells until you're ready to eat them for optimal results.
- Learn more about eggs, including recipes, cooking techniques, nutrition and safety advice, and more.
How to Bake Eggs to a Hard Boiled State
This approach is a little out of the ordinary. Since there
is no water needed, this process is technically more like hard baking than hard
boiling. But bear with us for now. Eggs that are "hard-boiled" in an
oven are merely heated eggs in a hot, dry environment. It's a wise decision if
you frequently make eggs or if stovetop space is limited. Use a muffin pan to
prevent the eggs from rolling about while baking. This is how the method is
used:
Instructions for Making Hard-Boiled Eggs in a Pressure Cooker
This is the ideal method for hard boiling fresh eggs. Peeling
fresh eggs is notoriously difficult. However, using a pressure cooker makes
things simple. Recipes4worlds user who contributed the recipes, says:
"The best method for cooking hard-cooked eggs is to use a pressure cooker
if you have access to truly fresh eggs or grow your own chickens. Although the
pressure cooker's main selling point is that it saves time, it really makes
fresh eggs simple to peel."
