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Who doesn’t love Hard Boiled Eggs? They’re great for Deviled Eggs or as additions to salads and other recipes!
Do you know how to make a perfect hard-boiled egg?! We’ve been making them for years, but sometimes they turned out – sometimes they didn’t.
We wanted an egg that was cooked perfectly but wanted it to peel easily too. We did so much research and tested many different methods. There were several factors we tested: fresh vs older eggs, hot start (putting eggs in once the water is boiling), cold start (having the eggs in the water before it boils), boil times, and ice bath times.
We found FOUR methods that worked to share with you (including our FAVORITE tips) for the perfect easy peel hard boiled eggs!
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Various tries. We’ve included FOUR methods that all worked and included our FAVORITE!
- A WINNER! They gave us great hard-boiled eggs that peeled easily, but we found a method that seemed easiest, quickest, and NO-FAIL.
- Plenty of options. We will start by sharing our favorite method followed by the other methods that worked for easy-peel eggs.
Hard Boiled Eggs Ingredients and Substitutions
- 6 large eggs
- water
- ice bath (cold water with ice in a bowl)
- salt and pepper – if eating plain
NOTE: All 4 recipes that worked had hot starts and seemed to be a key factor in making perfect eggs.
Method 1 – The Winner!
The winner method that we ended up slightly tweaking came from The Pioneer Woman. THE RESULT – perfect hard boiled eggs that peeled easily!
- BOIL WATER. Bring water to a boil in a medium pot. Once the water is boiling, gently lower the eggs, using a strainer ladle, into the water.
- SIMMER. Turn the heat down to a gentle simmer, and simmer the eggs for 15 minutes.
- ICE BATH. Once done, add the eggs to an ice bath for 5 minutes.
- PEEL. Remove from water, tap on the counter to shell. The shell will come off perfectly and the eggs will be cooked perfectly too!
Method 2
The second method came from The Dancing Beauty Expert. This is how she makes easy peel hard boiled eggs. Start with room-temperature eggs. THE RESULT – perfect hard boiled eggs and easy to peel, BUT it required more time and work.
- BOIL WATER. Fill a pot with enough water to make sure the eggs will be fully submerged and then bring to a boil. After the water is boiling, gently lower the eggs into the pot with a large metal strainer (or, one by one with a large straining spoon).
- Let the eggs boil for 8 minutes. Turn off the burner, and let the eggs sit in the hot water for another 20 minutes.
- ICE BATH. Gently place the eggs in ice water in a large bowl. Place in the fridge. Let eggs sit for 15 minutes in the ice water bath. Drain the water.
- PEEL. Give the eggs several taps on the counter and then peel.
Method 3
The third method comes from a friend. THE RESULT – perfect hard boiled eggs, but the process took some time and had a few extra steps.
- BOIL WATER. Fill a pot with enough water to just cover the eggs. Bring to a boil. Put cold eggs right from the fridge into boiling water. Boil for exactly 13 minutes.
- COLD WATER + ICE BATH. Ladle eggs into a colander and run cold water over eggs for 1 minute. Transfer eggs to a bowl filled with ice and water and let sit for 15 minutes.
- PEEL. Drain the water and peel the eggs.
Method 4
This last method comes from my aunt who swears by it. THE RESULT – perfect hard-boiled eggs that were easy to peel. The process takes longer but still works!
- PREP ICE BATH. Fill a large bowl with lots of ice and cold water and put in the refrigerator.
- BOIL WATER. Fill a pot with enough water to completely cover the eggs and then bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, turn the heat down so it is barely a boil. Gently ladle the cold eggs into the pot.
- SIMMER + COOK. Turn the heat down a little more, cover, and cook for 13 minutes.
- ICE BATH. Ladle cooked eggs into the ice/cold water bowl and add more ice. Leave in the ice bath for 15 minutes. Drain the water and you’re ready to peel!
Easy Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- water
- ice bath
Instructions
- Bring water to a rolling boil in a medium pot or saucepan (the KEY for perfect eggs) on high heat. Once the water is boiling, gently place eggs using a strainer ladle or slotted spoon, into the water in a single layer.
- Turn the heat down to a gentle simmer, and simmer the eggs for 15 minutes.
- Once done, add the eggs to a large bowl of ice water (ice bath) and set a timer for 5 minutes.
- Remove from ice water, and tap on the counter to crack the shell. Peel eggs and see how easy it is to do! And they are perfectly cooked – with a nice no-gray golden yellow yolk!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Fill a bowl with cold water and gently place the egg(s) in the water. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom and lie flat on their side. Old eggs may float or tilt upwards.
That greenish-gray ring around the yolk of a hard-boiled egg is a harmless chemical reaction due to being overcooked or cooked at a temperature that is too high.
Unpeeled hard-boiled eggs can last in the fridge for 5-7 days. Peeled boiled eggs can last in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
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This post was originally published April 2022.
Will try your method, I’ve been boiling mine for 15 min. I had already posted my method before I saw yours>
My trick for easy to peel eggs is to steam them in a steam basket, bring water level to bottom of basket. with a tight-fitting lid; Bring to boil for 15 minutes. Prepare approximately 3 cups of ice and 2 cups of water in a bowl. After 15 min run cold water over eggs immediately until they are cool enough to handle and place in ice bath for 5 min. drain on towel. They will peel so easy
Thanks for sharing what you do!
Thank you for sharing the variety of how to boil an egg(s) as I always have 1 or 2 that peel terrible. 🙄 Appreciate, your putting to the test. 🥚🍳
You’re welcome!! It was fun getting to test and experiment so many different ways.
I have found the best way is streaming! Boil the water, then place the eggs in a steamer basket, cover and steam for exactly 13 minutes. Plunge them in an ice bath and they’re perfect every time. Peel very easily and fluffy yellow yolks.
Also a great option and way to cook a hard boiled egg.
I don’t usually have a problem with just cooked eggs, it’s the ones that have been in the fridge for a couple of days!
You say for #1 that you boiled longer then suggested. How much longer?
Thanks for this tip. Going to try this very soon.Happy Easter to you and your family.
Thank you!! You too!
Do you have to peel right away for the easy peel? I like to store in the fridge in their shells until I am ready to use them. I know they stay good longer that way.
Will they peel good after they have been in the fridge?
Yes, they should still peel just fine!
Thanks for the tip on hard boiled eggs. I’m gonna try it today.
My go to recipe, eggs in pot, cover with cold water, bring to a boil, remove from heat, let sit in the hot water for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes drain water and add cold water and ice. Perfect every time!
Exactly what I do with my boiled eggs! If cold eggs are put into the boiling water, they crack and the egg whites spill through, hence eggs are not perfectly cooked.
Love it! There really are lots of great ways to do hard boiled eggs, aren’t there?