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Learn all the tips and tricks for how to boil eggs to make the perfect hard-boiled eggs. It’s quick, simple, and NO FAIL!
Whether you’re adding them to a salad, Egg Salad Sandwiches, or making Deviled Eggs, knowing how long to boil eggs is a MUST.
The Secret You’ve been waiting for!
After countless attempts to figure out how long to boil eggs perfectly (hot starts, cold starts, cook time, and ice bath time), we’ve learned the best method for boiling eggs.
Why is it the best?
- NO FAIL! This method works every time, no fail.
- It’s simple. Just a few added steps is all that’s needed for perfect, no gray around the yolk eggs.
- Works for Fresh eggs or Older Eggs. We tested this too, and it still works! The main trick is to always use a HOT START.
We have found many methods to make Easy Peel Boiled Eggs, but of those ways, we have our go-to that is the most simple, quick, AND always results in a perfectly boiled egg that peels easily.
How Long to Boil Eggs
If the water is boiling, ladle the eggs into the water, then boil for 15 minutes (ice bath for 5 minutes).
We have tried many other ways of doing this (with hot starts), including:
- Simmer for 15 minutes – Ice bath for 5 minutes (our top choice)
- Simmer for 15 minutes – Ice bath for 10 minutes
- Simmer for 13 minutes – Ice bath for 15 minutes
- Boil for 8 minutes – turn off the burner and let sit for 10-25 minutes – Ice bath for 15 minutes
All worked, but some took more time than others and some didn’t peel as easily, which is why we stick with the first method.
It always works, and the result is PERFECT!
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs
- water
- ice bath – cold water with ice in a bowl
The Perfect Method
- WATER. Bring water to a rolling boil in a medium pot or saucepan (the KEY for perfect eggs).
- EGGS. 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 so it is at a simmer, and simmer the eggs for 15 minutes.
- ICE BATH. Add the eggs to a large bowl of ice water (ice bath) and set a timer for 5 minutes.
- PEEL. Remove from water. To shell, tap the eggs on the counter to crack. Easily peel the eggs and see that they are perfectly cooked – with a nice no-gray golden-yellow yolk!
For even more methods of eggs that peel easily, check out these Methods for Easy Peel Boiled Eggs.
More Cooking options
- Microwave. Fill a bowl big enough to submerge an egg with water. Microwave for 3 minutes. Using a needle, safety pin, or thumbtack, prick the bottom of the egg to prevent it from exploding.
- Put the egg in the bowl of hot water, cover it with a plate, and microwave for 4 minutes at 50%. Leave in the water for an additional 2-3 minutes before peeling.
- Oven. Preheat to 350°F. Put 1 egg in each cup of a muffin tin. Bake for 30 minutes, and then place in an ice bath for about 10 minutes. Simple!
- Instant pot. Check out this post: Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs!
What can you make with them?
Hard-boiled eggs make a great snack. Simply peel and season with a little salt and pepper. There are also a variety of egg recipes you can make with them.
They make great additions to almost any salad!
The possibilities are endless but remember they are great as an after-school snack or for your Easter celebrations!
Recipe Tips + Storing
- Label your eggs. Place boiled eggs back in the carton and label the carton “Hard Boiled,” or mark each egg “HB” with a permanent marker.
- To check unmarked eggs, give it a spin. If it is hard-boiled, it will spin like a top. If it is not boiled, the yolk will keep it from spinning smoothly and it will wobble a bit.
- A soft-boiled egg has a completely cooked egg white but with runny yolks. To cook a soft-boiled egg, complete the recipe as directed except only boil the egg for 6 ½ minutes before placing it in the ice bath.
- Overcooking the eggs will cause a green ring to form around the yolk and it will take on a more sulfur smell, but they are still safe to eat.
- STORE eggs in the fridge. If peeled, place them in a dated Ziploc bag or in an airtight container for up to one week.
For more great Tips:
How to Boil Eggs
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- water
- ice bath
Instructions
- To start, 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. Turn the heat down so it is a simmer, and simmer eggs for 15 minutes.
- Once done, add the eggs to an ice bath for 5 minutes.
- Remove from water, tap on counter to shell. The shell will come off perfectly and the eggs will be cooked perfectly as well!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I do the cooking wife is I’ll in bed, get help from google. When I do my boiled eggs in water in microwave, I add salt as usual, but also white vinegar, the shells are easier to come off, and at Easter, give the shell mottled colouring. Thanks for your tips. Keep safe.
Thank you for sharing that! You too!
I don’t know why, but for me, the egg shell still stuck, and while the inside was perfectly cooked, the peeling was just like any other hack I’ve tried. I wouldn’t say not to try it, I am at a higher elevation (does that make a difference I wonder?) as well as use city water. I never had such trouble until I moved to a city. So maybe that’s it. Otherwise, perfectly cooked, just trouble peeling.
I also used to have trouble peeling them no matter what method I used. Then I read an article that stated it was the freshness of the eggs that was the problem. Too fresh and the white membrane didn’t separate from the shell. Since then I’ve been aging my eggs for a couple weeks before I boil them. Never had a problem since! I just rotate my cartons and boil the oldest while using the freshest for scrambled eggs & baking. Give this method a try!
If your eggs are really fresh, don’t boil them… steam them! Use a steamer basket and follow the usual directions. Even farm greasy eggs have the peel fall right off!
Thank you so much for the research and the tip! I appreciate it!
I dont make hard boiled eggs often enough to always remember the timing of it all…so this is my ho to recipe. Thank you!
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How long is the cook time for 10 eggs please?
Boiling eggs in mIcrowave. Well, teied it. 4 MINUETS for 2, wronG. Egg WASN’T even PartIally cooked. Salt does keep them from exploding, thats good. My mIcro was on 100% too. Maybe 8-10 miN’s. WIll try again
These came Out perfect! No gray edges on thE yolk!
Yay!! SO happy! Thank you for letting me know!
This really is the perfect way to make eggs! No other way to make them!
THANKS FOR POSTING SO MANY OPTIONS! QUESTION: WHEN HARD BOILING EGGS IN THE OVEN, SHOULD YOU FILL THE MUFFIN CUPS WITH WATER?
You are so welcome! Nope, no need to add water.
i love having an egg for breakfast… esp when i am on the go. These turn out great EVERY TIME i use this method! Thanks so much for sharing