How to Hard Boil Eggs – Cooking Basics

Marc — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 21:43:58 +0000

Hard boiled eggs are pretty simple. But that doesn’t mean you can’t improve the process by following a little bit of advice. So read on for how to hard boil eggs with the best method that I’ve learned.

I love hard boiled eggs because they are the perfect snack to take with me on a busy day or to have as a quick and easy breakfast. Just a tiny sprinkle of salt and I usually will have two hard boiled eggs for a filling breakfast.

There is much more to hard boiling than simply putting the eggs in a pot of water and waiting. There are a number of things you can do to make your hard boiled eggs peel easier, look better, and have a better texture. Note that the steps are the exact same for making soft boiled eggs, except for how long the eggs stay in the water.

If you are having any trouble cooking your eggs just right, then use the tips below to help improve your process.

Tips for Easy to Peel Eggs

The most annoying and difficult part of how to hard boil eggs is getting them peeled. The shell seems to love sticking to the egg and peeling off chunks of precious egg whites as you go.

However, there are a few ways to make it easier on yourself.

Follow these tips for a better egg-peeling experience:

Older eggs peel easier – this tip has to do with science and pH levels and a whole lot of stuff. But you just need to know that older eggs are better for boiling. Just don’t use expired ones. Most grocery store eggs have been sitting for a bit before getting to your fridge, so be more aware of this tip if you get fresh eggs from a neighbor’s chicken.
Start the eggs in boiling water – Rather than plopping the eggs into the water at the same time you put it on the stove, let the water come to a boil first before adding the eggs. Use a slotted spoon to gently lower the eggs into the boiling water.
Use an ice bath – When the eggs are done cooking, immediately pull them from the pot and put them in a bowl of ice water. This helps stop the eggs from continuing to cook any further. It will also shock the eggs and help it to pull away from the shell.
Let the eggs cool down before peeling – I know, patience is hard. But if you let the eggs fully cool before peeling them, they will be much easier to peel. If you have the time, leave them unpeeled in the fridge for a day for the easiest peeling possible.
Peel in water – I typically use the same water from the ice bath to help peel the eggs. After cracking a bit on the outside, just start peeling the egg while submerged in the water. It seems to help get the shell off better and keep it off as the eggshell sinks to the bottom.

How to Use Hard Boiled Eggs?

So, after you’ve learned how to hard boil eggs, what can you do with this newfound skill?

It’s a good question and one that can lead you to a host of delicious and unique ways to use your eggs. Hard boiled eggs can be used to top salads, sandwiches, and breakfast dishes. In addition, they make a great snack on their own. Like I said before, just add a pinch of salt and take a big bite.

Chopped up hard boiled eggs really help round out the flavors of a chicken salad

For some specific recipes using hard boiled eggs, try any of the following:

Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Deviled Eggs
Egg Salad Sandwich
Soy-Marinated Eggs

How did yours turn out?

I’d love to hear when you try hard boiling eggs! Take a pic of your food and share your success with me by adding it to your Instagram stories or feed, and tagging me @doyouroux, or by using #doyouroux.

Plus, leave a rating to let me know how you liked the recipe. It helps me out a lot to know how things worked out… or didn’t.