Get Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs every time with these simple steps! Take the guess work out of eggs, and never end up with overcooked grey or black yolks again! Hard boiled eggs are a great addition to so many meals, and are truly more delicious when perfectly cooked!
Perfectly cooked hard boiled eggs really do taste so much better! Overcooked hard boiled eggs, rubbery, black, grey or green yolks are pretty terrible! Just a pinch of salt and pepper and hard boiled eggs are delicious on their own!
- Don't Guess! - About the worst thing you can do is toss your eggs in water, and start boiling them until you think they're probably done! No, you absolutely need to set a timer!
- Eggs are a handy source of protein to have extras meal prepped for the week, because they can be useful in so many ways! Eat them for a protein-packed snack, on avocado toast, make deviled eggs, or a quick addition to breakfast.
- Use this method for dying Easter Eggs! Then your beautiful eggs will be delicious enough to eat! Check out these 30 Easter Side Dish Recipes too!
- Use them for easy lunches like Perfect Egg Salad, or add them to a veggie bagel, Salmon Avocado Bagels, deli wrap, or any garden salad like this Steakhouse Salad Bar Salad.
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How to Perfectly Cook Hard Boiled Eggs
Hard boiled eggs should be two colors and two colors only, yellow and white. Not grey, not green, not black….yellow and white!
There are many methods out there, but the last thing you want to do is just start boiling and forget about them! The secret to perfection? Use a timer!
- Place eggs in a pot covering them with cold water by about an inch.
- Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Right when they reach a boil, turn the heat off and cover.
- Let them sit in the hot water for 17 minutes, set a timer!
- Run under cold water, crack and peel.
Recipe Tips
- Peeling Hard Boiled Eggs - To peel hard boiled eggs, lightly tap them on the counter, cracking the shell on all sides. Start at the bottom of the egg where there is a small air pocket under the shell. Try to slide your thumb into the air pocket and under the membrane between the egg and the shell. Peel away the membrane along with the shell.
- It's not you, It's the Egg! - Some eggs are just tough to peel. So if you get one that isn't peeling easily, do your best trying not to waste the white.
- Take care not to crack the eggs when you add them to the pot.
- Choose Quality Eggs - The nutrition in the egg is only as good as the health of the chicken. I think it is worth the higher price to buy organic eggs, especially local if you can! Local organic eggs are usually much fresher and contain healthy vitamins and omega 3's.
- Egg Size - If your eggs are pretty small, you may only need to leave them in the water 14 or 15 minutes. If you eggs are extra large, they may need 18 minutes. For most regular size eggs, 17 minutes is perfect.
- Storing Hard Boiled Eggs - Hard boiled eggs will last in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Peel them right away, then store them whole.
Recipe FAQs
No, hard boiled eggs do not freeze well. The whites become rubbery and watery when thawed. The yolks can be frozen, but it's best to use hard boiled eggs, refrigerated within 5 days.
Really either way is fine! After cooking the eggs, run them under cold water, or let them sit in cold water until they are cool when handling. Then peel them or wait to peel them, and store them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Sure, just add your eggs to cold water and bring to a boil. When they reach a boil, turn off the heat and cover for 14 to 15 minutes instead of the full 17. You can take one egg out, run it under cold water, peel and slice it open to decide if they are cooked to your liking!
Hard Boiled Egg Recipes!
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Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
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Print Pin RateIngredients
- 4 eggs (any amount)
Instructions
- Place eggs in a pot covering them with cold water by about an inch. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Right when they reach a boil, turn the heat off and cover.
- Let them sit in the hot water for 17 minutes, set a timer!
- Run under cold water, crack and peel.
Notes
- Storage - Store Hard Boiled Eggs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Be careful not to crack the eggs when adding them to the pot.
- To peel hard boiled eggs, lightly tap them on the counter, cracking the shell on all sides. Start at the bottom of the egg where there is a small air pocket under the shell. Slide your thumb into the air pocket and under the membrane between the egg and the shell. Peel away the membrane along with the shell.
- Egg Size - If your eggs are pretty small, you may only need to leave them in the water 14 or 15 minutes. If you eggs are extra large, they may need 18 minutes. For most regular size eggs, 17 minutes is perfect.
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