Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs Recipe (With Video)

Servings:

12

Yield:

1 dozen

Make perfect hard-boiled eggs every time with our simple recipe that cooks up to a dozen eggs at once. It's a one-ingredient wonder: All you need are eggs, a pan large enough to hold them, and water to cover. Before you get started, make sure the eggs are at room temperature—this will prevent the whites from becoming rubbery. You don't need to buy fresh eggs for this method; it's easier to remove shells from older eggs.

After the eggs have boiled, follow our tips for easily peeling hard-boiled eggs, then enjoy them as a protein-packed snack, for your favorite deviled eggs recipe, or in egg salad.

4 Tips for Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs

Do not buy fresh eggs to make hard-boiled eggs: For most recipes, we call for the freshest ingredients you can find, but eggs you already have in your refrigerator will be easier to peel once cooked.
Avoid cooking cold eggs: Wait 30 minutes for the eggs to come to room temperature after you take them out of the refrigerator. This will help ensure that the whites stay tender and make your boiled eggs easier to peel.
Cooking larger or smaller eggs: Our recipe uses large eggs; if you use extra-large or medium eggs, increase or reduce the time the eggs sit on the stove.
How to avoid the green ring around the yolk: A green ring on a hard-cooked yolk is caused by sulfur and iron compounds in the egg reacting on the yolk's surface and is a result of overcooking or cooking the egg at too high a temperature. Don't worry, they are still safe to eat. Our method—bringing the eggs to a boil and then turning off the heat and letting them sit in the hot, not boiling water—minimizes the chance of getting a green ring.

How Long to Cook Eggs

Our recipe details how to cook classic hard-boiled eggs. If you prefer a runnier yolk, follow these variations:

For soft-boiled eggs: For boiled eggs with a runny yolk, follow the recipe but let the eggs stand in the water for 90 seconds to two minutes.
For a medium-boiled egg: For boiled eggs with a jammy center, let the eggs sit for between one minute and 45 seconds and two minutes and 15 seconds.

Directions

ingredients for perfect hard boiled eggs recipe — Credit:
Emily Laurae

Cover eggs with cool water:

Place eggs in a large saucepan. Cover them with cool water by 1 inch.

Credit:
Emily Laurae

Use a pan that can hold all the eggs comfortably without crowding them.
Bring eggs to boil:

Slowly bring water to a boil over medium heat; when the water has reached a boil, cover and remove from heat. Let sit 12 minutes.

Credit:
Emily Laurae
Run under cool water:

Transfer eggs to a colander; place under cool running water to stop the cooking.

Credit:
Emily Laurae

Don’t skip running the eggs under cold water, this important step stops the eggs from cooking and is key to avoiding overcooked eggs.
Peel eggs:

Tap the top and bottom of the egg on a board or countertop and then gently roll the egg with the palm of your hand to begin to crack the shell.

Credit:
Emily Laurae
Cut eggs and serve:

Halve the eggs or slice them and serve.

The Right Way to Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs

If you use our technique, which cooks the eggs gently, they should be easy to peel. Here's how we like to peel them:

Place the hard-boiled egg on your work surface and roll it under your palm to crack the shell. Use gentle pressure to avoid marring the egg white.
Hold the egg under cold running water, and start peeling at the large end to get under the membrane where the air sac grants a little access.

If you are peeling a large number of hard-boiled eggs, a bowl of water is more effective—and eco-friendly—than running water. Fill a medium bowl with cool water, then crack the shell gently on a work surface or on the inside of the bowl under the surface of the water. Peel each egg individually under the water, letting the shells fall into the bowl as you work.

How to Store Hard-Boiled Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container and will keep for up to one week. To ensure the eggs stay fresh, wait until they have cooled completely before storing. We also recommend peeling them before storing as the eggs are easier to peel when they are first cooked rather than after they have been chilled in the refrigerator. Hard-boiled eggs should not be frozen.

6 Ways to Eat Hard-Boiled Eggs

Our go-to way to enjoy hard-boiled eggs is halved as a snack with a pinch of salt and a little pepper. Sometimes we add a tiny dab of mustard. These are our other favorite ways to eat them:

Sprinkle the halved egg with everything bagel seasoning
Use smoked salt instead of regular salt
Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and a pinch of chopped fresh herb, such as parsley or dill
Top with a little salsa
Add crumbled bacon
Dip into soy sauce

Frequently Asked Questions

How many eggs should you hard boil at a time?

How many eggs you boil at once is a matter of personal preference. You can cook just one or two eggs if that works for you. We like to boil up to a dozen eggs at one time. Even if we only plan to use a couple of eggs, we often boil more so we have them on hand for a healthy snack.
Can I use my Instant Pot to make hard-boiled eggs?

Yes, if you have an Instant Pot you can use it to make hard-boiled eggs—it helps the eggs come out tender and makes them easy to peel.
How to tell if hard boiled eggs are done?

The best way to tell if hard-boiled eggs are done is to use a timer. There are various hacks about spinning eggs or shining a flashlight into the eggs to see if they are done, but none of these tricks work. Timing how long the eggs are in the cooking water for is the best way to tell if they are done.
How long can a hard-boiled egg sit out?

A hard-boiled egg can sit out for no longer than two hours. If you have hard-boiled eggs that are out of the refrigerator for longer than that time, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says they are no longer safe. This two-hour window is the safety point for many foods, not only hard-boiled eggs.