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    The Heirloom Pantry » Recipes » Eggs

    How to Make Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

    Published: Jan 11, 2023 · Modified: Dec 4, 2023 by Kathleen Higashiyama · The following content may contain paid links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.

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    Perfect fool-proof hard boiled egg Pinterest pin that shows the steps to make hard boiled eggs.

    Hard Boiled Eggs are high in protein and feature a creamy yolk and firm egg white. They are delicious as a snack, in an egg salad sandwich, or as a hearty addition to a salad. In order to make perfect hard boiled eggs, just boil fresh eggs, chill, and peel!

    9 minute verus 12 minute perfect fool-proof hard boiled eggs with different yolks.

    We love hard boiled eggs in egg salad sandwiches because of their firm yet creamy yolk. We also enjoy them with a little salt and pepper for a protein packed snack. All you need to make these easy eggs are a pot of boiling water, a bowl of ice water, and a spoon or tongs. This recipe is similar to our popular Soft-Boiled Ramen Eggs and Soft Boiled Jammy Eggs and requires a longer cook time

    Our method is fool-proof and results in perfectly cooked hard boiled eggs. Other methods call for placing eggs in a cold pot of water and bringing to a boil; however, that yields inconsistent results, including under- and over-cooked eggs. This is because the temperature of the eggs, the water, and the type of pot are variables that affect the cooking temperature and time. Our method requires the water to be boiled first, reducing temperature variability.

    Jump to:
    • About Hard Boiled Eggs
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • Instructions
    • How to Enjoy Hard Boiled Eggs
    • Hard Boiled Eggs FAQs
    • Storage
    • Cooking Tips
    • Related Recipes
    • Did You Like This Recipe?
    • 📖 Recipe

    About Hard Boiled Eggs

    • Taste - We love these eggs on their own with just a little salt and pepper for extra flavor or in an egg salad sandwich with kewpie mayo.
    • Texture - After 10 minutes of cooling, the egg yolk should be firm yet slightly creamy.
    • Effort - All you need to do is boil the eggs, cool them, then peel their shell.
    • Time - It takes just 10 minutes to cook the eggs then 10 more minutes to cool and peel them.

    Ingredients

    Fresh eggs to make hard boiled eggs.
    • Eggs - Eggs are a great source of protein. We eat pasture-raised farm fresh eggs because of their delicious flavor. They also contain more vitamins and omega-3 fats than cage-raised eggs.
    • Ice - We place the eggs in the ice bath to prevent the eggs from over cooking and make them easier to peel.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Variations

    While we enjoy these hard boiled eggs, we love all types of eggs.  Here are a few other ways we love to prepare eggs:

    • Soft Boiled Eggs -  If you want your eggs runnier for going over rice, follow the same steps above, just boil the eggs for 5 minutes. Our Bacon and Egg Breakfast Rice Bowl is an example of how to integrate these runny eggs into a delicious breakfast. You can also make the eggs slightly less runny if you boil them for 6 minutes.
    • Soft Scrambled Eggs - Whenever we make scrambled eggs, we make them soft and fluffy. We love making a Soft Scramble with Burrata, Tomatoes, and Arugula.
    • Fried Eggs - Fried eggs are another great way to enjoy eggs and perfect for toast. There are a few different ways to fry eggs from runny over easy to firm over hard eggs.
    • Soft Boiled Quail Eggs - Quail eggs are smaller and slightly richer in flavor than chicken eggs.

    Instructions

    Steps to make perfect hard boiled eggs, including lowering eggs into boiling water, boiling for 9-12 minutes, chilling in water for 10 minutes, peeling shell, and slicing.
    • Boil the water and eggs - Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and use a slotted spoon to lower the eggs into the water. Increase the heat back to medium and set a timer and hard boil eggs over medium between 9 and 12 minutes, depending on how done you like your eggs. 9 minutes will result in orange yolks with a semi-jammy center and close to 12 minutes will result in full cooked yolks6 eggs,Water
    • Fill a bowl with ice water - As the eggs cook on the stovetop, fill a bowl with cold water and a few ice cubes.  The bowl of ice water will stop the eggs from cooking, preserve the soft yolk, and make it easy to peel the shells.Ice
    • Cool the eggs - Once the timer pings, use a slotted spoon to transfer the eggs from the pot to the bowl of ice water to cool.  Let the eggs sit in the ice water for 10 minutes before you peel them.
    • Crack the eggshells - Using a spoon, lightly tap each egg to crack the shell then peel hard boiled eggs. The shell and membrane should easily peel off once the egg is cooled.

    Pro tip: Make sure the eggs are at room temperature before you boil them - If the eggs are cold and right out of the fridge, they will crack when lowered into the hot water. Take the eggs out of the refrigerator when you turn on the stove to boil the water to give the eggs enough time to reach room temperature.

    How to Enjoy Hard Boiled Eggs

    There are so many ways to enjoy hard boiled eggs. You can prepare them as a snack fresh cracked pepper and Maldon Sea Salt Flakes or make deviled eggs. You can also chop the eggs and toss them with Kewpie mayo to make an egg salad sandwich. Finally, they are the perfect protein packed addition for a salad.

    Hard Boiled Eggs FAQs

    Are hard boiled eggs good for you?

    Yes, hard boiled eggs are a great source of protein with minimal calories. Hard boiled eggs are also a source of vitamin A, D, calcium, and iron.

    How do you boil eggs so they peel easily?

    Typically, eggs that are added after the water is boiling instead of while the water reaches a boil are easier to peel.

    Is it better to peel boiled eggs hot or cold?

    We advise waiting cooling the eggs in an ice bath then peeling them. Once cooled, the egg whites contract freeing them from the membrane and making them easier to peel.

    Do you boil eggs with the lid on or off?

    We boil the eggs with the lid off so we can keep an eye on the eggs as they boil.

    What does it mean if my egg yolks are grey?

    It means the eggs are overcooked. They are still edible, but may not have the desired texture.

    Sliced hard boiled eggs with orange soft yolks (9 minutes) and creamy yellow yolks (12 minutes).

    Storage

    You can refrigerate hard boiled eggs in an air tight container for 3 days. We recommend these containers: OXO Pop Containers, Glass Meal Prep Containers, Glass Food Containers.

    Cooking Tips

    • Figure out what you want to make with your hard boiled eggs before you start making them so your eggs are ready at the same time as your other food and you can enjoy everything hot and fresh.
    • Make ahead of time - We often make these the night before we plan to eat them then enjoy them the following day.

    Related Recipes

    • Tamago sando (Japanese egg salad sandwich) on a Japanese ceramic blue plate and an iced matcha latte.
      Tamago Sando (Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich)
    • Jammy soft boiled eggs with a creamy orange yolk.
      Soft Boiled Jammy Eggs
    • Closeup shot of a fried sunny side up egg on a plate.
      How to Make Perfect Fried Eggs (4 Types)
    • Peeled soft-boiled quail eggs cut in half on a plate.
      Soft Boiled Quail Eggs

    Did You Like This Recipe?

    Love this hard boiled eggs recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card & consider leaving a comment below. Thanks!

    Sign up for THP's newsletter and keep in touch on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube. If you make this recipe, tag #theheirloompantry so we can see your hard boiled eggs!

    📖 Recipe

    9 minute versus 12 minute perfect fool-proof hard boiled eggs with different yolks.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    How to Make Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

    Hard Boiled Eggs are high in protein and feature a creamy yolk and firm egg white. They are delicious as a snack, in an egg salad sandwich, or as a hearty addition to a salad. In order to make perfect hard boiled eggs, just boil fresh eggs, chill, and peel!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Cool time10 minutes mins
    Total Time25 minutes mins
    Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Side Dish, Sides
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 63kcal
    Author: Kathleen Higashiyama

    Equipment

    • 1 Tongs
    • 1 slotted spoon
    • 1 pot
    • 1 knife
    • 1 cutting board

    Ingredients 

    • 6 eggs at room temperature
    • Ice
    • Water
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Boil the water and eggs - Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and use a slotted spoon to lower the eggs into the water. Increase the heat back to medium and set a timer and cook the eggs between 9 and 12 minutes, depending on how done you like your eggs. 9 minutes will result in orange yolks with a semi-jammy center and close to 12 minutes will result in full cooked yolks.
      6 eggs, Water
    • Fill a bowl with ice water - As the eggs cook on the stovetop, fill a bowl with cold water and a few ice cubes.  The bowl of ice water will stop the eggs from cooking, preserve the soft yolk, and make it easy to peel the shells.
      Ice
    • Cool the eggs - Once the timer pings, use a slotted spoon to transfer the eggs from the pot to the bowl of ice water to cool.  Let the eggs sit in the ice water for 10 minutes before you peel them.
    • Crack the eggshells - Using a spoon, lightly tap each egg to crack the shell.  The shell and membrane should easily peel off once the egg is cooled.

    Video

    Notes

    Storage
    • Refrigerate Hard Boiled Eggs in an air tight container for up 3 days. We recommend these containers: OXO Pop Containers, Glass Meal Prep Containers, Glass Food Containers.
    Top Tips
    • Make sure the eggs are at room temperature before you boil them - If the eggs are cold, they will crack when lowered into the hot water. When you boil the water, take the eggs out of the refrigerator to give them enough time to reach room temperature.
    • Figure out what you want to make with your hard boiled eggs before you start making them so your eggs are ready at the same time as your other food.
    • You can make these the night before you plan to eat them then enjoy them the following day.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 63kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.3g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 61mg | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theheirloompantry or tag #theheirloompantry!

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    About the Author

    Kat Higashiyama and Alec Totto are recipe developers, food photographers, and the authors behind The Heirloom Pantry. Since 2017, they have shared recipes inspired by their Japanese and Italian heritage and California and Hawaii roots. They reside in San Jose with their two dogs, Peeps and Paisley. Read More…

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    Alec and Kat with Paisley and Peeps on the beach

    We're Kat and Alec, the culinary duo behind The Heirloom Pantry, where family recipes from our Italian and Japanese heritage meet fresh California ingredients and Hawaiian sunshine. Our chef-tested dishes help you conquer weeknights and wow guests with effortless entertaining. Join us on this delicious journey – let's cook up confidence, together!

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