Name: How to Cook Boiled Eggs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 17 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 eggs; 4 cups water, approximately

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Boiled eggs can be a simple, healthy snack. If you want to know the secret to cooking the perfect boiled egg, then keep reading! Today I’m sharing how to cook boiled eggs perfectly with a few different methods.

In this blog post, I’m sharing tips and tricks that will help you boil the perfect egg every time. I’ll cover how long to cook an egg in boiling water as well as in the oven or even in your Instant Pot!

Table of Contents

How to Cook Perfectly Boiled Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs are a great protein-rich breakfast or snack option. All you need is a pot of water and about 10-15 minutes on the stove to make hard-boiled eggs. However, there are a variety of methods to cooking a boiled egg. Today I’m how to boil the perfect egg!

Why I love eggs

Eggs are a great source of protein any time of the day. They make a great nutritious snack, delicious addition to your breakfast plate, and can be served for lunch alongside a salad or even turned into an egg salad sandwich.

I love to keep a few boiled eggs in the fridge to grab on the go or to eat on top of my green salads. And adding a little salt and pepper is just so yummy!

They’re high in protein.
They make an excellent meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) or even a snack.
They’re quick to cook and easy to make.

As much as I love eggs, you should remember: Eggs are high in cholesterol, so people with heart disease or diabetes should limit how much egg they consume on a daily basis.

The American Heart Association advises limiting the consumption of whole eggs to four per week. The yolk of an egg has the most calories and the most cholesterol. egg.

Soft-boiled eggs vs hard-boiled eggs

I’ve always loved a runny fried egg, but I can’t stand it if the white part of the egg isn’t completely set. But everyone has their own preferences. Do you like the egg yolks runny? Medium-well? Or hard?

The cooking time will vary depending on your preferences. This article will concentrate on how to properly hard-boil eggs, but there are just minor changes if you want them soft-boiled.

Stovetop Method for Boiling Eggs #1

Fill a saucepan with water and set it on the stove. To increase the boiling temperature, add one teaspoon of salt for each quart of water. Then, add a small amount of white vinegar to the water.

You’ll want to bring the water up to a boil and then turn down the heat and let the water simmer.

Use a spoon to carefully place as many eggs into the water as the pot will hold – you don’t want the eggs touching each other though.

Place the lid on the pot and turn off the heat. Set the timer for 15 minutes if you want hard-boiled eggs. If you want the center of the eggs a little softer, you can set the timer for 9 minutes to get medium-boiled eggs. And, for soft-boiled eggs, set the timer for 6 minutes.

Please note: these times are exact, different things could vary and if you are new to boiling eggs, you may need to practice a few times to get your method down to a science, but these are good guidelines to follow! Start with these times and see how you like the eggs when you peel them to eat.

When the timer goes off, place the boiled eggs in cold water to cool for a few minutes before peeling. Letting the boiled eggs get cold (you can even add ice to the water to cool them down faster) along with the added vinegar should make peeling your boiled eggs easier.

Stove Top Method for Hard Boiling Eggs #2

Fill a pot with water and add eggs to cover the bottom of the pot so that they aren’t touching each other too tightly. Set the pot on the stove and turn the burner on high.

Keep an eye on the pot and when it starts to boil, set your timer for 10 minutes. When the timer goes off, run the eggs under cold water and place in an ice bath until completely cooled.

How to Boil An Egg Perfectly Every Time @ AHomeToMake.com

Instant Pot Method for Boiling Eggs

Boiling eggs in your Instant Pot is quick and easy! Place you Instant Pot Egg Rack in the bottom of your 6 quart electric pressure cooker. Pour in a cup of water and then add the eggs to the basket.

Set the pressure cook on high for 5 minutes.

Then, let the pressure release naturally (NR) for 5 minutes. Be sure to use the Quick Release if there is any pressure remaining in the pot to be sure you don’t get burned when opening your Instant Pot.

Place the eggs in an ice bath after rinsing them in cold water to help them cool more quickly.

Step by Step Tutorial: How to Boil Eggs in Your Instant Pot: Quick and Easy Method

Cooking hard-boiled eggs in the oven

Did you know you can cook boiled eggs in the oven?? It’s a super easy method I think you’ll love! Start by preheating the oven to 325° F. Use a silicone muffin pan on top of a baking sheet and place one egg in each muffin cup.

Bake the eggs for 25 minutes. Remove the eggs from the oven, rinse in cold water, and put in a bowl of icy water until completely cooled.

A Few Tips For Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs:

Older eggs will turn out prettier. When you purchase eggs from the store, they are usually about a week old. However, the older an egg is, the easier it is to peel.

Adding too many eggs to your pot can make it so they don’t cook properly. The water temperature could drop too much when you add them to the water.

Depending on your burners and how hot they get, could determine how long it takes to boil your eggs. It’s important to experiment at first and not get frustrated if your boiled eggs doing turn out exactly like you hoped the first time!

How long should I cook my hard-boiled eggs?

Using the traditional Stove Top Method #1 above, you’ll use these times for cooking your boiled eggs.

15 minutes for hard-boiled
9 minutes for medium-boiled
6 minutes for soft-boiled

How can I tell if a hard-boiled egg is cooked all the way through?

The white of a hard-boiled egg is the easiest method to tell whether it’s cooked all the way through. When a hard-boiled egg is cooked correctly, the white and yolk should be firm and dry with no indications of being runny or wet. Using the finger test is the most effective way to assess how cooked your egg is: simply press the top gently, if it’s soft then it may need more time if you want a hard-boiled egg.

If you can see clear liquid beneath a lifted edge, the egg isn’t yet fully set but will continue to cook as long as heat is applied.

Overcooking your hard-boiled egg will cause the yolk to turn green around the outside of the yolk. Overcooking your boiled eggs will also cause them to have a stronger sulfur smell.

A perfectly cooked boiled egg should have a bright yellow yolk that is cooked all the way through but no green should be present.

Why do my eggs crack when I boil them?

The most typical reason for the eggshell cracking during the cooking process happens when the egg is placed too near to the side of the pot.

Another reason your eggs might crack during cooking is if they are too cold when you add them to the hot water. You can avoid this by taking your eggs out of the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before you plan on cooking them.

Best way to cook hard-boiled eggs

What is the best way to hard boil an egg? If you want to know what the best way to cook hard-boiled eggs is, just remember: Whichever way works for you is the best way to hard boil an egg.

Great toppings for hard-boiled eggs

There are a variety of toppings for boiled eggs. Some ideas include fresh herbs like:

parsley or chives
smoked paprika
salt and pepper
hot sauce

You could top your boiled eggs with anything that makes you happy. But these are some of my favorites. Use your imagination and try a variety of toppings on your boiled eggs.

6 eggs

How to Cook Boiled Eggs

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 17 minutes

Ingredients

6 eggs
4 cups water, approximately

Instructions

Stove Top Method #1:

Fill a saucepan with 4 cups water. Add 1 tsp. salt and a splash of vinegar. Bring water to a boil. Reduce heat and carefully spoon each egg into the simmering water.

Place lid on pan and turn off heat. Set timer for 12 minutes for hard-boiled eggs, 9 minutes for medium-boiled eggs, and 6 minutes for soft-boiled eggs.

When the timer goes off, transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water to cool.

Stove Top Method #2:

Fill pot with water and add eggs. Bring to a boil over high heat. Keep an eye on the water and when it begins boiling, set timer for 10 minutes for hard-boiled eggs.

Remove eggs from pot and place in ice water to cool completely.

Instant Pot Method:

Place Instant Pot Egg Rack in the bottom of your electric pressure cooker. Pour in just 1 cup of water, then add the eggs into the basket.

Set pressure cook on high for 5 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes. Be sure to use the quick release to release any leftover pressure before opening your Instant Pot.

Rinse and place eggs in ice bath to help them cool down completely.

Oven Method:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Use a silicone muffin pan on top of a baking sheet and place one egg in each muffin cup.

Bake the eggs for 25 minutes. Remove the eggs from the oven, rinse in cold water, and put in a bowl of icy water until completely cooled.

Notes

1. Older eggs will turn out prettier. When you purchase eggs from the store, they are usually about a week old. However, the older an egg is, the easier it is to peel.

2. Adding too many eggs to your pot can make it so they don’t cook properly. The water temperature could drop too much when you add them to the water.

3. Depending on your burners and how hot they get, could determine how long it takes to boil your eggs.

4. It’s important to experiment at first and not get frustrated if your boiled eggs doing turn out exactly like you hoped the first time!

Recipes to Make with Boiled Eggs

deviled eggs
egg salad sandwiches
add as a topping to garden salad
add a boiled egg to ramen

Learning your way around the kitchen

It’s easy to make a hard-boiled egg when you know-how. It does not have to be intimidating! When you’re first learning to cook, boiling an egg and getting it right can feel hard, but with a little practice and a good set of tips, you’ll soon become an expert in the kitchen.

Remember: the best method for cooking a hard-boiled egg is whichever way works best for you. Get in the kitchen and practice! Take notes and you’ll learn what works best for you.

I hope you have found this blog post to be helpful! Be sure to share it with your friends and family so they can cook the perfect egg too. If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know in the comments below.