My family loves hard boiled eggs, and so do I. And since eggs are considered to be the perfect protein, we’re in luck. I think knowing how to boil eggs, i.e., how to make a hard boiled egg, or a soft boiled egg (same thing, less time), is a basic kitchen skill that is important to have. But how can something so basic be so hard?

Sometimes they turn out perfect and sometimes they don’t.  You know like when you go to peel them and they won’t peel? You end up taking half of the white part off with the peel and then they don’t look so great either. Or you thought you hard boiled them long enough but when you cut them in half they are still runny inside?

After much trial and tribulation and dozens of eggs, I can assure you that this method is fool proof and will teach you how to make the perfect hard boiled egg.

How To Make The Perfect Hard Boiled Egg

Ingredients:

6 eggs

Directions:

1. Use a medium sized pot (I use a 4-quart pan)
2. Add 3 inches of water to the pot and bring to a boil
3. Gently lower eggs into boiling water with a spoon
4. Reduce heat to medium, so that water is simmering
5. Cook for 15 minutes for hard boiled eggs
6. Remove eggs from water with a spoon, allow to cool on a plate for 10-15 minutes
7. Crack shells on counter and peel eggs

This is a sure winner!

Placing the eggs in the pot, adding water, and then together bringing the eggs and water to a boil and letting them simmer for the cooking time causes the eggs to be extremely difficult to get out of their shells. Also bringing the eggs to a boil in the water and then turning off the heat to allow the eggs to cook also causes the eggs to be quite a challenge to peel. Stick with the fool proof method above and you will be good to go!

The next piece of the puzzle is finding the easiest way to remove the eggs from their shells. So, what is the best way to peel a hard boiled egg? Contrary to what I’ve done in the past, the winning method does not involve a cold water bath. Simply removing the eggs from the boiling water and setting them on a plate to cool for ten to fifteen minutes was the most fool proof method. This cooling time is literally to allow the eggs to come to a temperature where you can safely handle them without scorching your hands.

I have compiled a few handy cooking times below. You can make everything from three minute eggs (serve in a cup, eat with a spoon) to hard boiled eggs, and then some in between. Times are based on large eggs.

3 minute egg -> soft boiled

5 minute egg -> runny medium boiled

13 minute egg -> creamy hard boiled

15 minute egg -> very hard boiled

Finally, make sure to set a timer when you make hard boiled eggs so that you do not overcook them! When that happens, the yolk gets a nasty greenish grey ring around its’ outside, and the white becomes rubbery. Not good. The best way to prevent over cooking your hard boiled eggs is to set a timer and remove the eggs from the hot water as soon as it goes off.

So now you know how to boil eggs! Hard boiled, soft boiled, and anything in between! My favorite way to eat hard boiled eggs is warm, cut up in a cup with a teaspoon of butter and salt and pepper. Yum!  If you’re looking for deviled egg recipes, try my Avocado Deviled Eggs! My family loves these and they make a great healthy after school snack for my son.