a hard-boiled eggs cut in half on a plate
I've found the best way to make perfect hard-boiled eggs.

Steven John

  • I've discovered some tips for cooking hard-boiled eggs with predictable (near-perfect) results.
  • I don't like to overdo it, so I boil my eggs for eight minutes.
  • I quickly shake the peels off hard-boiled eggs using a drinking glass and a bit of water.

Hard-boiled eggs may not be glamorous, but they are a quick, easy, and highly portable way to add protein to your diet.

The problem is that unlike frying or scrambling, the cooking happens while the egg is still in its shell, so it can be hard to know when its done.

However, when I follow these steps closely, I've figured out how to make a perfect hard-boiled egg every time.

Let the eggs come to room temperature before cooking them.

two eggs in a glass bowl
If the eggs are cold, it can throw off the cooking process.

Steven John

Get the eggs you intend to boil out of the fridge at least a half hour before you start cooking — or even longer if your house is on the chilly side.

You want the eggs at room temperature or warmer before introducing them to the boiling water.

Sometimes, I'll rest them near the pot as it heats up to speed up the process a little.

Use tongs to slowly add the eggs to the pot.

pair of tongs adding an egg to a pot of boiling water
The tongs help everything go smoothly.

Steven John

Once your eggs are at room temp and you have a pot of water at a full rolling boil, use tongs to gently lower each egg into the water.

This slow and steady introduction reduces the likelihood that the egg will crack due to the sudden heat change.

It's also a great way to prevent being splashed with boiling water.

The best cook time varies depending on how you want your yolks.

eggs boiling in a pot of water
I like to leave my yolks a little soft.

Steven John

Some people cook hard-boiled eggs for too long, resulting in rubbery whites and a yolk that looks like yellow-gray clay.

Eight minutes leads to my perfect egg with fully set whites and a yolk that's just right of soft. If you prefer your yolks cooked to a full solid, just one more minute should do the trick.

Rapidly chill the cooked eggs in an ice bath.

two eggs in an ice bath
You want to cool the eggs down quickly using a bowl of ice water.

Steven John

As soon as the cooking time has elapsed, use your tongs to remove the eggs from the pot and into a large bowl filled with ice and water.

The eggs only need to chill in the ice bath for about three minutes before they're ready to peel.

Shake the eggs in a glass with a splash of water to quickly get rid of the shells.

hand holding the shell of an egg over a glass with a hard boiled egg
I can get the shell off a hard-boiled egg in essentially one piece.

Steven John

You can literally shake the shell off a hard-boiled egg. Yes, it sounds a bit strange, but it works so well.

Take an egg from the ice bath, place it in a standard short drinking glass (like a rocks glass), and add about a half inch of water. Then, cover the mouth of the glass with the palm of your hand and vigorously shake the egg back and forth for a few seconds.

The shell should peel away smoothly, often coming away in one large piece.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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