How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs
Learn How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs with these foolproof steps. You’ll have perfectly cooked eggs with bright yellow yolks and easy to peel egg shells every single time. Great for snacking on, adding to your breakfast plate, egg salad, deviled eggs and so much more!
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs
This easy method has never led me astray. While I do love my quick and easy Instant Pot hard boiled eggs recipe, sometimes it’s best to stick to the classics! This stovetop method is how hard boiled eggs have been prepared for years before pressure cookers ever existed. All you’ll need is water, eggs, ice cubes, and my little not-so-secret ingredient… baking soda.
I usually cook a big batch of hard boiled eggs at the top of the week. Then, I peel them and store them in the fridge so I can grab one whenever I need it. Sometimes I just like to slice them in half and sprinkle on the everything bagel seasoning as a quick protein-packed satisfying snack! It’s also great to have just in case I need to toss them into a recipe I’m whipping up.
Classic recipes like this one are great for any home cook to know and memorize. Once you have this easy method down, it’ll just become a part of your routine. You probably won’t even need to come back to this recipe again! Making hard boiled eggs has become like second nature to me, like making toast or pouring a bowl of cereal. Check out my easy steps below in the recipe card for perfect hard boiled eggs every single time!
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs
Take a quick look at how easy it is to make hard boiled eggs! For more details about the process just scroll down to the recipe card.
- Prepare the water. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the baking soda.
- Cook the eggs. Add the eggs to the water. Do this carefully or you’ll crack the eggs! I like to use a slotted spoon. Cover the pot and cook the eggs for 12 minutes for hard boiled eggs.
- Prepare the ice bath. Do this while the eggs are cooking. Fill a large bowl with ice and water. It needs to be really cold!
- Peel the eggs. Once the eggs are cooked, transfer them to the ice bath and let them chill for about 15 minutes. Peel them and enjoy immediately or store for later.
Tips for the Best Hard Boiled Eggs
Get the very best eggs every time with these tips and tricks.
- Fresh eggs are more difficult to peel than older eggs. For the best results, boil eggs that are more than 7 days old.
- The baking soda is optional but does aid in easy peeling. The alkaline in the baking soda helps the egg whites release from the shell aiding in perfect peeling.
- Don’t skip the ice bath! That’s what really helps peel the shells off with ease. Also, the ice bath helps prevent the eggs from continuing to cook. No one wants an overcooked egg!
Serving Suggestions
Here are just a few recipes that benefit from perfectly cooked hard boiled eggs. If you use them in another way, please let me know by commenting below – I’d love to hear what worked for you!
- Slice and serve on top of avocado toast, hummus avocado toast or ricotta toast.
- Make some bacon horseradish deviled eggs, classic deviled eggs, pimento cheese deviled eggs or red beet pickled deviled eggs.
- Enjoy the best egg salad for lunch. You can also get more creative with bacon horseradish egg salad.
- Have some fun with dyed Easter eggs!
More of the very best classic egg recipes!
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Get the Recipe: Hard Boiled Egg Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 Large Eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Equipment
- 1 saucepan
Instructions
- Bring a large pot filled with water to a rolling boil over medium high heat.
- Turn the heat to low and stir in the baking soda.
- Slowly lower the eggs into the simmering water using a slotted spoon or wire spider.
- Cover and cook the eggs according to your desired level of doneness. (6 minutes for soft boiled eggs, 8 minutes for medium boiled and 12 minutes for hard boiled.)
- While the eggs cook, prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and water.
- When the eggs are done cooking, transfer the eggs to the ice bath and chill for 15 minutes.
- Peel immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Fresh eggs are more difficult to peel than older eggs. For best results, boil eggs that are more than 7 days old.
- The baking soda is optional but does aid in easier peeling. The alkaline in the baking soda helps the egg whites release from the shell aiding in easier peeling.
One Comment on “How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs”
I will have to try your method here. Looks like I’ve been doing this wrong all these
years! Thank you for posting.