- We Learned to Cook
Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
Hard boiled eggs are might just be the world's perfect snack. They're portable, easy to make, packed with protein and yes, they're delicious. Here's a quick tutorial on how to make the perfect hard boiled eggs.
Are you tired of your hard boiled eggs being cooked too much or not enough. How about when they don't peel to perfection? WE WERE TOO! We've tried and tested and figured out the most egg-cellent way to ensure that your hard boiled eggs turn out perfect every time!
We love hard boiled eggs for breakfast almost every day. They help us get our protein in and they're an easy bite when we're on the run. Both of us prefer our egg yolks to be fully cooked and light yellow. That's when they peel smoothly, and you can take that first bite without any shell sticking to it.
The problem we kept running into when cooking hard boiled eggs was they were always undercooked. It seemed that all the information we could find said to boil them for under ten minutes. But that just wasn't enough time. (More on that later.) The shell wouldn’t peel properly and the yolks were too soft. So we kept increasing the boiling time and FINALLY found the perfect system to share with you.
So why was the cooking time not working for us like it was for everyone else? Pretty simple really—it was our altitude. Here in Salt Lake City, Utah we're over 4,000 feet above sea level. Turns out that water boils at a lower temperature at higher altitude. In fact for every 1,000 feet above sea level you should increase the boiling time by a full minute.
Another little tip is using older eggs. They just tend to turn out better, so if you've got really fresh eggs let them sit for a week or two before cooking. Most of the eggs you get from the grocery store will be within the one to two week window, so no worries there. We also recommend getting the large eggs as they seem to cook and peel better than the medium sized ones. Plus, you you get a little more protein which is always good!
Hard boiled eggs can be eaten plain, with a little salt, or we love to squeeze a little Dijon mustard on our hard-boiled eggs. We also love to eat them on avocado toast, in egg salad sandwiches and sometimes with dishes like our Spicy Asian Turkey Noodle Bowls.
What we like about this recipe!
Nicole - This recipe makes the easiest peeling, perfect hard boiled eggs every time! They're a quick snack to curb your morning appetite. Just remember to prep a large batch to save you time during the week!
Mike - I love hard boiled eggs as my morning snack. They help me get some protein in before my noon workout and I like to add a little squeeze of Dijon or spicy brown mustard on every bite to give them some extra flavor.
How to make perfect hard boiled eggs.
Grab a large pot and fill it about halfway with cold water.
Add the eggs and make sure they are completely covered with water.
Turn the stove on medium heat and set a timer for 18-19 minutes. Again, we like a well cooked egg and we're at high altitude, so the longer cook time works for us. Depending on your location and taste preferences adjust your cooking time to fit those parameters.
While the eggs are boiling grab another bowl and fill it with ice and water. This will help stop the eggs from continuing to cook once they're off the stove.
Once your timer goes off, use a slotted spoon to add the eggs to the ice water bath for 10-15 minutes.
Put the eggs in the fridge and enjoy for the week as long as you keep them unpeeled. If you peel them then they are only good for about 48 hours. We like to cook 10 eggs a week for both of us to have one egg every morning Monday thru Friday!
Tips and Tricks
Older eggs tend to peel better than fresh eggs. If you've got really fresh eggs let them sit for at least a week or two. The eggs you get at the grocery store are already in this range, so they're ready to go.
The ice water bath after cooking stops overcooking, and helps to prevent the green ring on hard boiled eggs. The Green ring in the egg yolk is a chemical reaction when the sulfur and the iron in the egg yolk create ferrous sulfide which show up when the egg yolk is overcooked. The green ring can also show up if there is too much iron in the water.
Adding vinegar to your boiling water can help reduce the calcium in the egg shell making it easier to peel. You can also add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water, which will also help the egg white separate from the shell.
FAQs
Do you have to boil the water before putting the eggs in? You can do that if you want to, just remember to reduce the overall cooking time. We just like the ease of doing it all at once and moving onto something else until they are done.
What's the best way to peel hard boiled eggs? Simply crack the egg on a hard surface and run under a stream of water from the sink. The running water helps to separate the egg from the shell for a cleaner peel. A light drizzle of water works great!
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