Learn How to Boil Eggs on the stovetop to get absolutely perfect soft-boiled or hard-boiled eggs every single time! A step-by-step chart will show you what the eggs look like from 6-12 minutes so you’re sure to get a super creamy yolk, firm white, and no green ring. You’ll also learn how using an ice water bath is the secret to easily peeling eggs.
Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe
Have you been avoiding learning how to boil eggs on the stovetop?
I totally get you!! For the last few years I have defaulted to making Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs instead. After all, you can just set it and forget it!
But then recently we were vacationing without my beloved Instant Pot and we really wanted to make some Avocado Egg Salad.
So with a bit of trepidation, I set out to learn the best way to make hard-boiled eggs on the stovetop.
And I’m happy to report that after a few unsuccessful and underdone trial runs, there is a super quick and simple way to make them at home!
Even if you’ve struggled in the past, the method you’ll find below is super easy to follow and will result in absolutely PERFECT hard-boiled eggs every single time.
You’ll even find different images that show you what the inside of the egg looks like during different stages of cooking. (Just in case your curiosity is killing you, too!)
Selecting Eggs
Before we go into how to boil eggs, you want to first make sure you have selected the best eggs for boiling.
While some will say it’s a myth, eggs that are at least 3-5 days old tend to be easier to peel than fresh eggs. Over time, the thin white membrane between the shell and the egg white loosens up and becomes easier to peel.
If you don’t have the time to wait for your eggs to mature, no need to worry! The tips you’ll find below will teach you how to peel hard-boiled eggs no matter how fresh or old they are.
Tools and Utensils
Pot – Select a pot that is large enough to fit all of the eggs you want to boil in a single layer. This is important so the eggs do not touch or overlap while boiling and end up cracking. A relatively shallow pot or saucepan can be used since you only need enough water to cover the eggs by one inch.
Metal Slotted Spoon – It’s easiest to remove the eggs from the hot water with a spoon that has openings in it so the hot water can drain through.
Large Bowl – This will be used for the ice water bath and needs to be large enough to fit all of your eggs into it with plenty of water.
How to Boil Eggs
- Place eggs directly from the refrigerator into a large saucepan or pot in a single layer. (step 1 above)
- Fill the pot with enough cold water so it covers the eggs by 1 inch.
- Bring the pot of water to a rolling boil.
- Once boiling, remove the pot form the heat and cover it with a lid. Let the eggs cook for 6-12 minutes. (step 2 and 3 above)
- For soft-boiled eggs: cook for 6-8 minutes.
- For hard-boiled eggs: cook for 10-12 minutes.
How to Peel Eggs
One of the trouble areas for most people when making hard-boiled eggs is how to easily peel them once they’re cooked. Here are the basic steps to easily peel eggs:
- Ice Bath: Remove the eggs from the water using a slotted spoon and immediately immerse them in an ice water bath. Let them soak for at least 5-10 minutes! The longer you ice them the easier they are to peel.
- Rolling it Out: Hitting the rounded bottom of the egg and then vigorously rolling the egg (so it has cracks ALL over it!) makes the egg easier to peel. (See images 1-3 above.)
- Running under Cold Water: If your eggs are still being a bit tricky, run them under cold water while peeling. Make sure the water runs between the egg white and the membrane so it helps to separate the two.
Some say old eggs are easier to peel. If you happen to have some week or two-week-old eggs, go ahead and use those up.
If you don’t, no problem! They only seem to make a minimal difference.
FAQs
Do I have to use old eggs to make hard-boiled eggs?
Eggs that are at least 3-5 days old tend to be easier to peel than fresh eggs. If you don’t have time to wait, simply use the ice bath method to make the eggs easy to peel.
Why do my eggs have a green ring?
This is most often caused by boiling or cooking the eggs for too long. Additionally, you may have too much iron in the water that was used.
What’s the easiest way to peel hard-boiled eggs?
Immersing hard-boiled eggs in an ice water bath immediately after cooking and then cracking the entire shell before peeling is the easiest way to peel them.
Meal Prep and Storage
To Prep Ahead: Hard-boiled eggs can be prepared up to 2-3 days in advance. Cook them according to the recipe below and store either peeled or unpeeled.
To Store: Store hard-boiled eggs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. It’s easier to peel freshly cooked eggs, so peel hard-boiled eggs before storing them for the best results.
To Freeze: It’s not recommended to freeze hard-boiled eggs. The whites will become very tough and inedible.
Pro Tips and Tricks
- Use cold water and cold eggs. You want them both to be at a similar temperature.
- Wait until the water is to a rolling boil before removing the pot from the heat.
- It’s easier to peel freshly cooked eggs, so peel hard-boiled eggs before storing them for later.
- The longer you let your eggs soak in the ice bath, the easier they’ll be to peel.
How to Use
Once you have your hard-boiled eggs cooked and ready-to-eat, you can either enjoy them with a sprinkle of salt and pepper or use them up in these recipes:
Chicken Cobb Chopped Kale Salad
How to Boil Eggs
Learn How to Boil Eggs on the stovetop to get absolutely perfect soft-boiled or hard-boiled eggs every single time! A step-by-step chart will show you what the eggs look like from 6-12 minutes so you're sure to get a super creamy yolk, firm white, and no green ring. You'll also learn how using an ice water bath is the secret to easily peeling eggs.
Ingredients
- 12 eggs
- Water
Instructions
How to Boil Eggs:
-
Place eggs directly from the refrigerator into a large saucepan or pot in a single layer.
-
Fill the pot with enough cold water so it covers the eggs by 1 inch.
-
Bring the pot of water to a rolling boil.
-
Once boiling, remove the pot form the heat and cover it with a lid. Let the eggs cook for 6-12 minutes.
-
For soft-boiled eggs: cook for 6-8 minutes.
-
For hard-boiled eggs: cook for 10-12 minutes.
How to Peel Eggs:
-
Remove the eggs from the pot using a slotted spoon and immediately immerse them in an ice water bath. Let them soak in the ice water for at least 5-10 minutes.
-
Once completely cooled, hit the rounded bottom of the egg on a hard surface and then vigorously roll the egg so it has cracks ALL over it. Peel the egg under cold running water for the best results.
Recipe Notes
Meal Prep and Storage
- To Prep Ahead: Hard-boiled eggs can be prepared up to 2-3 days in advance. Cook them according to the recipe below and store either peeled or unpeeled.
- To Store: Store hard-boiled eggs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. It's easier to peel freshly cooked eggs, so peel hard-boiled eggs before storing them for the best results.
- To Freeze: It's not recommended to freeze hard-boiled eggs. The whites will become very tough and inedible.
Pro Tips and Tricks
- Use cold water and cold eggs. You want them both to be at a similar temperature.
- Wait until the water is to a rolling boil before removing the pot from the heat.
- It's easier to peel freshly cooked eggs, so peel hard-boiled eggs before storing them for later.
- The longer you let your eggs soak in the ice bath, the easier they'll be to peel.
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