How to Make Hard-Boiled Eggs

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Hard boiling an egg can be, well, hard. While some people wonder how to hard boil the perfect egg, others strach their heads when it comes to finding an easy way to peel eggs. So we're gonna make it easy and show you how to make hard boiled eggs without a second thought. You won't find any green yolks or rubbery whites when you make hard boiled eggs with these tips. Instead you'll learn to easily peel an egg and uncover a perfectly cooked and creamy yolk with a tender egg white.

What You'll Need:

saucepan with lid
eggs (preferably not fresh)
cold water

What To Do:

Place a single layer of eggs in a saucepan and cover them with about an inch of cold water; bring to a boil.
Once they come to a boil, remove saucepan from heat, cover it, and let it sit about 12 minutes for large eggs.
Run them under cold water to cool them; continue to cool them further with some ice.
Gently tap each egg until the shell is finely cracked, then peel under running water.

Check out this step-by-step guide and our page on how to peel a hard boiled egg!

Here are some tips:

Adjust your cooking time according to the size of your eggs.

Hard boiled eggs in the shell can be refrigerated for up to one week. Hard boiled eggs out of the shell should be used immediately.

Prepare a dozen hard boiled eggs on Sunday so you’ll have an all-natural, high-quality protein option on hand for your family during the busy week ahead, either for an on-the-go breakfast, lunch, or after-school snack.

Did you know?

Eggs are all-natural and have high-quality protein and 13 essential vitamins and minerals in varying amounts, all for just 70 calories.
Eggs are affordable, quick and versatile, and research shows that eating high-quality protein foods for breakfast, like eggs, can help you and your family feel more satisfied and energized throughout the day.
At an average cost of 15 cents apiece, eggs offer a great bang for your buck, providing one of the most affordable sources of high-quality protein per serving.

Want delicious recipes to make with your hard-boiled eggs? Check out our favorites here!

Plus, we've got another handy egg trick! Check out how to separate egg whites.

The Everything Easter eCookbook: 34 Effortless Recipes for Easter Brunch, Dinner & More

Once you know how to hard boil eggs for the holidays, make sure you check out some of our other favorite Easter recipes in our free eCookbook, The Everything Easter eCookbook: 34 Effortless Recipes for Easter Brunch, Dinner & More.

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Jo Ann

Jul 14, 2019

I've tried just about every way to successfully cook and peel hard boiled eggs. So far, the best I have found is the new copper chief steamer. I find the eggs easy to peel just after cooking them all the way to after they have been refrigerated for several days. Never a thin layer of "green" covering the yolk and the taste is as if it has just been cooked fresh. When hot, dip into cool/cold water for a few seconds. After being refrigerated, dip in warm or hot water for a few seconds. Tap on the end where the air bubble is, then on the opposite side. Roll gently, cracking the shell. Peal from the end where the air bubble was by pealing shell away using the membrane of the egg to keep the egg as well as the shell gently separated.

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gingerbaby1 9569925

Mar 29, 2018

My daughter in law cooks them in the oven and they come out great. She says she places each egg into her muffin tin and it comes out great.

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jmks44 2937786

Apr 22, 2017

I have a question I have never seen addressed about boiling eggs. I have an electric cooktop, instead of gas. It takes FOREVER to get water boiling. Then, the eggs have that greenish / grey lining of the filling, instead of completely yellow. Is there a recipe specifically for electric cooktops? Thank you in advance! )

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TOM701

Mar 21, 2016

I put either vinegar(2 tablespoons) or baking soda (1 tablespoon) in the water as it is heating so I can peel the eggs easier. Am I wasting my vinegar and baking soda or does it actually make the shells come off easier?

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Test Kitchen Team

Mar 22, 2016

Hi there! We've found that in some cases a teaspoon of white vinegar will help with peeling the egg. However, we haven't ever tried with baking soda and we've read that the results can be pretty inconsistent. Some say that adding a small amount of salt to the water can also help.

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davis9663 4469006

Apr 03, 2015

I adjusted boiling time to 15 minutes at rest, then tap complete egg with teaspoon so not to damage the egg white for deviled eggs. Pinch off the 'blunt' end of egg and use an inverted teaspoon, slip the tip between the membrane and the white and work the spoon around the complete egg. Some eggs are hard to peal, no matter what the age but this has been working for years. Not always perfect, but the beauty of a deviled egg also is in the white as well as the yolk area.

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mazman13 4305823

Feb 24, 2015

works very well ! will use from now on !

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Refueler72

Feb 17, 2015

Have To Use This Recipe !!!!!

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davis9663 4469006

Jan 30, 2015

When pealing hard cooked eggs, pinch off the 'air-sack-end' and with a teaspoon, tap the entire shell. Invert the tip of teaspoon into opening, between the egg white and the membrane and work all around egg to remove shell. This works great when making deviled eggs without damaging the egg white. Depending on the age of the egg, they sometimes will not peel easily.

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hrwels66 7165501

Jul 31, 2014

Looks yummy, especially the Cinnamon Bun Pie; van't wait to make it and the deviled eggs. Thanks for the great recipes!

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luvmyjava66 5776183

May 15, 2014

The best way I have ever learned to make boiled eggs. They do not have that ugly greenish/gray film on the yolk and they do not crack.

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parlady21 8311708

Aug 15, 2013

After the eggs are cooled, I roll one gently on the counter enough to crack the egg all the way around. Then I proceed to peel the egg under the water of the cooled eggs. The shell practically falls off. Holding the egg under water helps the water get under the shell for easy release. Brown eggs are impossible to peel.

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harleyvic 3280878

Jun 03, 2013

I've always used a tip I got from Mom. Pour about 2-3 ozs of vinegar in the water before cooking the eggs. Run under cold water when done and they peel easy, no membrain hanging on...

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mascalf

Feb 06, 2013

I watched a cooking tip on hard boiled eggs a couple of weeks ago. It is perfect. I have been making hard boiled eggs forever, and I have always had a problem peeling the eggs, I can't get under the membrain to get the shell to release. Well, I have found the solution. Keep the fresh eggs in the fridge until ready to put in the boiling water. Bring the water to a full boil. Use a large skimmer to lay 3 or 4 eggs at a time in the water until all are submerged under about one inch of water. Bring water back to a full boil and then time for exactly 13 minutes. Remove to sink and pout off the hot water and run cold water over until cooled. Then, add ice cubes and cool for for 10 more minutes or so. Crack each egg, then, gently role under your hand to crack the outer shell. Put back in ice water for 10 minutes. The water will get under the shells and the shells will fall off.

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rdrake1211 8753080

Dec 11, 2012

I found doing them in a crockpot to be easier. Just cover them with warm(not hot) water about and inch deep over the top of them and cook them on the low setting for 3and1/2 hours

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padget24

Dec 31, 2014

Sounds good, I'll try this soon.

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Mama Ladd

Dec 11, 2012

On Pinterest it says to add 1/2 tsp baking soda to the water and that the shells will come right off.

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jsm42 2250298

May 01, 2013

I had never heard about adding baking soda to the boiling water. I have tried adding SALT, and it works just as well. Thanks for the tip.

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gjlemieux 8083095

May 06, 2012

Good advice BUT I need to know how to peel fresh eggs after I cook them. They stick to the shells and need to be aged to peel.

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dgbrenner 4235388

Jul 16, 2012

Place your just cooked hard boiled eggs in a bowl of ice water for 15 minutes they will peel easily.

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