What if you could make fresh hard boiled eggs that were perfectly cooked and easy to peel? I’ve finally cracked the code to easy-peel hard cooked eggs, and with this special recipe you won’t need any special equipment or weird tricks.
My family and I love hard-cooked eggs, but too often this seemingly-simple recipe has led to frustration — undercooked yolks, or worse, yolks tinged in green from over-cooking.
And the peeling! Peeling hard-boiled eggs has nearly driven me to madness, especially when I wanted perfect specimens for a nice plate of deviled eggs.
Fortunately, there is a simple secret to making perfect hard cooked eggs. Forget pricking the ends, using old eggs, or risking cracked shells by dropping eggs in boiling water.
Instead, simply cook your eggs in hot steam for a perfect result. Let me show you how.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy to make: With this simple preparation, you’ll be enjoying hard boiled eggs for breakfast, lunch, snacking, or to use in recipes in about 20 minutes.
No fancy equipment: You probably have what’s needed in your kitchen cabinet.
Perfect texture – Once you have the timing down, you can always count on hard cooked eggs that are tender (and never rubbery).
Equipment Needed
You’ll need a large saucepan that can accommodate a steamer basket or insert.
You’ll also need a large bowl you can fill about halfway with ice water along with the cooked eggs.
Finally, you’ll need a pair of tongs to take the eggs from the steamer and drop them in the ice water.
Ingredients Notes
Here’s all you need to make the ultimate hard boiled eggs:
Large eggs – If you have a different size, no problem. For medium eggs, decrease the cooking time by about a minute. For extra large eggs, increase the cooking time by a minute.
Water – You’ll need tap water to add to the pan for cooking, to fill the ice water bowl, and to run over the eggs while peeling.
Ice – You’ll need several cups of ice to add to the bowl for instant cooling. This is part of the secret that makes your eggs come out just right every time!
Step by Step Instructions
STEP ONE: Arrange your large eggs in a steamer basket.
STEP TWO: Add about an inch of water to a large lidded pot, and bring to a full rolling boil over high heat.
STEP THREE: Add the egg-filled steamer basket to the pan (I recommend using an oven mitt to protect your hand), and cover with the lid. Set your timer, and steam the eggs for exactly 14 minutes.
STEP FOUR: While the eggs are cooking, fill a bowl about halfway with ice and water.
STEP FIVE: When the 14 minutes are up, use tongs to immediately transfer the hot eggs to the ice water, and let them rest in the water for at least 10 minutes.
STEP SIX: Tap the eggs all over with a soup spoon to crack the shells, and roll them gently on your counter.
STEP SEVEN: Then peel them under a gentle stream of lukewarm running water, which will help loosen the membrane between the shell and egg.
That’s it! Enjoy your perfectly cooked eggs, or use them in recipes. When you cut them, you’ll be rewarded with perfect yellow yolks.
How to Store Leftovers
The peeled eggs will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking them.
Unpeeled hard boiled eggs will keep in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Hard Boiled Eggs at High Altitude
At high altitude, it will take a little longer for your water to come to a boil.
However, once you add the eggs to the steamer your time should still be 14 minutes to cook large eggs.
Ways to Use Hard Boiled Eggs
My personal favorite? These Deviled Eggs with Bacon are the tasty side dish I’m frequently asked to bring to family dinners and potlucks.
Hard cooked eggs star in plenty of other recipes, too! I love to add chopped hard boiled eggs to our Bacon Macaroni Salad.
Here are some other favorites:
FAQs
The green or gray ring around the yolk is caused by overcooking. While it may not look appealing, it’s entirely safe to eat. To avoid this in the future, be sure to transfer your eggs to an ice bath immediately after cooking. This step helps stop the cooking process and keeps your yolks vibrant.
Yes! Fresh eggs not only taste better, but when you boil and peel the eggs they’ll usually have a nicer shape.
Have you ever peeled an egg and discovered it looked misshapen? That’s because older eggs often have a larger air cell inside. As eggs age, the contents of the egg shrink slightly as moisture and carbon dioxide escape through the shell’s pores. So use fresh eggs for that perfect oval shape!
If they haven’t been eaten in 2 hours, wrap the hard cook eggs tightly or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy peeled hard boiled eggs with 2 to 3 days.
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Perfect Fresh Hard Boiled Eggs
Equipment
- Large pot with lid
- Steamer basket
- Large heatproof bowl
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 12 large eggs
- Water
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Arrange the eggs in the steamer basket.
- Add about an inch of water to a large, lidded pot and bring to a full rolling boil over high heat.
- Put your hand inside an oven mitt and carefully lower the egg-filled steamer basket to the pot. Cover with the lid. Set a timer for 14 minutes.
- While the eggs are cooking, fill a large heatproof mixing bowl about halfway with ice and water.
- When the timer goes off, use tongs to immediately transfer the hot eggs to the ice water, and let them rest in the water for at least 10 minutes.
- To peel eggs, tap each one all over with a soup spoon to crack the shells, and roll gently on a work space or counter to loosen the membrane.
- Turn your kitchen faucet on with a gentle stream of lukewarm water. Hold the egg under the stream of water and peel off the shell.
Notes
Nutrition
Got questions? Just ask! I’m happy to help.
If you post your creations on social media, tag #HappySimpleLiving so I can share! Thank you for your support. – Eliza
Nutrition Disclaimer: All nutritional information shared on this site is an approximation. I am not a certified nutritionist, and any nutritional information should be used as a general guideline.
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This post was originally published on April 14, 2017. It has since been completely updated with new photos and information.
Eliza Cross is the creator of Happy Simple Living, where she shares ideas to help busy people simplify cooking, gardening, holidays, home, and money. She is also the award-winning author of 17 cookbooks, including Small Bites and 101 Things To Do With Bacon.
Thanks, Eliza. This looks SO simple! Going to give it a try this weekend!
Thanks for letting me know, Elaine, and I hope your eggs are just wonderful. xoxo
Thanks for the great idea. I think I remember that you live in Colorado at high altitude, but I wanted to check before trying this recipe. When I cook hard-boiled eggs, I use the High-Altitude cookbook, but the shells stick. I want to try your recipe, but I am not sure it is adjusted for a longer cooking time to compensate for our altitude. Thought I’d check.
Great question, Cathleen! I live in mile-high Denver, but no matter where you are this recipe doesn’t need to be adjusted for high altitude, and here’s why: It may take you a little longer to bring the water to a boil, but you don’t start timing the 13-minute cooking time until you add the eggs. Be sure to peel the eggs under a gentle stream of running water. The water gets between the membrane and the egg and helps make the peeling easier. Hope it works for you, and happy Easter! xo
13 minutes… wow. I generally cook mine at least 30 – of course, I turn the heat off as soon as the water starts to boil. I wonder how long it takes to cook an egg at sea level – probably less time.
I’ve found that the key to getting them to peel easily is NOT to use fresh eggs. The ones you get on sale because they’re near their expiration date make the best hard boiled eggs IMHO.
Thanks for sharing your tips, ECL! xo
You might want to try chopped, stuffed green olives in your deviled eggs. The olives add a little salt and the pimentos a little color.
Ronald, your variation sounds yummy – must try! I love stuffed green olives. My friend Debbie makes deviled eggs with finely chopped dill pickles and a sprinkle of fresh dill. Thanks for sharing your suggestion.
This is my foolproof method for steaming fresh eggs for perfect hard boiled eggs. You don’t need any special equipment, and the eggs are easy to peel. This method has been a game changer for me, and made making deviled eggs so much easier!