Perfect Boiled Eggs

It may be a basic recipe, but it's important to know how to boil an egg properly. There's more than one way to boil an egg, but I've picked my preferred method and describe it here.

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How to Boil an Egg

Believe it or not, there's more than one way to boil an egg. Here's the method I use to boil...View Technique

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Perfect Boiled Eggs

  • Cook Time: 11 m
  • Total Time: 11 m
  • Servings:
    6
    eggs

Ingredients

  • 6 large eggs
  • water

Instructions

  1. Bring at least 2 quarts of water to a boil.
  2. Lower the eggs into the water carefully with a slotted spoon or mesh basket.
  3. Let the water boil for 20 to 30 seconds (or return to the boil) and then lower the heat to a bare simmer.
  4. For soft-boiled eggs, remove the eggs after 6 minutes.
  5. For hard-boiled eggs, remove the eggs after 11 minutes.
  6. If you are serving the eggs warm, run the eggs under cold water until they are cool enough to handle. Tap the egg gently on all sides on the counter to crack the shell and peel.
  7. If you are preparing the eggs for a future cold serving (egg salad or deviled eggs), let the eggs sit in ice water until completely cool. Then tap the eggs gently on all sides on the counter to crack the shell and peel.
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Comments (2)Post a Reply

  1. 3 stars
    Recently, I”m having so much trouble getting hard boiled eggs to come out right. I have even had some in a batch have green rings while other are ok or not quite “done”. How is this happening??!! So I tried this method. Made four large eggs. Actually cooked them about 12 to 13 minutes. All four could have been considered “soft” boiled eggs. Still under cooked for me. They went in the garbage. Help!

    1. Hi Kim. I can’t imagine how 12 minutes in boiling water would have given you soft boiled eggs. Where do you live? Are you at a very high altitude? I would let the eggs sit out on the counter for 15 minutes to take the chill off. Then, if you live in a high altitude town, put them in boiling water for 15 minutes. Also, make sure you are using enough water so that you maintain a boil quickly after putting the eggs in. If the eggs are very cold right out of the refrigerator and you don’t use enough water, you’ll cool the water and you won’t be boiling. Start the timer when you regain the boil. Hope that helps.

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