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Overcooking hard-boiled eggs is a common mistake that results in that unappealing gray ring around a chalky, crumbly yolk. But no worries -- there's a foolproof method for perfect eggs every time.
Place the eggs in a saucepan and cover with two inches of cool water. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute. Remove the eggs from the flame, cover and let sit for exactly 13 minutes (use a timer). While they're resting in hot water, set up an ice bath by placing a tray of ice cubes in a large bowl of cold water. When the 13 minutes are up, gently transfer the eggs to the ice bath and let cool for at least ten minutes (this helps contract the egg from the shell, making it easier to peel).
Next, gently tap the narrow end of the egg on the counter top – you'll notice some empty space inside the egg; this is the best place to begin peeling. Run the egg under cold water, gently remove the shell, dry off the egg and enjoy.
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2-21-2010 @3:17PM April said... Wow, that's a lot of effort to avoid boiling a pot of water. LOL
2-21-2010 @11:52AM Isabelita said... LOL 3 minutes will do just fine for me don't want to spend 13 minutes waiting to eat an egg. If it worked for my parents it will work for me.. Only thing I would like to be perfect is my hubby... lol..
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2-21-2010 @12:31PM sharon said... for an egg or two to eat for yourself there is a microwave egg boiling tool. Its shaped like an egg, has a little metal shelf for you to set 4 eggs on.
http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwave-Egg-Cooker/dp/B0007M2BN0
I'm usually boiling a ton of eggs for egg salad, tuna salad, deviled eggs etc but this little thing is SOOOO handy! I bought one for my mom and tried it out before giving it to her. It WORKS! I got one for myself and one for my MIL. Its simple to use and it works.. just fricken awesome.
I did take notes from the author and some of the commenters though. I have chickens & ducks and we eat a LOT of eggs and finding the PERFECT way to boil an egg and get easy to peel eggs has been a goal for me for a long time! hahaha
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2-22-2010 @7:08PM SAS said... Having been married to an egg inspector and who now works for the FDA egg board. My ex would inform me that you do not hard boil eggs, they refer to it as hard cooking. You should not boil eggs, this makes the water too hot and you tend to forget them and then they turn green around the yolk due to oxygenation causing the chemical change. If you place them in water that is hot to the touch and let them simmer I find it is better. When you take out the egg, spin it on the counter and fully cooked egg will not wobble, it will spin uniformly where one that is not will wobble. Also fresh eggs do not peel as well. If I have to make hard cooked eggs I buy them a week before.
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2-21-2010 @1:43PM Laughing Lady said... I'm mighty suspicious of any advice that says one minute is sufficient boiling time. Taking the 13 minutes of a hot bath into account, I'm still suspicious. There's no greater culinary disappointment than having your tongue set for a hard boiled egg and upon cracking it, discovering a soft yoke. You can't hide a soft yoke in an egg salad. I tried. It's not a good thing. To me, the only sure bet that an egg is hard boiled is seeing the shell crack in the pot. Yes, this is not a culinary masterpiece. But it sure isn't a soft boiled egg either.
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2-21-2010 @1:54PM Brenda said... The air sac is in the large end of the egg not the narrow end.
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2-21-2010 @3:18PM April said... I was just going to say that... LOL The trick to perfect peeling is to get under the membrane. When you tap the LARGE end, you'll find an air bubble and it's easy to give it a little pinch to pull up the membrane. Then the whole thing just slides out.
2-21-2010 @2:02PM glenna said... add a little bit of salt to water when boiling eggs, once done, gently crack eggs and let them cool in ice water
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2-21-2010 @4:59PM Bat Masterson said... Lets talk about poaching.
When I poach eggs, I use frying pan and have water just above egg yolks. I don't put them in until I have water just to the boiling point. After adding eggs to water, I click down the toaster. When the toast pops up (not too dark), I then butter the toast, place the eggs on toast, place butter on the eggs and enjoy. Is there a better way ?
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2-21-2010 @4:02PM Donovan said... Roberta, are you serious? A microwave?
I think Roberta wants everyone to try this method, so you can spend all day cleaning spattered egg out of your microwave. Good old boiling water & Ice water bath, is your best bet. And if you really want a perfect hard boiled egg, especially if you want to impress company. Buy them already made.
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2-22-2010 @4:13PM bat masterson said... Sorry, I commented about poaching eggs. Realize now we were talking only about hard boiled eggs. Never been to this site before and didn't realize should have only talked about hard boiled eggs.
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12-03-2010 @5:33PM saph said... OMG doesn't anyone have an egg cooker? It cooks up to 9 eggs in less than fifteen minutes. I have used them for many years and they make a really neat wedding gift because people just don't see the convenience of it - but thats because they never tried it. The tray handle has a sharp point on the top of it and this is where you put the BIG end of the egg to make a tiny hole for cooking - you just gently press it on the point until you hear it pop the hole then put the small end of the egg down into the egg size hole on the tray - add water (comes with measure cup)cover with lid and push on button - light comes on when cooking and goes off when done
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