Learn how to make hard boiled eggs perfectly every time! With this easy method, they'll be easy to peel and have vibrant yellow yolks.
Here’s the good news: perfect hard boiled eggs are easy to make. …And the bad news: so are less-than-perfect ones. I don’t know about you, but I’ve certainly cooked my fair share of the latter. When you try to peel away the shell, half the whites come along with it, or when you cut it open, the yolk is slightly green instead of brilliant yellow. Pretty disappointing, if you ask me.
See, cooking perfect hard boiled eggs is easy, but that doesn’t mean that the process you use doesn’t matter. After years of trial and error, I’m happy to say that this method for how to make hard boiled eggs works every time! The yolks are always sunshine yellow, and the shells slide right off. Whether you’re getting ready for Easter, prepping for Passover, or just on the hunt for a protein-packed snack, this easy hard boiled egg recipe is guaranteed to please.
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs
Follow these simple steps to make perfect hard boiled eggs every time:
First, boil the eggs. Place them in a pot and cover them with cold water by 1 inch. Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
Then, let them sit in the hot water. As soon as the water begins to boil, turn off the heat and cover the pot. Leave the eggs in the hot water for anywhere from 10-12 minutes, depending on how you like your eggs. The 10-minute eggs will have vibrant, creamy yolks, while the 12-minute yolks will be paler and opaque, with a chalkier texture.
Finally, move them to an ice bath. When the time is up, drain the eggs and transfer them to a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Leave them in the ice bath for at least 14 minutes before you peel the eggs.
If you’re not planning to eat the eggs right away, feel free to leave them in the shells and store them in the fridge. But even if this is the case, don’t cut the ice bath short! It’s crucial for stopping the cooking process and making the eggs easy to peel later on.
See below for the complete recipe!
Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs Tips
- Buy the eggs in advance. If I’m cooking sunny side up eggs, fresh eggs will yield the best results every time. But if I’m hard boiling them, the opposite is true! Boiled farm-fresh eggs are more difficult to peel than older eggs. If you want to make perfect hard boiled eggs, it pays to buy them in advance and cook them after a few days in the fridge.
- Store the eggs upside down. This tip comes from Jack’s mom, who makes the BEST deviled eggs for family gatherings. In order for the yolks to land right in the center of the hard boiled eggs, she recommends storing the raw eggs upside down before you cook them.
- Don’t skip the ice bath! Overcooked hard boiled eggs have an unappealing greenish ring around the yolks. We want our yolks to come out sunshine-yellow, so transfer the eggs to an ice bath to stop the cooking process as soon as they come out of the pot. This step is also crucial for making hard boiled eggs that are easy to peel. The ice bath helps separate the egg membrane from the shell, so you’ll be able to peel away the shell without ripping off chunks of egg white.
- Peel them carefully. The ice bath should set you up for success here, but that doesn’t mean the shell will all come off in one piece. Gently rap the egg on the counter to break the entire shell into small pieces. Carefully peel it away along the fractures, leaving the egg whites as intact as possible.
Storing and Serving Suggestions
Peeled or unpeeled hard boiled eggs will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Enjoy them as a protein-packed snack with salt and pepper or Everything Bagel Seasoning, slice them into salads, add them to grain bowls, or top them onto avocado toast. I also love to make hard boiled eggs to turn into deviled eggs, pickled eggs, or egg salad!
How do you like to eat hard boiled eggs? Let me know in the comments!
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place eggs in a medium pot and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, then cover the pot and turn off the heat. Let the eggs cook, covered, for 9 to 12 minutes, depending on your desired done-ness (see photo).
- Transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water and chill for 14 minutes. This makes the eggs easier to peel. Peel and enjoy!
Apologies for my low rating. I followed the recipe exactly and although the yolks came out a nice yellow, peeling the shell is a different story. The shell came off in 1/8″- 1/4″ pieces and some bits of eggs came off with the shell as well. After letting the eggs sit in the water, after it started to boil, for 10 minutes, I transferred them to very icy water for 15 minutes.
My eggs were very hard to peel and much of my whites go to waste because the egg whites are sticking to the shell.
First time for me making hard boiled eggs, used your recipe, Simple, easy. The color at 12 minutes was fine, just whatI wanted. When I peeled they did take small whites with them. Thinking I am have to left them boil long enough? the bottom of the pot was boiling, but not the whole pot. Anyway, removed them, covered them, let stand 12 minutes, then the ice bath. Was my error at the beginning, or at the end? Thx, Michael.
Mi Michael, I’m glad you enjoyed the eggs! A few tips – I would bring the water to a full boil before turning off the heat. You might also want to leave the eggs in the ice bath longer to make them easier to peel. Peeling them under cool running water can help too. That said, different eggs can vary in how easy they are to peel, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you found some variation from batch to batch even with the same method. Hope this helps!
I have been a home chef for decades and I create from scratch or “hybrid” recipes to the delight of friends and family…however I have struggled with hard boiled eggs forever, I love your site and used this recipe and FINALLY success in all ways. I also used the bring to boil and turn off for however many minutes but I changed 2 things per your instructions. I left the lid off until the eggs just BARELY hit a boil (I have an electric stove) and only then covered and turned off the burner. I went 12 minutes because I like the yolks fully cooked (but hate that dark ring) and then immediately put in the ice bath (very icy btw) for your recommended 14 minutes. I used a timer all along. Then peeled after cracking the eggs all around (another technique I always tried) and VOILA! Perfect easy to peel eggs.! Thank you so much and people, please follow the recipe to the letter time depending on how you like your yokes, and you will also finally be free from badly cooked and hard to peel eggs.
So glad you loved the recipe, Jane!
I will not be using this recipe again. Followed instructions, but was a disaster to shell the eggs. Ended up throwing the eggs away.
Hi Shawn, did you leave them in the ice bath for the full time? I find that that’s the most important step for easy-to-peel eggs. Peeling them under running water can also make the shells slip off more easily!
Hi!
Which cooking time is best for egg salad sandwiches? 10 or 12 minutes? I know it may be up to preference, but I’m not sure what I’d prefer so I’m curious which is most common.
Thank you!
Hi Kitty, 12 should be just right for egg salad!
Perfect eggs in terms of colour and consistency, but I have to agree with others about the shells. I’ve never spent as long peeling hard boiled eggs as I did over these.
Question : Do you leave the pot on the burner after it’s turned off, or move it to a cool burner to rest for 10-12 minutes.
Hi Hope, you can leave it on the burner.
Worst peeling eggs I’ve ever made. Try a different way
Perfect every time. Boil for 1 minute and turn off and let set 12 minutes. Plunge and set in ice water for 14 minutes. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed the eggs, Trish!
thanks for the great article, keep up the good work
This was my first time ever making hard boiled eggs and it turned out literally perfect
So glad to hear that, Grace!
I must’ve done something wrong because my eggs weren’t cooked through. Some of the white spilled out when I cracked the first one. I just put them back into boiling water
Hi A, did your water come to a full boil?
It’s good
This is my favorite way to make hard-boiled eggs. Comes out perfectly cooked every time. Sometimes the eggs stick to the shell when peeling but I’m not sure if that’s the brand or type of eggs or like someone said due to fresh eggs being used.
Once the water gets boiling on high, recipe says nothing after turning off the heat. Do you leave pot sitting on the hot burner or take it off to finish cooking??
Hi Mia, just cover the pot and turn the heat off. You can leave it on the burner.
I had the same question! And the answer didn’t help. If you have gas the heat is off instantly. Electric…keeps on cooking. I think we take it off the electric. That’s what I’m going to try right now.
I asked my self that as I turned off the burner and it continued making noise. I left it on the burner because it didn’t say, remove from burner, which is a common cooking instruction. Worked beautifully. The peeling went great.
Does anyone have advise for the circumstance not allowing for access to an ice bath?
Hi Elle, you could put them in a bowl in the sink and run cold water (so that water in the bowl stays cold)
I love the 12-minute recipe for making hard-boiled eggs because I prefer to eat fully cooked boiled eggs.
Yes me too! I was taught this by my Mother in law 30 years ago.
I have tried this recipe several times. The eggs themselves turn out cooked nice. But I can NEVER get the shell to peel off nice even with the ice bath. What can I do differently?
Hi Jessica, I would try a different brand of eggs if you’re used to getting the same kind. I find it can really vary.
I bump the egg onto the counter and roll it… keeping it all intact,then into the ice water. they peel very easily,however,there is usually a stubborn one, 99% of the time I’m making egg salad so it doesn’t make a dif,also don’t forget 2 take your rings off,they will tarnish
I love this recipe. I use it often. Question, though. How can the smell be minimized or removed?
Hi Jennifer, so glad you love the recipe! Unfortunately, I don’t have tips about minimizing the hard boiled egg smell. I wish I did!