Look. I’m not ashamed to admit it. For years, I was boiling eggs ALL wrong. Don’t hate me, but you probably are, too. I used to start the eggs in cold water and bring them to a boil. I also tried adding the eggs to boiling water, then removing them from the head and letting them just steep for however many minutes. Nothing ever worked just right. Peeling them was an absolute pain, and the creaminess and doneness of the yolks always, always varied. Sound familiar?
😍 Why This Method Is Absolutely Perfect
It’s quick and easy and totally foolproof. You can peel a dozen boiled eggs perfectly in roughly 2 minutes. It produces the richest, creamiest yolks, whether you want them runny, jammy, or fully solid. You end up with the easiest-to-peel boiled eggs you’ll ever attempt to peel. The yolks never turn blue-green or sulphuric.
🍳 How Long Does it Take to Boil an Egg?
Well… that depends entirely on how you prefer your boiled eggs! Did you know there’s a whole range of results between “hard boiled” and “soft boiled”? I boiled each egg with exactly the same method. The only difference was the length of time I let them boil. Here’s how they turned out… And if we break down each boiled egg result, starting from the top left, we’ve got:
4 minutes: Mostly set white that doesn’t stay together. Super liquid yolk. 5 minutes: Almost entirely set white with a runny, nearly liquid yolk. 6 minutes: Set white and creamy, gooey yolk. Great for ramen and similar dishes. 7 minutes: Firm white and jammy yolks. Great for eating alone, topped with your preferred seasoning and a nice pinch of salt. My favorite!
After 7 minutes, all boiled eggs moving forward will have firm egg whites.
8 minutes: Half-set yolk. The edge is solid and creamy but the center is soft and almost a little jammy. 9 minutes: Mostly set yolk, but the center is quite moist. 10 minutes: The yolk is half fully set (light yellow) but the center half is still darker yellow and moist. 11 minutes: The yolk is mostly fully set (light yellow), but not quite. The very center is still a little moister than the rest. 12 minutes: The yolk is fully set and light yellow but still super creamy. 13 minutes: Fully set but less creamy. 14 minutes: Fully set but starting to get dry.
💡 How to Use Hard- and Soft-Boiled Eggs
There are SO many uses for boiled eggs! I mean sure, you could go with the classic dash of salt, pinch of pepper. Beyond that, try…
…dying the eggs for Easter egg hunts or holiday decorations. …turning them into classic deviled eggs for cookouts or potlucks. …halving them, then adding a sprinkle of togarashi, hot sauce, Old Bay, cajun seasoning, or smoked paprika. …serving them as part of a breakfast charcuterie with bits of nice cheeses, meats, fruits, or even bagels. …mashing them into egg salad. …giving the finishing touch to a bowl of homemade ramen.
Need more ideas? Check out this post on 15 Things You Can Do with Hard Boiled Eggs!
🥚 Boiling Old Eggs vs. New Eggs
I found only a very slight difference between peeling old and new boiled eggs. I compared “brand new, purchased yesterday” eggs with eggs that were purchased at least a week before. Compare the two left eggs in the photo below.I wouldn’t worry too much about which eggs you use, though. The remaining eggs used I used were new, conventional eggs. I had zero problems with them whatsoever.
🧂 Vinegar and Salt in the Water?
I’ll keep it simple: Yes. You should add vinegar and salt to your boiling water. Here’s why:
Adding vinegar makes the eggs easier to peel. Adding salt makes the eggs coagulate if the shells crack during boiling. That means little-to-no egg white leakage!
It doesn’t really matter what kind of vinegar you use, but add about 1-2 tablespoons to your water as it warms up. Include a big few pinches of salt at the same time.
🥘 Our Favorite Egg Recipes
Keto Deviled Eggs Mom’s Favorite Cheesy Scrambled Eggs Sous Vide Eggs Crockpot Breakfast Casserole Deviled Egg Salad Creamy Boursin Scrambled Eggs Whole30 Breakfast Casserole Denver Omelette Freezer Breakfast Burritos Keto Breakfast Casserole
