Follow for Recipes & Tips

How to make the perfect hard boiled eggs

The perfect boiled eggs

Such a basic thing, boiling an egg.  Sounds as easy as boiling water, but there are a couple tricks that you can do to make the perfect boiled egg.

Easy peeling

Just add 1 Tablespoon of vinegar to the water. I’m not sure of the science behind this, but it does make it easier to peel those eggs.  Also, older eggs are easier to peel.

Add vinegar
Add vinegar

Is my eggs fresh, older or bad?

How do you determine if the egg is fresh, older, or bad? Fresh eggs will lay flat in the pan.  Older eggs will standup.  If the egg is floating, throw it away, it’s bad.

Prevent ugly green yolks

The green yolk is edible, but it just isn’t pretty.  Especially when you are turning it into egg salad or deviled eggs.  To make a bright yellow egg, be sure to place boiled eggs immediately on ice.

Cool on ice
Cool on ice

Should I refrigerate my eggs?

This is an interesting question. In the US, yes, you should.  Elsewhere? Depends on your country and the process they use to clean the eggs.  Here’s a great article that I found which may shed some light into this strange dichotomy: Americans — why do you keep refrigerating your eggs?

Step by Step…

  1. Add eggs and cold water into a pot.  Be sure not to overcrowd.  Each egg should be able to sit on the bottom of the pan. Do not stack your eggs.
  2. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the water.
  3. Turn the heat on high and bring the eggs to a boil.
  4. Reduce heat to medium heat, or whatever heat will do a medium boil.  Boil for exactly 10 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat and immediately place in ice water.

That’s it.  Once the eggs are cooled, you can peel them and they will be perfect.