How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs
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Posted: 03/29/25
Updated: 04/02/21
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Learn how to make perfect hard boiled eggs on the stove top every single time. These will have beautifully vibrant yellow yolks and shells that are so easy to peel!
If you’ve ever wondered what the best method is, this is the post for you. You will be boiling like a pro! If your family likes them as a snack it’s worth making a big batch to have on hand to avoid those hangry family members! Just sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and you’ve got some happy campers.
It might seem like a simple thing, but there are definitely a few tricks to making the best hard-boiled eggs! They should have perfectly cooked egg whites and beautifully creamy yolks and I’m showing you exactly how to do it. You will be eating your Deviled Egg Salad Sandwich in no time!
When you cook them on the stove top, you can boil as many as want as long as you can fit them all in the pot and cover them with water. So, cook a few or a dozen – it’s up to you!
This is my easy stovetop method, but I also have a post about cooking eggs in an Instant Pot. Check that one out if you want to use your IP! You can also make air fryer-boiled eggs!
why you’ll love this recipe
- You don’t need any fancy equipment – just a pot, a bowl, and some eggs to boil!
- I’m sharing all my best tips, including how long to boil them depending on how you like the yolk.
- Enjoy them as a snack or use them in recipes – I’m sharing some of my favorite ways to use them! This is such a great meal prep hack!
I love hard-boiled eggs this way! I liked your pictures with the different amounts of time and realized I am a 12-minute yolk girl! Delish!
ingredients for hard boiled eggs
- Eggs – We tend to use large fresh eggs. Whatever size eggs you use will be fine but you will need to adjust your cooking time. The diagram below features cook times for large eggs.
- Ice cubes – You will be putting the boiled eggs into a bowl of ice water to stop them from cooking anymore so the yolk is exactly how you like it.
Helpful tools
how to hard boil eggs
Place the eggs in a saucepan and cover them with water. Make sure they are completely submerged, with about an inch of water over top.
Turn on the heat and bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, remove the pot from the heat and cover it with a lid. Leave eggs to cook for 4 to 10 minutes, depending on how you like your yolk.
While they cook, prepare an ice bath. Place ice cubes and water in a large bowl. Submerging the hot eggs will slow the cooking process, so that they don’t overcook.
Remove the eggs from the water using tongs or a slotted spoon. Carefully place them in the ice bath to cool. Leave them for at least 10 minutes.
Once they are cooled, peel them and run them under cold water to remove all of the shells. Pat dry and enjoy!
How to avoid cracks in the eggshells
This recipe requires you to remove the pot from the heat source when the water starts to boil, this is one way to avoid cracks! Rapid boiling could cause your eggs to bump into each other, causing them to crack.
Overcooking is another way that you can get cracks in your eggshells, so cook the eggs for 10 minutes or less.
Use a sauce pan that is big enough for the amount of eggs you would like to cook. Overcrowding the pot may cause the eggs to bump into each other and crack.
can you overcook hard-boiled eggs?
Yes, you can definitely overcook them! When they are overcooked, the yolks will have a green ring, and they will be chalky. They are still edible, but they are so much better when you don’t overcook them. For a perfectly hard-boiled egg, you don’t need to cook it beyond ten minutes.
how long do i boil the eggs for?
I give a range for the cooking time because everyone likes their yolks cooked to a certain doneness!
Four minutes will give you a very soft, runny yolk – every minute you add will yield a yolk that is a little firmer. A classic soft-boiled egg takes 6 1/2 minutes. For a firm hard-boiled yolk, cook them for the whole ten minutes.
Below I have an image that shows the difference between the eggs at different cooking times!
how to use hard boiled eggs
- You can’t go wrong with a batch of Deviled Eggs – you’ll love my traditional recipe.
- Use your Instant Pot to make the Best Potato Salad!
- Make some Avocado Egg Tuna Sandwiches for a quick and easy lunch.
- Use them to make Ham Salad – this is a great way to use up all those leftover decorated eggs and ham at Easter!
- Grab the kids and Dye Easter Eggs without the kit!
do hard boiled eggs float?
No, they shouldn’t float. Uncooked eggs shouldn’t float either – if they do, it means they have gone bad, and you should discard them.
how to store hard boiled eggs
Once you’ve cooked the eggs and chilled them in the ice bath, you can peel them right away or store them with the shells. Hard boiled eggs will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator.
If you peel them, store hard-boiled eggs in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Add a damp paper towel to the container to keep the eggs from drying out.
I prefer to leave the shells on if I’m not using them right away and then I just leave them like that in a bowl in the fridge.
how long do hard boiled eggs keep?
Keep them in the shell and they will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator.
If you remove the shells, they can dry out and are best enjoyed within a few days.
can i freeze hard boiled eggs?
Technically, you can, but they don’t hold up well after you thaw them. The problem is with the whites – the texture changes when frozen, and they end up rubbery and not so great. You can freeze just the egg yolks, though! They will keep for a few months in a freezer container.
pro tips
- Hard boiled eggs are easier to peel when they are cold. The ice water bath stops them from cooking any more but it also causes the egg white to shrink away from the shell making it easier to peel.
- Add cold water to the pot of eggs to allow the temperature of the eggs to rise slowly and evenly.
- Adding the eggs to boiling water will cause them to crack.
Are you ready to make some hard-boiled eggs? I love to make a big batch to have on hand for easy snacks – my family loves them! You will too once you try all my tips – they will be perfect every time!
More great ways to enjoy eggs
- For your next weekend breakfast, you need to make Classic Scrambled Eggs or Oven Scrambled Eggs. They’re both amazing!
- If you love fried eggs, you have to try my Fried Egg Sandwich. It’s perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
- Egg in a Hole is one of my favorite easy breakfast recipes – it’s always a hit with the family!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs
Learn how to make the perfect hard boiled eggs every time with a vibrant yellow yolk and easy to peel eggs.
Video
Ingredients
- 12 eggs
Instructions
- Gently place your eggs in a pot and cover them with cold water by 1 inch making sure they are not crowded.
- Bring water to a rapid boil over medium-high heat, then cover and remove the pan from the heat and set aside for 4 to 10 minutes. Do not lift the lid!
- Fill a large bowl or your sink with cold water and ice to create an ice bath.
- When the eggs reach your desired cooking time, gently remove the eggs from the pan using a tongs and place in the ice water to cool. Let them rest in cold water for at least 10 minutes.
- Remove from water and peel. To peel gently tap the eggs against a hard surface and peel off the shell. Rinse egg under cold water to make sure all egg shells are removed. Gently pat dry.
Tips
I give a range for the cooking time because everyone likes their yolks cooked to a certain doneness!
Four minutes will give you a very soft, runny yolk – every minute you add will yield a yolk that is a little firmer. A classic soft-boiled egg takes 6 1/2 minutes. For a firm hard-boiled yolk, cook them for the whole ten minutes.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 63kcal (3%), Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 6g (12%), Fat: 4g (6%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 164mg (55%), Sodium: 62mg (3%), Potassium: 61mg (2%), Sugar: 1g (1%), Vitamin A: 238IU (5%), Calcium: 25mg (3%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
Robert Richardt says
When I make hard boiled eggs they do not slide out of the shells and I end up with an egg filled with divets. Also what causes and how do I prevent the black ring around the yolk? I submerge them in tsp water and put them on medium heat covered….when the cover starts to rattle I leave them boil for 4 minutes. I then take them off the heat with the cover still on and let them sit for approx 10 minutes. I them transfer them to a bowl filled with ice water and ice. They stay in that approx 20 minutes. I don’t always peel them right away unless they are to be eaten, otherwise they stay in their shells in the frig!!
Peggy Sue says
You are definitely cooking them too long. Increase heat to high so they come to a boil quicker and keep uncovered. Skip the 4 minute boil you mentioned also. Just follow the directions in the recipe and they will turn out. Good luck!
Sam says
Such a great post with so much helpful information! Thanks for sharing.
Michelle Sperr says
You’re welcome! Glad that it was helpful!
Sarah says
I agree thank you for going to so much trouble for us Julie.
Beth says
I love hard-boiled eggs this way! I liked your pictures with the different amounts of time and realized I am a 12-minute yolk girl! Delish!
Michelle Sperr says
Yay Beth! I’m so glad that you tried this and found which “minute-yolk” girl you are!