5 Easy tips for Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs.
Easter is right around the corner and pretty soon stove tops will be busy boiling eggs in preparation for dying. So I thought it would be helpful to share my secrets for perfectly smooth, crater free whites and beautifully bright yellow yolks.
With my secrets for success, your shells will nearly slide off in one piece. No more chipping! No more accidentally snagging the whites and creating gashes or marks! Only a perfectly smooth surface.
You will have attractive bright yellow yolk centers that are perfect for deviled eggs.
Ready to try my tips? Let’s go!
Tip #1
Place the eggs in a large pot in one layer. Then, fill the pot with water, enough to cover the eggs by about 1-inch.
Tip #2
Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Less (½ teaspoon) if you’re using a smaller pot with fewer eggs. Truth be told, I don’t even measure anymore. I just add a few pinches to my pot :)
Cooking the eggs in an alkaline water bath is the secret for easy peeling and thus, mark-free whites. If you’re inclined to learn about the science behind this, I write about it in some detail here.
Tip #3
For beautiful bright yellow yolks, it’s all about the cook time. Greenish gray lines only appear if you over cook the eggs! To avoid this, bring the pot of water to a boil over high heat. Cover, off the heat, and let sit for 14 minutes.
Tip #4
While the eggs are cooking, prepare an ice water bath. Fill a large bowl about ⅓ of the way with ice, then fill about ½ way with water. Once the eggs are done, use a slotted spoon to transfer the eggs to the ice water bath. This cools the boiled eggs quickly and stops them from continuing to cook.
Tip #5
Now, the moment of truth. Crack each egg on the counter and return to the water bath. Peel the egg while under the water bath. Peeling in cold water will loosen any shells from whites that need just a little assistance. Although likely not needed because of Tip #2, this is just an extra precaution.
That’s it! Follow my 5 easy steps for perfect hard boiled eggs and you will end up with shells that come off in large pieces, if not one entire piece.
Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
Ingredients
- Large eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Place the eggs in a large pot in one layer. Fill the pot with water, enough to cover the eggs by about 1-inch.
- Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
- Bring the pot of water to a boil over high heat. Cover, off the heat, and let sit for 14 minutes.
- While the eggs are cooking, prepare an ice water bath. Fill a large bowl about ⅓ of the way with ice, then fill about ½ way with water. Once the eggs are done, use a slotted spoon to transfer the eggs to the ice water bath.
- Crack each egg on the counter and return to the water bath. Peel the egg while under the water bath. Place peeled eggs on paper towels to absorb extra moisture.
This is an awesome recipe! The eggs slipped easily out of their shells and the yolks were perfect. I printed this one and will be using it over and over. Thanks!!
This is an awesome recipe! The eggs slipped easily out of their shells and the yolks were perfect. I printed this one and will be using it over and over. Thanks!!
I’m so happy you found it helpful!