There is a variety of methods for making hard-cooked eggs. Some swear they have good luck with one way over another. You will have to experiment to see which works best for you.
Other things to consider is how you are going to use the egg–dyeing them, for deviled eggs, chopped for salads, etc. For egg dyeing, you would want a method that minimizes the chances of cracking the eggs. With deviled eggs, you are wanting a process that makes peeling easy.
Oven-baked
Alton Brown, ‘I am Just Here for the Food‘ made this method popular.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees
- Position oven rack in the center of the oven
- Place eggs in a muffin tin or on the rack itself with a cookie sheet place below to catch drippings from any eggs that may break.
- Bake for 30 minutes
- Transfer eggs to a bowl with ice water for about 10 minutes. Peel and return eggs to ice water to finish cooling.
This method may create browning of the egg both inside and outside. You may have to experiment with oven temps and time until satisfied with the outcome.
Coldwater boiling
See the instructions here. If you are not dyeing the eggs, roll the eggs around in the pan after draining to crack them before adding to the cold water for easier peeling.
You can add one tablespoon vinegar to the water when cooking if you are not dyeing them.
Hot water boiling
Some claim hot water boiling makes eggs easier to peel.
- Pour water into a pan, place on a burner and set to medium-high. There should be enough water to cover the eggs by two inches.
- When the water reaches a rolling boil, add your eggs carefully to the water using a spoon or tong to lower the eggs into the pot.
- Add one tablespoon vinegar. Do not use the vinegar if you are dyeing the eggs as it will pit them. According to Mathew Jedeikin, adding vinegar was the one thing that noticeably made eggs easier to peel.
- When the water returns to a rolling boil, count 30 seconds then turn the burner to simmer.
- Set the timer to 12 minutes
- When the eggs are cooked
- Drain the eggs and roll the eggs around the pan cracking them–if you are not dyeing them.
- Place eggs in an ice water bath until you can comfortably handle them.
- Peel the eggs and return to the bath to finish cooling them, usually around twenty minutes.
There is a couple of factors that may affect the timing of your eggs–the settings on your stove and the conductivity of your pot. It may take some experimenting to get the time right. I recommend using a heat-sensitive egg timer. Put the timer in the pan when adding the eggs and it will indicate when the eggs are cooked.
Another option is to use an electric kettle. Purchase the type that shuts off once the pot starts boiling.
- Place your eggs in the kettle.
- Add water to cover the eggs and turn on your kettle.
- When the pot turns itself off, set the timer for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Follow instructions above after the heading ‘when the eggs are cooked‘.
Steamed hard-cooked eggs
- Place a steamer basket in the pot.
- Add water until it comes barely up through the basket
- Add eggs and cover with the lid.
- Bring water to a boil then reduce to a simmer.
- Cook for about fifteen minutes.
- Follow instructions above after heading ‘when the eggs are cooked‘.
Rice cooker
A rice cooker is basically an electric steamer.
- Place a steamer basket in your cooker.
- Add water, so it reaches the basket.
- Add eggs and cover with the lid.
- Set timer for twenty minutes–times may vary with individual rice cookers.
- OR you can boil them
- Place eggs in the bottom of the pot.
- Cover the eggs with water.
- Set the steam for 10 minutes–times may vary.
- When done, move the eggs to ice water using a tong.
Electric Pressure Cooker hard-cooked eggs
- Place the Instant Pot egg rack in the bottom of the pot.
- Place eggs on the rack and add one cup of water.
- Lock the lid.
- Use the manual setting high. Set the timer for five minutes. It will take the pot about 5 minutes to reach pressure, and then it will cook for five minutes. Times may vary depending on the pressure cooker.
- When the unit buzzes, turn it off and set a four-minute timer.
- After four minutes, perform a quick release of pressure.
- Remove eggs with a tong to a bowl of ice water.
- Follow the instructions above after heading ‘when the eggs are cooked.
Microwave
Wait…what? If you are making eggs to chop into salads, a microwave is a quick and easy way to cook them.
The key is not to cook them at full power. The whites cook faster than the yolk and can cause the yolk to explode, or you end up with overcooked whites.
- Oil your microwave-safe cup.
- Carefully break an egg into a cup.
- Set the microwave to 45% power
- The timing depends on the power of your microwave. According to this Reddit author, his 1500-watt microwave took 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Check the egg frequently until you know how long it will take in your microwave.
- If you hear hissing, stop the oven and pierce the egg with a toothpick to release the steam.
You will not get a perfect-looking hard-cooked egg, but if you chop them up for a salad–you don’t need one.
Another use for the microwave is when you discover your hard-cooked eggs are not done. According to ‘The New Food Lover’s Tiptionary,’ pierce the egg with a fork then, microwave at 50% for twenty seconds, then sit for another twenty seconds before testing for doneness.
An egg slicer is my favorite tool for quickly chopping eggs. I slice and then hold the egg together as I position it for a crosscut. Eggs are easier to slice if they are cold.
As you can see hard, cooking eggs is not an exact science. You will have to experiment with your equipment to get the right timing.
Please share with us your method of hard-cooking eggs below in the comments.
For more information:
Cooking Techniques: Moist Heat, Boiling
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