How to make hard-boiled eggs
One of my all-time favourite ingredients, the humble egg can take so many delicious forms. A simple boiled egg is one of the hardest working ingredients in my kitchen. I like to cook up a batch a couple of times a week, as they keep well in the fridge and make a great on-the-go, protein-rich snack. They’re also a low-effort option for bulking up salads, curries and noodle dishes. For a speedy supper, I like to top this sweet potato and spinach dhal with a fudgy boiled egg. Read on to find out how to master the perfect hard-boiled egg.
Hard-boiled eggs should have completely set whites but the yolks can have different degrees of softness; they should never be chalky and crumbly or have a green tinge where the yolk meets the white – these are the signs that it’s overcooked.
Want the perfect timings for your daily dipper? Check out our guide on how to boil an egg for every yolk consistency imaginable and don’t forget to try our best ever egg recipes.
Next, learn how to fry an egg and how to make scrambled eggs.
How to make hard-boiled eggs
There is some science behind the method that works best for controlling the texture of your yolk (see below).
It can be harder to peel eggs that are started in cold water as they sometimes fuse to the shell. If you’ve always found this to be the case, try starting with boiling water instead. You can also cook eggs in a pressure cooker or a specialised egg cooker. Additionally, egg timers are available that you place in the water with your eggs, which change colour to indicate how far your eggs are cooked.
There is no absolute foolproof way to perfectly boil an egg, as each time, the size and temperature of the egg, and the temperature of the water (when cooking from cold) may vary. Because eggs cook from the outside in, the whites are liable to overcook. However, with a bit of trial and error, you can find the method that suits you.
How long for hard-boiled eggs
For a medium-sized room-temperature egg, cooking times may vary depending on the egg’s size and initial temperature. Once the water reaches a rolling boil and the heat is turned off, the eggs typically require 10-12 minutes to cook through.
Top tips for perfect hard-boiled eggs
- Make sure your eggs aren’t fridge cold. Eggs at room temperature will have less of a shock being put into hot water and therefore less likely to crack. You can also use an egg pricker or pin to make a very small hole in each egg before boiling, which will also reduce the chance of it cracking in the heat.
- I always slowly lower the eggs into the water using a spoon – don’t just drop them!
- When done, scoop the eggs out of the pan and put them into a bowl of very cold water to prevent them cooking any further. Replace the water if you need to in order to keep it cold. If you don’t cool them down fast enough they might get dark rings forming between the yolk and white as they will keep cooking.
- To peel them, crack the shells all over on a hard surface. You can roll them while pressing down with your hand once and the shells should then slip off in large pieces (starting from the wide end) attached to the membrane. You can do this under water in a bowl if you prefer. Rinse off any chips of shell.
- If your eggs are small, or very large, shorten or extend cooking times by 30 seconds.
Hard-boiled eggs recipe
- Put the eggs in a single layer in a pan and cover them with room temperature water, about 4cm above the eggs. Cover the pan and bring it to the boil, turn the heat off and leave for 12 minutes.
- When done, scoop the eggs out of the pan and put them into a bowl of very cold water to prevent them cooking any further.
Top 5 recipes using hard-boiled eggs
1. Healthy salad niçoise
With a few clever tweaks to the classic, our healthy salad niçoise makes an excellent nutritious midweek meal. This French bistro classic uses extra lettuce, plenty of veg and a simple low-fat dressing to make a filling lunch that’ll do you good.
2. Egg mayonnaise
The key to any good teatime spread, our egg & watercress rolls are sure to go down a treat.
3. Roast broccoli and sesame ramen noodle bowls
Top your bowl of noodles with a perfectly cooked boiled egg as the final flourish. Our roast broccoli and sesame noodle bowl is sure to satisfy comfort food cravings, yet it’s light enough to not leave you in a food coma. A veggie dinner you’ll be coming back to time and time again.
4. Smoked mackerel kedgeree
Our ultimate smoked mackerel kedgeree recipe is packed full of curry spices and fabulous textures. You can enjoy this dish for brunch, lunch or even a filling supper.
5. Caesar salad burgers
Pile chargrilled chicken, hard-boiled eggs and an irresistible creamy dressing onto toasted burger buns for a twist on a traditional summer burger. Our Caesar salad burgers are an easy, delicious dinner the whole family will love.
More essential cooking tips…
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What’s your favourite way to serve hard-boiled eggs? Leave a comment below…