Having hard-boiled eggs on hand is a great idea as they are versatile and can be used in various ways. They taste great by themselves and can be used in sandwiches, salads, and as a base for deviled eggs. The key to perfectly boiled eggs is to avoid overcooking, as it can result in a grey ring around the yolk and rubbery texture.
How to hard boil eggs?
Here’s a simple recipe to hard boil eggs:
Ingredients:
- Eggs
- Water
Instructions:
- Place your eggs in a single layer in a saucepan or pot. Make sure they fit snugly without any extra space.
- Cover the eggs with cold water, about an inch or two above the eggs.
- Place the saucepan or pot on the stove over medium-high heat until the water comes to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, remove the pot from the heat and cover it with a lid.
- Let the eggs sit in the hot water for 9-12 minutes, depending on the size of the eggs and how well-done you want the yolks to be.
- After the time is up, use a slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the water and place them in a bowl of ice water to cool for a few minutes.
- Gently tap the eggs on a hard surface to crack the shell, then peel them under running water or in the bowl of water to make it easier.
Your hard-boiled eggs are now ready to eat or use in any recipe!
Hard boiled eggs time chart
The cooking time for hard-boiled eggs can vary depending on the size of the eggs, how fresh they are, and your desired level of doneness. Here’s a general guide for cooking times:
- Small eggs: Soft-boiled: 4-5 minutes Hard-boiled: 8-9 minutes
- Medium eggs: Soft-boiled: 5-6 minutes Hard-boiled: 9-10 minutes
- Large eggs: Soft-boiled: 6-7 minutes Hard-boiled: 10-12 minutes
- Extra-large eggs: Soft-boiled: 7-8 minutes Hard-boiled: 12-14 minutes
Note: These cooking times are based on starting with cold water and cooking over medium-high heat until the water comes to a boil, then reducing the heat to low and simmering for the desired time. After cooking, it’s best to cool the eggs in ice water for easier peeling. Keep in mind that the times given are a general guideline, so you may need to adjust the cooking time depending on your stove and the size and freshness of your eggs.

How to hard boil eggs perfectly?
Here’s a recipe for hard-boiled eggs that will come out perfectly every time:
Ingredients:
- Eggs
- Water
Instructions:
- Place your eggs in a single layer in a saucepan or pot. Make sure they fit snugly without any extra space.
- Cover the eggs with cold water, about an inch or two above the eggs.
- Place the saucepan or pot on the stove over medium-high heat until the water comes to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the eggs simmer for 9-12 minutes, depending on the size of the eggs and how well-done you want the yolks to be. For a softer yolk, go for the shorter cooking time; for a firmer yolk, go for the longer time.
- After the time is up, use a slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the water and place them in a bowl of ice water to cool for a few minutes.
- Once the eggs are cool enough to handle, gently tap them on a hard surface to crack the shell all over, then roll the egg between your hands to loosen the shell.
- Peel the egg under running water or in the bowl of water to make it easier.
Tips for perfect hard-boiled eggs:
- Use eggs that are at least a week old for best results, as fresher eggs can be more difficult to peel.
- Start with cold water and add the eggs to the pot before heating, which will help the eggs to cook more evenly.
- Let the eggs cool in ice water after cooking to help them contract from the shells and make them easier to peel.
- Adjust the cooking time based on your preferred level of doneness.
- Store the hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator for up to one week.

How to hard boil eggs in air fryer?
Here is a recipe for hard-boiled eggs in an air fryer:
Ingredients:
- Eggs
Instructions:
- Preheat your air fryer to 250°F (120°C).
- Place your eggs in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching each other.
- Cook the eggs for 15 minutes.
- After the cooking time is up, immediately transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water and let them cool for at least 5 minutes.
- Once the eggs are cool, gently tap them on a hard surface to crack the shell, then peel them under running water or in the bowl of water to make it easier.
Your hard-boiled eggs are now ready to eat or use in any recipe!
Note: The cooking time may vary depending on the size of your air fryer and the number of eggs you are cooking. It’s a good idea to experiment a bit to find the perfect cooking time for your air fryer.
How to hard boil eggs in instant pot?
Here’s a recipe for hard-boiled eggs in an Instant Pot:
Ingredients:
- Eggs
- 1 cup of water
Instructions:
- Place the rack or trivet that came with your Instant Pot in the bottom of the pot.
- Add 1 cup of water to the pot.
- Place your eggs on the rack or trivet, making sure they are not touching the water or each other.
- Close the lid of the Instant Pot and set the valve to the “sealing” position.
- Press the “manual” or “pressure cook” button and set the timer for 5 minutes on high pressure.
- Once the cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then use the quick release method to release any remaining pressure.
- Carefully remove the eggs from the Instant Pot and place them in a bowl of ice water to cool for at least 5 minutes.
- Once the eggs are cool, gently tap them on a hard surface to crack the shell, then peel them under running water or in the bowl of water to make it easier.
Your hard-boiled eggs are now ready to eat or use in any recipe!
Note: The cooking time may vary depending on the size of your Instant Pot and the number of eggs you are cooking. It’s a good idea to experiment a bit to find the perfect cooking time for your Instant Pot.
How to hard boil eggs on the stove?
Here is a recipe for hard-boiled eggs on the stove:
Ingredients:
- Eggs
- Water
Instructions:
- Place your eggs in a single layer in a saucepan or pot. Make sure they fit snugly without any extra space.
- Cover the eggs with cold water, about an inch or two above the eggs.
- Place the saucepan or pot on the stove over medium-high heat until the water comes to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the eggs simmer for 9-12 minutes, depending on the size of the eggs and how well-done you want the yolks to be. For a softer yolk, go for the shorter cooking time; for a firmer yolk, go for the longer time.
- After the time is up, use a slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the water and place them in a bowl of ice water to cool for a few minutes.
- Gently tap the eggs on a hard surface to crack the shell, then peel them under running water or in the bowl of water to make it easier.
Your hard-boiled eggs are now ready to eat or use in any recipe!
Note: If you’re not sure about the timing, you can test one egg at a time until you find the perfect cooking time for your preferred texture.

How to hard boil eggs in microwave?
It is not recommended to hard-boil eggs in the microwave as they can explode due to the buildup of steam inside the egg. However, you can make scrambled or poached eggs in the microwave.
Here is a recipe for microwave scrambled eggs:
Ingredients:
- Eggs
- Milk
- Salt and pepper
- Shredded cheese (optional)
Instructions:
- Crack the eggs into a microwave-safe bowl or container.
- Add a splash of milk and a pinch of salt and pepper to the eggs and whisk them together.
- Microwave the mixture for 30 seconds on high power.
- Take the bowl out of the microwave and stir the eggs with a fork.
- Microwave for another 30 seconds and stir again.
- If the eggs are not fully cooked, microwave for another 10-20 seconds, stirring after each interval, until they are cooked to your desired consistency.
- If you like, sprinkle some shredded cheese over the eggs and microwave for another 10-20 seconds until the cheese is melted.
Your microwave scrambled eggs are now ready to serve!

How to hard boil eggs easy peel?
Here’s a recipe for hard-boiled eggs that are easy to peel:
Ingredients:
- Eggs
- Water
Instructions:
- Place your eggs in a single layer in a saucepan or pot. Make sure they fit snugly without any extra space.
- Cover the eggs with cold water, about an inch or two above the eggs.
- Place the saucepan or pot on the stove over medium-high heat until the water comes to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the eggs simmer for 9-12 minutes, depending on the size of the eggs and how well-done you want the yolks to be. For a softer yolk, go for the shorter cooking time; for a firmer yolk, go for the longer time.
- After the time is up, use a slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the water and place them in a bowl of ice water to cool for a few minutes.
- Gently tap the eggs on a hard surface to crack the shell all over, then roll the egg between your hands to loosen the shell.
- Peel the egg under running water or in the bowl of water to make it easier.
By starting with cold water and adding the eggs to the pot before heating, it will help the eggs to cook more evenly and reduce the likelihood of the shells sticking to the eggs. The cooling step in ice water will also help the eggs to contract from the shells, which makes them easier to peel.

How to make hard-boiled eggs in boiling water?
Here’s a step-by-step guide to making hard-boiled eggs on the stove using boiling water:
Ingredients:
- Eggs
- Water
Instructions:
- Place your eggs in a single layer in a saucepan or pot. Make sure they fit snugly without any extra space.
- Cover the eggs with cold water, about an inch or two above the eggs.
- Place the saucepan or pot on the stove over high heat until the water comes to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the eggs simmer for 9-12 minutes, depending on the size of the eggs and how well-done you want the yolks to be. For a softer yolk, go for the shorter cooking time; for a firmer yolk, go for the longer time.
- After the time is up, use a slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the water and place them in a bowl of ice water to cool for a few minutes.
- Once the eggs are cool enough to handle, gently tap them on a hard surface to crack the shell all over, then roll the egg between your hands to loosen the shell.
- Peel the egg under running water or in the bowl of water to make it easier.
Tips for perfect hard-boiled eggs:
- Use eggs that are at least a week old for best results, as fresher eggs can be more difficult to peel.
- Start with cold water and add the eggs to the pot before heating, which will help the eggs to cook more evenly.
- Let the eggs cool in ice water after cooking to help them contract from the shells and make them easier to peel.
- Adjust the cooking time based on your preferred level of doneness.
- Store the hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator for up to one week.
How to hard boil eggs without ice?
While using ice water can make the peeling process easier, it’s not essential for making hard-boiled eggs. Here’s a recipe for hard-boiled eggs without using ice:
Ingredients:
- Eggs
- Water
Instructions:
- Place your eggs in a single layer in a saucepan or pot. Make sure they fit snugly without any extra space.
- Cover the eggs with cold water, about an inch or two above the eggs.
- Place the saucepan or pot on the stove over medium-high heat until the water comes to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the eggs simmer for 9-12 minutes, depending on the size of the eggs and how well-done you want the yolks to be. For a softer yolk, go for the shorter cooking time; for a firmer yolk, go for the longer time.
- After the time is up, use a slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the water and place them in a bowl of tap water to cool for a few minutes.
- Once the eggs are cool enough to handle, gently tap them on a hard surface to crack the shell all over, then roll the egg between your hands to loosen the shell.
- Peel the egg under running water to make it easier.
Tips for perfect hard-boiled eggs:
- Use eggs that are at least a week old for best results, as fresher eggs can be more difficult to peel.
- Start with cold water and add the eggs to the pot before heating, which will help the eggs to cook more evenly.
- Let the eggs cool in tap water after cooking before peeling.
- Adjust the cooking time based on your preferred level of doneness.
- Store the hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator for up to one week.
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