To cook hard boiled eggs, the general recommended time is about 10 to 12 minutes of sitting in hot water after the water has reached a rolling boil. Here are some detailed methods:
- Place eggs in a pot, cover with cold water by about an inch, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, remove the pot from heat and cover it.
- Let the eggs sit in the hot water for 10 to 12 minutes depending on your preference: 10 minutes yields creamy yolks, while 12 minutes gives fully firm yolks.
- After the time is up, immediately transfer the eggs to an ice water bath for at least 14 minutes to stop the cooking process and make peeling easier
Different sources agree on similar timing:
- BBC Good Food: 10 minutes for classic hard boiled eggs with mashable yolks that are not dry
- RecipeTin Eats: 10 minutes for hard boiled eggs, starting timing once eggs are lowered into boiling water
- Eating Bird Food: 10-12 minutes for fully hard boiled eggs, with 12 minutes for firm yolks
- Downshiftology: 12-14 minutes for hard boiled eggs, with 14 minutes for fully firm yolks without overcooking
Additional tips include using eggs that are about a week old for easier peeling and always cooling eggs in an ice bath immediately after cooking to stop further cooking and aid peeling
. In summary, boil eggs until water is rolling, then remove from heat and let sit covered for 10-12 minutes, followed by an ice bath. This method reliably produces perfectly hard boiled eggs.
