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Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs

4.80 Mitt(s) 5 Rating(s)5 votes, average: 4.80 out of 55 votes, average: 4.80 out of 55 votes, average: 4.80 out of 55 votes, average: 4.80 out of 55 votes, average: 4.80 out of 5

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Level: Easy

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Description

Hard-boiling eggs is certainly not all that interesting, but it is an essential skill that is simple to master. If you are sick of eggs with that nasty greenish-grayish halo around a yolk that is so hard that it’s nearly eligible for use in the PGA, look no further.

I found this method in the excellent Anthony Bourdain’s Les Halles Cookbook, and it’s never done me wrong.

Ingredients

  • Eggs
  • Water
  • Ice

Preparation

Put the eggs in a pot large enough so that they will fit in a single layer on the bottom.

Add enough cold tap water to cover the eggs by two inches.

Bring the water to a rapid boil, uncovered.

As soon as the water boils shut off the heat and cover the pan.

Let it sit, on the burner, for exactly ten minutes.

While the eggs are sitting, prepare an ice water bath in a large bowl.

At ten minutes, dip out the eggs and move them to the ice water bath.

Let the eggs cool completely.

Peel and use!

11 Comments

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txcookiemomster on 4.5.2012

I have prepared hard boiled eggs this way for years without any problems of over/under cooking. However, I find that the fresher the eggs the more likely they’ll stick when being peeled so I buy them a week before I need them. And yes, I add salt to the water and have added vinegar. Nothing seems to make fresh eggs not stick when peeling so, week old eggs are the answer in my humble opinion. Hasn’t failed me in twenty years!

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Natalie on 6.7.2011

I don’t know what I did wrong. Everytime I make hardboiled eggs, the shell always sticks & I end up peeling have the egg off with it. I followed this exactly & the yolks did turn out perfect, but the shell still stuck. :(

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bewitchedwicked on 1.28.2011

Got a technique for the perfect Soft boiled egg?
That one still eludes me, and I want to make some traditional Ramen soon and so I want to get the soft boiled egg part right.

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Cindy Carnes on 10.28.2010

I have been told to put center yolks, take the carton of eggs, turn it on it’s side in the refrigerator, hold shut by a rubber band. I’ve done this many times and it works! Do this the night before you plan to boil them.

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tarra on 4.5.2010

My Easter eggs turned out perfectly! Thanks for sharing!

5 Reviews

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Kelly on 11.8.2017

This is nearly perfect; I still had shell stuck to the egg, but not much!

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mayasmom on 4.6.2013

Awesome! I will never do it another way.

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Natalie on 6.11.2011

Oh yay, this makes me happy!! The first egg I cracked open, the shell stuck but probably b/c I didn’t let it cool completely. All other 13 eggs were PERFECT!!! Thanks!

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mnheather on 10.2.2010

Folled exact and they were perfect! I was worried the yolks would be too soft, but there were wonderful – thanks for sharing this!

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heenlea on 9.18.2010

I always end up taking big chunks out of my eggs when I peel them… When I made them this way, they were absolutely perfect. I used them for egg salad and it turned out wonderfully!

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