Hard boiling eggs feels like a chore but it’s really easy. There are many different methods for hard boiling eggs but these are 5 of my favorite ways to hard boil an egg.
If you’re looking to learn how to hard boil eggs then try out each of these methods and let me know which is your favorite. I tried them all out and they all work!
What Is Hard Boiling?
Traditionally, hard boiling is when you cook an egg in boiling water until the whole egg is solidified inside the shell. That definition has expanded in recent years to include methods that don’t include submerging the egg in boiling water. Generally, hard boiling is defined as any cooking method that cooks the interior of an egg until it is hard.
Hard Boil Eggs in the Oven
Learn how to hard boil eggs in the oven. Baking hard boiled eggs is a really easy method. Put the raw eggs into a muffin tin with a little water and bake. It’s easy as can be! Get the instructions.
Hard Boil Eggs in an Air Fryer
Learn how to hard boil eggs in an air fryer. This might be one of the most no-fuss methods. No water involved. This is good for anyone who might not be able to carry or pour hot water, like adults with unsteady hands or young children.
Hard Boil Eggs in an Instant Pot
Using an Instant Pot is a great way to set and forget the eggs. In the electric pressure cooker they’re steam cooked until hard boiled. Learn how to hard boil eggs in an Instant Pot easily. All you need is an Instant Pot, cold water, and eggs.
Hard Boil Eggs in a Crock Pot
Learn how to hard boil eggs in a crock pot. You can even set this up the night before you need them. No need to set your timer! These are easy peasy. Learn how long and which settings are best. You can cook a lot of large eggs in a slow cooker (crock pot). Just remember to cook them in a single layer.
Hard Boil Eggs on the Stove
This classic version of hard boiling eggs gives you more control over cooking. Learn how to hard boil eggs on the stovetop to get just the type of yolk you like. The egg whites should always be cooked but the amount of time you cook the eggs determines how cooked the yolks are. All you need is a large pot or saucepan with a lid, cold water, eggs and some ice. The eggs and the cold water go into the pot with a little salt. Bring to a rolling boil then cover and remove from the heat. Learn about how much time to cook the eggs.
How Long Can You Store Hard Boiled Eggs?
After you hard boil your eggs and they cool, get them into the refrigerator. You can store hard boiled eggs, peeled or unpeeled, safely for up to 7 days in the fridge according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). I find it’s best to store them unpeeled but you can definitely peel them all at once then store them for ease of use later.
Are Fresh Eggs or Older Eggs Better For Hard Boiling?
It seems counterintuitive but older eggs (not spoiled eggs) hard boil better than fresh eggs. Fresh eggs are a little less predictable and are harder to peel.
🟡 Tips for Peeling Eggs
These are my favorite tips and tricks for peeling eggs. I haven’t found any magical method that makes the shells just fall off, but these tips will help you peel a dozen eggs in just a few minutes.
✔️ Immediately after cooking your eggs, use a slotted spoon to place eggs and immerse in an ice bath. An ice bath is a large bowl of ice water (or a pan with ice water in it). This will stop the cooking immediately and will help separate the shell from the egg.
✔️ Do not drain eggs like you would pasta.
✔️ Tap the cooked egg on a hard surface gently, making cracks all the way around the shell.
✔️ Use your thumb to gently peel eggs. You want to peel back the shell from the egg white. Go slowly.
What to Make With Leftover Hard Boiled Eggs?
There are a lot of classic egg recipes that use hard boiled eggs. The most common is coloring them to make easter eggs. Potato salad, deviled eggs, egg salad sandwiches, cobb salads are the most common. And don’t forget just eating the eggs as a snack for some extra protein. Check out this post of 22 things to make with hard boiled eggs.
Enjoy your eggs!
