Hard boiled eggs are a favourite among people all around the world. Not only are they delicious and healthy, but they are also very easy and quick to make. However, making the perfect hard boiled egg where the yolk is fully cooked and the texture is firm but not rubbery can be a bit of a challenge. Through this article, we will guide you through the step-by-step process to make the perfect hard boiled eggs.
Preparing your eggs for boiling
The first step to hard boiling an egg is preparing the eggs themselves. You want to select the right type of egg, and ensure they are fresh. Remember the older an egg, the easier it is to peel after it’s boiled. Here is what you need to know.
Choose the right eggs
Before you boil your eggs, make sure you choose the right kind of eggs. If you’re someone who likes to buy cage-free and organic eggs, then this is your time to select such eggs for hard boiling. Regular eggs work just as well; the important thing is to use fresh eggs. Fresh eggs mean the white won’t be too runny, this sort of egg will hold together better when you are boiling the egg
Best Before date
Check the date on the carton of eggs to make sure they haven’t expired. The longer the egg has been kept in the fridge, the easier it is to get it to boil, but these eggs can often be harder to peel afterwards. So choose wisely!
Size matters
You also want to choose eggs that are the right size. If you opt for larger-sized eggs, they will take a bit longer to cook, and small or medium eggs will cook more quickly.Take your egg carton and select the right size that fits your requirements
Boiling your eggs
Here comes the interesting part, listening to your eggs gently knocking around in boiling water for that perfect hard boil.
Boiling water
The water you use to boil your eggs should be enough to cover the eggs completely. You also want to make sure that it’s boiling. The best way to boil the water is to put the pot on the stove, heat it to high heat, and let the water come to a full boil. It should be a bit more than a rolling boil; this way, your eggs cook better.
Add Salt or Vinegar
You can add salt or vinegar to the boiling water to help with both peeling the eggshell after boiling and stopping egg whites from leaking out of a cracked egg during boiling. Add one or two tablespoons of salt or vinegar to a quart of water.
Add the Eggs
Once the water is heated, take a spoon or a ladle and slowly add the eggs in the pot of boiling water. If you just dump them in, the force could crack the shells, and you may have to start again.
Timing
How long you should boil your egg is the most critical part of the process. For eggs that are large in size, cook on rolling boil for 9-12 minutes, and for smaller-sized eggs, let them cook for about 6-9 minutes. If you like the yolks of the eggs to be a little less runny, take them out near the nine-minute mark.
Cooling your eggs
If you want your eggs easy to peel, then the next step to follow is to cool your eggs. Once you’ve been boiling the eggs for the required time, pour out the boiling water and give the eggs a cool bath. Add cold water to the pot to help cool the eggs to stop them from overcooking. After about 10-15 minutes, you can remove them from the water and place them in an egg cup immediately.
Peeling your eggs without damaging them
Peeling a boiled egg without any damage to the egg itself can sometimes be a challenge. But this doesn’t have to be the case if you use the right method for peeling.
Age of the egg
An older egg is more comfortable to peel than a fresh egg. This is because older eggs allow the albumen to break free from the shell more quickly as the air pocket between shell and skin grows larger as the egg ages. So if you’ve stored your eggs for a few days in your refrigerator you should have a better chance of peeling them without issues.
Cool down your egg
Besides the age of the egg, cooling the egg is a crucial factor when peeling eggs. You need to start the peeling when the eggs are soaking in an ice bath or a bowl of cold water. Let them cool down for at least 2-3 minutes before you start the peeling process.
Peeling
Once you have enough ice water in your bowl of eggs, allow the eggs to cool down before you start. Then, take your egg and hit it on a hard surface or make a crack at the end of the egg. Once you grab hold of the egg, start by peeling off the loose shell carefully. Once you remove the loosest part of the shell, roll the egg between your hands to loosen the rest of the shell. Make sure you take it slow so as not to damage the egg while at it.
Storage
Once you have removed the shells from all your boiled eggs, it will be time to store them. If you want to eat them soon enough, keep them in a container in your refrigerator, and if you want to store them for quite some time, store them in your freezer for later use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Q: Can I boil my eggs directly from the fridge?
- A: Yes, you can, but boiling cold eggs may affect the overall cooking time of your eggs. Allow your eggs to come to room temperature first for better results.
- Q: What’s the best way to know if my eggs are fresh?
- A: Check the date on the carton of eggs to make sure they haven’t expired, and smell the eggs to be sure they are fresh. Fresh eggs have an unmistakable smell.
- Q: How long do I keep the water boiling?
- A: Keep the water boiling for around 9 – 12 minutes for large-sized eggs.
- Q: How long do I keep eggs in ice water?
- A: Leave the eggs in the ice water for at least 2-3 minutes before starting the peeling process.
- Q: How many eggs can I boil in one pot?
- A: You should avoid overloading the pot, and you should only boil up to 12 eggs in one go if you have a large pot.
Conclusion
Cooking the perfect hard boiled egg is not that difficult when you have the right tricks and tips at your disposal, as highlighted above. Whether it’s understanding the right cooking time, preparing the eggs correctly, peeling, or storing them, these tips and advice will enable you to make the perfect hard boiled eggs every time.
References
- Hard Boiling Eggs (2021) How to Boil Eggs Perfectly Every Time. Retrieved from https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-boil-eggs-perfectly-every-time-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-202415
- How to make perfect hard-cooked eggs (2021). Retrieved from https://www.incredibleegg.org/recipe/perfect-hard-boiled-eggs/