How to Cook Hard Boiled Eggs

Since getting our own chickens, we have been eating a lot of eggs. One way to enjoy these fresh, farm eggs is to hard boil them. Read on to learn how to make hard boiled eggs using a variety of methods.

 

 

 

Packed with loads of vitamins and minerals, high in protein and sugar free, eggs are also delicious to add to a variety of dishes.  If you have a lot of eggs like us, check out these ways to use your extra eggs.

As you may already know, some eggs are harder to peel than others. The fresher the egg, the harder it seems to peel them. This has to do with the pH levels in the white part of the egg that change as the egg ages, making them easier to peel.

 

To help with this when boiling fresh eggs, you can add bicarbonate of soda or salt and vinegar to the water to help change the pH level, helping to make the eggs easier to peel.

 

Another tip that you can use if you have time, is to place the boiled eggs straight into an ice water bath for a few minutes after boiling. The icy water helps to stop the cooking process, while also moving the boiled egg away from the shell which helps it peel more easily.

 

Cooking hard boiled eggs can be done in a few different ways, depending on the tools you have available. You can use:

 

The most common way to boil eggs is on the stovetop. First, place your eggs in a single layer in a saucepan and fill with water until the eggs are fully covered. 

 

Add 1 TBSP of salt and ¼ cup of white vinegar to the water.  Or, add 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda to the water.

 

Add the lid and then turn the heat to high until the water is at a rolling boil.

 

Turn off the heat, and let the eggs sit in the hot water.

 

The time to cook the eggs differs as to how hard boiled you want them.

You can also hard boil eggs by steaming them on the stovetop. To do this, place a steamer basket into your saucepan.

 

Fill in the saucepan with water up to the bottom of the steamer basket.

 

Bring the water to a boil and place the eggs into the steamer basket. Place the lid on the basket.

 

• Soft Boiled Eggs – Cook for 6 Minutes
• Medium Boiled Eggs – Cook for 10 Minutes
• Hard Boiled Eggs – Cook for 14 Minutes 

Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.

Drain and peel the eggs.

Boiling Eggs in the Microwave

Boiling eggs in the microwave is a great way to cook eggs when you are in a hurry. 

To learn how to do this, check out these Boiling Eggs in the Microwave instructions.

Hard Boil Eggs in a Slow Cooker

Start by placing the eggs you want to boil in a single layer in the slow cooker and cover with water.

Add 1 tablespoon of salt to the water. 

Turn the slow cooker onto high and cook for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-5 hours.

Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.

Drain and peel the eggs.

Boil Eggs in an Instant Pot

Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot.

Place the trivet in the pot.

Add your eggs, I usually do 6 – 12 eggs.

Quick Release Method – Use the manual setting, and set the timer on high for 7 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes before releasing the steam.

Natural Release Method – Use the manual setting, and set the time on high for 5 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes before releasing the steam.

Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.

Drain and peel the eggs.

Preheat oven to 163˚C (325˚F).

 

Place one egg into each hole in a muffin tin or a silicon tray.

 

Place the tray in the oven and cook for 30 minutes.

Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.

Drain and peel the eggs.

Place the eggs in the air fryer basket.

 

Cook at 120˚C (250˚F) for 15 – 20 minutes. Time will vary depending on the wattage of the air fryer.

Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.

Drain and peel the eggs.

You may find that sometimes the shell of the eggs boiled in the air fryer will have bubbles, though this is due to not being cooked in water and it doesn’t affect the final product.

Storing Boiled Eggs

The best way to store boiled eggs is in their shell in an air-tight container in the fridge. Dry the egg shells and make sure to label the container with the date they were boiled.

Boiled eggs can be stored with or without the shell. I prefer to store with the shell on, but this is just personal preference. If you do remove the shells, add a little water to the air-tight container, changing it every day or so.

Hard boiled eggs should last for up to one week, while soft boiled eggs will only last for a day or two.

Hard boiled eggs don’t freeze well at all. The whites especially, as they can go quite hard and rubbery.

Recipes for Using Eggs

• Avocado Devilled Eggs
• Pickled Eggs
• Easy Devilled Eggs
• Tuna Egg Salad
• Chorizo, Egg and Potato Salad
• Keto Bacon and Egg Salad
• Creamy Potato Salad