How to Cook and Peel A Perfect Hard-Boiled Egg

A whole lotta egg boiling goes on in preparation for Easter egg hunts. But, without any kiddos in the house, that doesn't happen around here very often any more. However, this morning I woke up in the mood for some egg salad, and that calls for a whole lotta egg boiling, too.

Maybe you've mastered this skill already. It's not hard if you know what you're doing. For years I didn't think there was a technique at all.  I would put some raw eggs in a pan of water and boil them for awhile. And then awhile longer. Just wanted to make sure they were good and done. Trouble is, my eggs often had that ugly green ring around the yolk. It wasn't until I started boiling eggs more carefully and following a few easy steps that I realized that I'd been overcooking my eggs for years. Now I know that my old so-called method resulted in yolks that were way to dry and whites that were rubbery. I consistently over cooked my hard-boiled eggs, because I didn't know how else to be sure they were cooked all the way through.

Those days are gone. I've got a foolproof method now, taking tips from various sources through the years. My eggs now have moist but completely cooked yolks and tender whites. And, I haven't seen one of those ugly green rings in a very long time. (Those are caused by overcooking the eggs.)

Steps for cooking hard-boiled eggs:

• Step 1. Place the raw eggs in a big enough pan that they can fit in a single layer.
• Step 2. Cover the eggs with 1 inch of cold tap water and heat them over high heat on the stove.
• Step 3. As soon as the water reaches a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
• Step 4. Remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let the eggs sit in the hot water for 5 minutes for large eggs, 7 minutes for extra large eggs, 4 minutes for medium eggs.
• Step 5. Partially fill a bowl with ice cubes and water, leaving enough room to add the eggs. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the hot eggs immediately into the bowl of ice water. Leave them in the water for 10 minutes. (This cools the eggs quickly so they don't continue to cook.)

Steps for peeling hard-boiled eggs.

• Step 1. It's easier to peel an egg shell that has been cracked all over. First, tap both ends of the eggs on the counter to crack them.
• Step 2. Lay the egg on it's side and apply light pressure with your hand as you roll it against the counter. This will crack the shell all around the sides of the egg.
• Step 3. Begin peeling at the large end of the egg. There is an air pocket on that end, so it's easier to get started without removing the egg white along with the shell. Try to get under the membrane and lift it along with the egg shell.
• Step. 4. If the egg shell is stubborn and still hard to peel off, hold the egg under running water as you remove the shell. 

How long will boiled eggs keep?

• Once peeled, they should be eaten within a day or two.
• Unpeeled boiled eggs will keep in the fridge for up to one week.

What to do with all of those boiled eggs? Try my Healthy Egg Salad. 

Click for my Healthy Egg Salad recipe
 

Make it a yummy day!

How to Cook & Peel Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs

By Monica

Ingredients

• whole raw eggs

Directions

COOKING HARD-BOILED EGGS:
Step 1. Place the raw eggs in a big enough pan that they can fit in a single layer.
Step 2. Cover the eggs with 1 inch of cold tap water and heat them over high heat on the stove.
Step 3. As soon as the water reaches a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
Step 4. Remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let the eggs sit in the hot water for 5 minutes for large eggs, 7 minutes for extra large eggs, 4 minutes for medium eggs.
Step 5. Partially fill a bowl with ice cubes and water, leaving enough room to add the eggs. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the hot eggs immediately into the bowl of ice water. Leave them in the water for 10 minutes. (This cools the eggs quickly so they don't continue to cook.)
PEELING HARD-BOILED EGGS:
Step 1. It's easier to peel an egg shell that has been cracked all over. First, tap both ends of the eggs on the counter to crack them.
Step 2. Lay the egg on it's side and apply light pressure with your hand as you roll it against the counter. This will crack the shell all around the sides of the egg.
Step 3. Begin peeling at the large end of the egg. There is an air pocket on that end, so it's easier to get started without removing the egg white along with the shell. Try to get under the membrane and lift it along with the egg shell.
Step. 4. If the egg shell is stubborn and still hard to peel off, hold the egg under running water as you remove the shell.
HOW LONG WILL THEY KEEP?
--Once peeled, the eggs should be eaten within a day.
--Unpeeled boiled eggs will keep in the fridge for up to one week.