Boiled eggs are one of the most versatile and healthy foods around. You can make egg-salad sandwiches, prepare delicious devilled eggs, or eat them as is. Many people prepare several hard-boiled eggs at the beginning of the week to use as quick and easy snacks to grab later, on the go as needed.
As easy as boiling eggs may sound, an astonishing number of people get it wrong. Often the eggs end up overcooked which can leave an unappetizing greenish color around the yoke. Instead of making waste of one of these wonderful little packets of nutrition, learn how to properly boil eggs so that you can always have these treasures on hand for whatever use you may need them for.
Put Water and Eggs in Saucepan
Some people choose to boil the water before adding the eggs, but this can lead to cracking of the shell caused by either dropping the egg into the water, or the egg being thrashed about by the boiling water before it has a chance to begin firming up.
Put the water in the saucepan and immediately add the eggs, which will give them a chance to begin to cook before the water becomes too rough. You can add 1/2 tsp of salt to the water as this may prevent cracks and allow you to peel the egg more easily afterward.
Bring Eggs to a Boil and Remove
Once you add the eggs and you have turned the burner to a “high” setting, bring the water to a boil. The moment it begins to boil, remove the pan from the burner. Although many people continue to boil the eggs at this point, it is a leading cause of overcooked eggs.
Return to Burner
After you have turned your burner to “low” and your eggs have sat at room temperature for approximately one minute, put them back on. When they have been on the burner for another minute, remove them again and cover the saucepan.
Wait 12 Minutes
At this point, allow the eggs to sit untouched for 12 minutes. During this time they will be ever so slowly cooking to perfection, without the risk of overcooking that continued boiling brings. When you believe the eggs may be ready, test one out by opening it and taking a peek at your finished product.
Cool in Ice Water
Once your eggs have slowly cooked to exactly the stage you would like to eat them at, remove them all from the saucepan and gently immerse them in a bowl of ice water. When they have cooled, you can drain the water from the bowl and remove the eggs.
You may now eat and enjoy your delicious treat and marvel at how perfectly cooked they are, or save them for later. If so, place them, shells still on, in a covered bowl, to keep them from giving the fridge a distinct scent. Eat them within a period of five days.
Eggs are one of nature’s most perfect foods. Now you know how to cook them in a manner that will keep them as close to perfect as they began. Follow these steps and get started in making your next meal of hard-boiled eggs now.