Perfect Hard Cooked Eggs

Intro: Perfect Hard Cooked Eggs

I originally learned to cook eggs in a steamer basket from Alton Brown on an episode of Good Eats. This method reliably provides hard cooked perfection and it's super easy too! You will need:

• pot with tight fitting lid
• steamer basket
• eggs (at least four)
• large bowl
• ice
• water
• tongs
• paper towels

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STEP 1: Set Up Equipment

Add about an inch of water to the bottom of your pot-- but not so much that it rises to the level of the steamer basket, which you'll place in the pot next.

STEP 2: Add Heat and Eggs

Stick the pot on the stove with the lid on (high heat), and watch it for small bubbles to form as the water begins to simmer. When steam is coming out of the pot, reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer (but not a rolling boil), and add at least four eggs to the steamer basket using a pair of tongs. Clamp the lid on tight.

STEP 3: Put 12 Minutes on the Clock

Press GO on a 12 minute timer. If you don't have a dedicated kitchen timer, cell phones and microwaves commonly have built in timers you can use.

While the timer counts down, prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and adding water to cover.

STEP 4: Ice Bath Time

When the timer is finished, immediately turn off the stove and use tongs to carefully move the eggs to the ice bath. Not only will this stop the cooking, but the combo of quickly heating and quickly cooling aids in peeling later. Leave them in the ice bath for at least 5 minutes, then dry them off and store in the fridge.

STEP 5: Easy Peeling

To peel your hard cooked egg, tap it on a hard surface and gently roll it around to crack up the shell around the "equator". Pick at the shell to remove it where cracked, and the two hemispheres should come off the ends of the egg easily.

STEP 6: Enjoy!

Slice your egg or bite into it to discover the buttery yolk inside. Season with salt and pepper and enjoy!

Comments

[Bigwavedavee]

Addendum:
The secret is the ice bath. They peel right every time due to the almost instantaneous contraction of the dissimilar egg guts compared to the shell. You can use the same idea only in reverse, when installing press fittings such as bearings, only using an oven to heat your bearings or press fittings which go on your PTO or whatever.

[Bigwavedavee]

What is the advantage of steam over throwing those hummers in water like regular? I must have missed it somewhere

[BrendaP85]

Should the eggs be right out of the fridge or do we need to bring them to room temperature for these cook times?

[bekathwia]

Straight from the fridge! If you're using room-temp eggs, try dropping a minute or two off the cook time.

[BrendaP85]

Thank you! I made them yesterday and they were perfect! Thanks for helping restart my family's interest in this healthful inexpensive source of protein!

[jack.springer.393]

Why not just put the eggs on the wire rack in a 325 degree oven for 30 minutes? Eliminate all those steps and dirty dishes and pans.

There is a better way to make hard 'boiled' eggs. They come out perfect every time.

[fred_]

It's not as likely to be as reproducable for a few reasons. Every oven is different, pretty much nobody calibrates their oven (or even knows that your can). Every spot in the oven is different and the temperature swings as it cycles might be 50 degrees. Steam or boiling gets everyone to get similar results. A little more goof proof.

If you're getting 90% or better clean peeling eggs don't change :)

Steam or already boiling water gets you a few things. The size of your burner is mostly out of the equation. The faster start then the cold water start method gives slightly less time for the egg white to bind to the shell membrane. Mostly the change in ph as the egg ages makes them easier to peel. I go with the boil cover and let sit for 10 minutes with the lid on method. Then crash cooling in an ice bath prevents over cooked green tinged smelly yolks and rubbery whites and helps older easy peeling eggs make a nicer egg shape when their larger air pocket in the shell rapidly shrinks (for deviled eggs)

.02 if you're lucky enough to have right out of the chicken eggs don't waste em by hard boiling hard to peel eggs. BTW don't wash them if anything dry wipe them. Leave the protective film on the egg intact.

[bekathwia]

There are so many ways to hard cook eggs! Since it's summer and my oven counteracts my air conditioning, I prefer the stovetop method. No dirty pan since it was just simmering water! =]

[jack.springer.393]

Much easier in the oven -- no mess at all.

[HazelL2]

Burning electricity for 30 minutes as opposed to 12 minutes loses the appeal for me .... that and I don't have an oven!

[jack.springer.393]

How does a person not have an oven?

[bekathwia]

Hah, check your priveledge!

[CF7]

Steamed eggs are easier to peel

[CarinH]

I boil my eggs and they're never overcooked. The trick is to bring them to the boil, then cover them and turn off the heat. Leave them sit in the boiling hot water for at least 10 minutes, but they can stay in there until the water has cooled enough to handle and they'll be perfect.

I do this same thing with boiled white rice, leaving it in the pot at least 20 minutes.

[RoboDon2]

If you have a rice cooker (Asians and Cajuns know all about them) you just put in the amount of water for rice, put eggs in steamer basket and hit GO. I'll have to try the ice bath but mine have not been hard to peel. I do them the night before so they'll be ready for breakfast.

[Phoghat]

They just started appearing in my city in Mexico, could figure why they weren't available here. Mexico IS rice ( and beans too)

[ClareBS]

Steaming eggs works. It's easy and they peel every time. I first learned about this on backyardchickens.com after adopting three hens. Fresh eggs are even harder to peel when boiled than the old ones from supermarkets. I've tried to convince friends to steam but some are stubborn and prefer to be frustrated trying to peel unpeelable eggs.

Spread the word—steam hard cooked eggs! It will take a little stress out of your life.

[Phoghat]

Thanks. I had heard about fresh vs old but couldn't remember which was easier. I was just about to ask which was which

[sheripres]

I heard about this on NPR's Science Friday and I am hooked. I actually just put about half of an inch of water in the pot, put my eggs in there, cover them, put the heat up high and let them steam for about 10 to 12 minutes.

Why is this better? Every single egg is cooked perfectly. They peel in two halves and your yolk is vibrantly yellow.

I know that I cannot seem to boil my eggs perfectly every time. By steaming them, you can't mess it up.

[bekathwia]

Yeah I kept messing them up when boiling in water too, steaming seems to yield much more consistent success!