Introduction: How to Hard Boil an Egg Using an Electric Kettle
After Easter a few years back we had many eggs leftover. Not wanting them to go to waste I divided them out over a week and with some salt and pepper, went to town. Since then I been making them at work because they are a lot easier then cooking them on the electric griddle. Besides people were starting to give me dirty looks when they walked by my cubicle at work! Please note that I did not make this up at all. I have simply compiled my findings from many different places. Without further delay...
Step 1: Place Eggs in Kettle
Assuming you have fresh eggs*, the number of eggs you can make at a time depends on the size and shape of your electric kettle. I have a Chef's Choice Cordless Electric Kettle Model 677 and I can fit 4 eggs comfortably. You need to leave room inside the kettle so that they don't touch the steam cut off tube. Once you place the eggs inside fill them so that there is about an inch of water above them.
* If you are not sure your when your eggs were purchased you can test them by dropping them into a glass of cold water. If they sink like a stone then they are great. If they drop and bounce a couple of times they are older but still are okay. If they float they they are bad and should be tossed!
Step 2: Prop Up Electric Kettle
You want to prop up the kettle so that when the eggs are boiling they don't accidentally hit the steam cut off tube. If that happens real early then you could have a big mess on your hands. When it happened to me I had egg coming out the bottom!
Step 3: Turn on Your Kettle
http://online-stopwatch.com/After you have placed your eggs in the kettle and filled it with water you can turn it on. Most electric kettles these days have an auto-shutoff. While it is heating up you need to have a timer ready for when it turns itself off. I use http://online-stopwatch.com/ to time my eggs. Once there click "Count Down", set it for 13 minutes and wait. Once the kettle shuts off, start the countdown.
Step 4: Place Eggs in Ice
While you are waiting for the 13 minutes to expire you should get a bowl of ice/ice water ready for your newly hard boiled eggs. When they are done carefully drain the water from the kettle and remove the eggs. Be careful not to stick your hand inside because of the heating element. I usually just slowly turn mine upside down and when I am finished they are sitting in the lid. Place them in the ice water and allow them to cool. The time to cool just depends on your pain tolerance and how hungry you are :)
Step 5: Enjoy!
After allowing your eggs to cool they should be ready to enjoy. I just use salt and pepper but that is up to you. I hope you enjoyed my instructable.
Thanks!
26 Comments
9 years ago on Introduction
Actually, all kettles have the heating element in the bottom. The tube you have highlighted is actually a steam cut off tube. Once the kettle gets the boil steam enters the top of the tube, and makes it way down to a bi-metal switch in the base. This switch is in turn heated and the expansion difference between the two metals causes the kettle to turn off.
Reply 7 years ago
That is good to know, I didn't realize but makes sense. Thanks!
10 years ago on Introduction
My heating element is on the bottom of the kettle. Can I use something to keep the eggs suspended in the water?
12 years ago on Introduction
This is one of the best tips I have from instructables. It's so simple, and works every time. I love egg butties, but it's such a pain with sauce pan and boiling water, this is great, put the eggs in the kettle, switch on and walk away. come back some 15 minutes or more later.
Wonderful.
14 years ago on Introduction
This actually works! I just tried it and it was very nice. But remember to drain the water afterwards! Eggy coffee dosen't tase nice!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
@possum888 - Yeah I usually rinse it a couple of times and boilsome water before I use it again. Although as long as your eggdoesn't hit the element you shouldn't have any egg in your kettle. :)
14 years ago on Introduction
my heating is the bottom?! anyone some ideas how to cook my eggs. My cooker also keeps cooking when I open it. perfect for home brew coffee.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I tried it this morning. No exploding eggs. 3 min for soft egg was a little to short but I think 4 for a medium one would do. 5 is definitely hard boiled. It was fast and easy thanks so much for this instruction.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Glad it worked out for you, I've been trying to find a way tocontribute to this awesome site but could never think of a good Instructable!
14 years ago on Step 5
You could snag packets of mustard and relish from whatever fast food store you're in and mix it with the yolks for deviled eggs.
Reply 14 years ago on Step 5
@ capn_midnight: That's a great suggestion I do have a little cafeteria right downstairs... It will make my work feel like a picnic!
Reply 14 years ago on Step 5
I believe that people eat out too much because they don't season the food they make for themselves enough and don't realize how easy it is to make tasty treats with simple ingredients.
14 years ago on Introduction
I've done this before, eggs are nice and self contained (providing they don't hit the element and explode). Now instant noodles, they make a mess (I never tried that one but saw the results).
How do you empty the kettle and mess around with the wet eggs and bowl of ice water at your desk without attracting more weird looks? I try to restrict my activities at my desk to work, eating and occasionally juggling..
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I actually have to go to the bathroom to drain the kettle because they wouldn't install a drain in my cube. However I have found that the cube walls are a perfect height to teach me the art of unicycling... wish me luck!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Unicycling is about posture, so keep your back straight and head up. Anyway, I used to do this at university when I didn't want to get a pan wet. I opted for a different method and kept the water boiling by taking the lid off while the kettle boiled. On older kettles, taking off the lid stops the auto-shutoff as it doesn't reach the required temperature so keeps boiling. Means you need to keep an eye on it, but you don't need to wait 15 minutes. I used to use tongs to remove the eggs, but have learnt that you can crush the eggs and then you've got egg in your kettle.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
@ chiok: Thanks for the suggestion I might give that a shot and while it requires a bit more attention I'm usually starving when I make the eggs. :)
14 years ago on Introduction
One thing I should mention about boiling eggs is that water boils at a lower temperature the farther from sea level you go. Here in Colorado Springs it's 6100 feet above sea level, and a hard boiled egg takes almost an hour to cook.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
@ thepelton: That's really interesting I've never tried it on our trips to Aspen/Snowmass and after finding that out I don't think I ever will!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
an hour? no way? I always thought it would take some minutes longer! So you never eat boiled eggs I suppose. Here in Holland (i live bolow sea level) 5 minutes for a hard boiled one.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I live 6.75 m below sea level!!!