There is more than a single best way to hard boil eggs with consistent results, that is for sure. The best methods recommended here, the stove-top, instant-pot, or air-fryer, will produce perfect hard-boiled eggs that are easy to peel and that have an excellent yolk texture, which is creamy, not dry, or crumbly as many of us have discovered quite the hard way (pun intended).
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What are Hard-Boiled Eggs?
The first step is to understand what we are looking for and what we mean when we say hard-boiled eggs. In simple terms, hard-boiled eggs are boiled eggs that are cooked enough for the yolk to solidify. The texture of the solidified yolk may, however, vary depending on the length of time the hard-boiled eggs are cooked.
This makes hard-boiled eggs different from soft-boiled eggs which may have the yolk partially cooked or even runny. The best way to hard boil eggs is such a method that produces just the right texture of solidified yolk, which is not overcooked or under-cooked.
Furthermore, perfectly executed hard-boiled eggs are also easy to peel and do not crack during the cooking process, be it on the stove-top, instant-pot, or in an air-fryer. Use hard boiled eggs in a variety of recipes including salads.
Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs on Stove Top
There is more than one way to produce just-right hard-boiled eggs using the stove-top. The following are the three finest methods to consider.
Method One of Making Best Stove Top Hard Boiled Eggs
This first method is our go-to method to produce scrumptious hard-boiled eggs.
First, get a good-sized pot, preferably one with a cover or lid, and place your raw eggs in the pot. Pour “cold” water, which is water straight out of the kitchen faucet (or tap) over the eggs to about an inch or 2.5 cm deep. Turn on the stove, medium to high heat, and bring the pot with the eggs to a boil whilst uncovered.
Remove the pot from the heat and proceed to cover the pot for between 12 to 16 minutes. This timeframe produces hard-boiled eggs. In the case of soft-boiled eggs, cover for 4 to 6 minutes and for 8 to 10 minutes for medium-boiled eggs.
Once the 12 to 16 minutes under cover is over, remove the pot cover and transfer the eggs to an ice bath, a bowl with ice and water in which the eggs are fully immersed. An ice bath immediately halts the internal cooking process of the eggs. Keep the eggs in the ice bath for some 10 to 15 minutes.
Finally, after the prescribed time, remove the eggs from the ice bath and dry them with a towel. Lightly tap on the eggs one at a time and roll them on a hard surface to easily peel the shell off. The rolling ensures that the shell is detached from the egg’s albumen making the egg very easy to peel.
Method Two Of Making Best Stove Top Hard Boiled Eggs
There is yet another alternative stove-top method that is considered, by some accounts, to be an even more superior way of hard boiling eggs.
Using this method, you bring water to a boil first in a pot without any eggs. A pinch of salt is added to the water just before adding the eggs. This helps prevent the eggs from cracking. The eggs, which are at room temperature, are then gently added to the hot water using a slotted spoon (example).
However, adding the eggs is not done all at once, each egg is acclimatized to the hot water by dipping it 3 or 4 times before finally leaving it to sit in the pot with hot water.
Next turn off the heat, cover the pot and leave the pot to stand for 15 minutes. The eggs should be ready to easily peel and enjoy. Although this method works, it poses some risks considering that eggs are added to very hot water.
Best Way to Hard Boil Eggs in Instant Pot, 5-5-5 Method
Ever heard of the 5-5-5 method?
Whilst the stove-top is a fantastic way of hard-boiling eggs, using an instant pot is considered the best way to hard-boil eggs for even more consistent and predictable results. Instant pot hard-boiled eggs are also easy to peel.
Hard-boiling eggs using the pressure cooker easily marks the end of troubles for as many of us as having struggled to produce perfect hard-boiled eggs using the stove-top methods.
Using the instant pot, to reduce the risk of cracking, the eggs must be very close to room temperature if not at room temperature. Refrigerated eggs must be used 30 minutes after removal from the fridge.
Take your instant pot and fill the inner pot with water from the kitchen faucet. This would be one cup or 237 ml for a 6-quart pot (example) or 1.5 cups or 355 ml for an 8-quart pot (example).
Next, lay eggs on top of the rack in the instant pot. Although optional, we highly recommend using an instant pot wire egg rack (example) for this purpose which has slots for eggs. You can put as many eggs as can fit.
Close the pressure cooker and turn the vent knob to sealed and not ventilated to prevent pressure from escaping.
Set the instant pot to 5 minutes on high pressure. After 5 minutes of cooking time, leave the instant pot sealed for another 5 minutes. After 5 minutes of sitting time, safely ventilate the pot and transfer the eggs into a cold bath. Leave them to sit for another 5 minutes. This is the popular 5-5-5 method of producing the best hard-boiled eggs using an instant pot.
Here is a 3-point summary of the best way to hard boil eggs using an instant pot:-
- 5 Minutes of high-pressure cooking.
- 5 Minutes of pressure release.
- 5 Minutes of an ice bath.
Hard-boiled eggs made using a pressure cooker following this method are easy to peel and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. This method is as scientific as they get, producing predictable results.
Best Way to Hard Boil Eggs in Air-Fryer
One more way to produce excellent hard-boiled eggs each time involves using an air fryer. This way to hard boil eggs involves no water.
First, preheat the air fryer for one minute. Take room temperature eggs, as many as you wish and can fit into the air fryer, and place them in the air fryer basket.
Return the basket to the air fryer and set the air fryer to 275°F or 135°C. This temperature setting ensures that the eggs cook evenly inside and that they do not crack. Set cooking time to between 12 to 15 minutes. 15 minutes is ideal if the eggs are put in the air fryer cold.
After 15 minutes of cooking, transfer the eggs to an ice bath for 10 to 15 minutes to halt further cooking.
Stove-Top Hard Boiled Eggs Recipe
Best Way to Hard Boil Eggs with Consistent Results
Course: CookingCuisine: BreakfastDifficulty: Easy4
servings5
minutes16
minutesThis simple recipe will produce easy to peel four hard boiled eggs with a creamy yolk of perfect texture. Serve the eggs for breakfast or as part of a salad.
Ingredients
4 medium size eggs
300 ml water
Directions
- Place your egg in pot.
- Pour room temperature water into pot covering the eggs.
- Place pot on stove-top and turn heat, medium to high and bring the pot to the boil whilst uncovered.
- Remove pot from heat and cover it for up to 16 minutes.
- Remove the cover and put the eggs in an ice bath for another 15 minutes.
- After prescribed time, remove eggs and dry them with a towel before peeling.
Notes
- To produce soft-boiled eggs, sit the eggs in hot water covered for only 4 minutes.
- To produce medium-boiled eggs, sit the eggs in hot water covered for only 8 minutes.
Conclusion
There is more than one best way to hard boil eggs. The best method should produce consistent results in the form of eggs that are not cracked, that are easy to peel, and of a great yolk texture. Any one of the methods presented above is capable of giving these types of results.
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