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Since getting our own chickens, we have been eating a lot of eggs. One way to enjoy these fresh, farm eggs is to hard boil them. Read on to learn how to make hard boiled eggs using a variety of methods.
Hard Boiled Eggs
Tricks to Peeling Eggs
As you may already know, some eggs are harder to peel than others. The fresher the egg, the harder it seems to peel them. This has to do with the pH levels in the white part of the egg that change as the egg ages, making them easier to peel.
To help with this when boiling fresh eggs, you can add bicarbonate of soda or salt and vinegar to the water to help change the pH level, helping to make the eggs easier to peel.
Another tip that you can use if you have time, is to place the boiled eggs straight into an ice water bath for a few minutes after boiling. The icy water helps to stop the cooking process, while also moving the boiled egg away from the shell which helps it peel more easily.
Cooking Hard Boiled Eggs
Cooking hard boiled eggs can be done in a few different ways, depending on the tools you have available. You can use:
- Stovetop – The more traditional way to cook boiled eggs in a pot on the stove.
- Microwave – Handy when you need to boil eggs in a hurry.
- Instant Pot – This is a great, hands-off approach which also uses less water.
- Slow Cooker – Another hands-off approach that does take some time though.
- Oven – This is a great option if you are needing to boil lots of eggs at one time.
- Air Fryer – This is a good option that doesn’t require any water.
Stovetop in a Pot
The most common way to boil eggs is on the stovetop. First, place your eggs in a single layer in a saucepan and fill with water until the eggs are fully covered.
Add 1 TBSP of salt and ¼ cup of white vinegar to the water. Or, add 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda to the water.
Add the lid and then turn the heat to high until the water is at a rolling boil.
Turn off the heat, and let the eggs sit in the hot water.
The time to cook the eggs differs as to how hard boiled you want them.
- Soft Boiled Eggs – Cook for 3 Minutes
- Medium Boiled Eggs – Cook for 6 Minutes
- Hard Boiled Eggs – Cook for 12 Minutes
Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.
Drain and peel the eggs.
Steaming on the Stovetop
You can also hard boil eggs by steaming them on the stovetop. To do this, place a steamer basket into your saucepan.
Fill in the saucepan with water up to the bottom of the steamer basket.
Bring the water to a boil and place the eggs into the steamer basket. Place the lid on the basket.
The time to cook the eggs differs as to how hard boiled you want them.
- Soft Boiled Eggs – Cook for 6 Minutes
- Medium Boiled Eggs – Cook for 10 Minutes
- Hard Boiled Eggs – Cook for 14 Minutes
Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.
Drain and peel the eggs.
Boiling Eggs in the Microwave
Boiling eggs in the microwave is a great way to cook eggs when you are in a hurry.
To learn how to do this, check out these Boiling Eggs in the Microwave instructions.
Hard Boil Eggs in a Slow Cooker
Start by placing the eggs you want to boil in a single layer in the slow cooker and cover with water.
Add 1 tablespoon of salt to the water.
Turn the slow cooker onto high and cook for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-5 hours.
Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.
Drain and peel the eggs.
Boil Eggs in an Instant Pot
Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot.
Place the trivet in the pot.
Add your eggs, I usually do 6 – 12 eggs.
Quick Release Method – Use the manual setting, and set the timer on high for 7 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes before releasing the steam.
Natural Release Method – Use the manual setting, and set the time on high for 5 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes before releasing the steam.
Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.
Drain and peel the eggs.
Hard Boiled Eggs in the Oven
Preheat oven to 163˚C (325˚F).
Place one egg into each hole in a muffin tin or a silicon tray.
Place the tray in the oven and cook for 30 minutes.
Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.
Drain and peel the eggs.
Boil Eggs in an Air Fryer
Place the eggs in the air fryer basket.
Cook at 120˚C (250˚F) for 15 – 20 minutes. Time will vary depending on the wattage of the air fryer.
Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.
Drain and peel the eggs.
You may find that sometimes the shell of the eggs boiled in the air fryer will have bubbles, though this is due to not being cooked in water and it doesn’t affect the final product.
Storing Boiled Eggs
The best way to store boiled eggs is in their shell in an air-tight container in the fridge. Dry the egg shells and make sure to label the container with the date they were boiled.
Boiled eggs can be stored with or without the shell. I prefer to store with the shell on, but this is just personal preference. If you do remove the shells, add a little water to the air-tight container, changing it every day or so.
Hard boiled eggs should last for up to one week, while soft boiled eggs will only last for a day or two.
Hard boiled eggs don’t freeze well at all. The whites especially, as they can go quite hard and rubbery.
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Instructions
Stovetop in a Pot
- The most common way to boil eggs is on the stovetop. First, place your eggs in a single layer in a saucepan and fill with water until the eggs are fully covered.
- Add 1 TBSP of salt and ¼ cup of white vinegar to the water. Or, add 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda to the water.
- Add the lid and then turn the heat to high until the water is at a rolling boil.
-
Turn off the heat, and let the eggs sit in the hot water. The time to cook the eggs differs as to how hard boiled you want them.Soft Boiled Eggs – Cook for 3 MinutesMedium Boiled Eggs – Cook for 6 MinutesHard Boiled Eggs – Cook for 12 Minutes
- Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.
- Drain and peel the eggs.
Steaming on the Stovetop
- Place a steamer basket into your saucepan.
- Fill in the saucepan with water up to the bottom of the steamer basket.
- Bring the water to a boil and place the eggs into the steamer basket.
-
Place the lid on the basket. The time to cook the eggs differs as to how hard boiled you want them.Soft Boiled Eggs – Cook for 6 MinutesMedium Boiled Eggs – Cook for 10 MinutesHard Boiled Eggs – Cook for 14 Minutes
- Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.
- Drain and peel the eggs.
Boiling Eggs in the Microwave
- Add eggs to a deep bowl and cover with water.
- Add ½ teaspoon of salt for each egg you have submerged in the bowl. DO NOT FORGET THIS STEP.
- Microwave the eggs for 4 minutes.
- Let the eggs sit in the bowl in the microwave for 1 minute.
- Microwave the eggs again for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.
- Fill another bowl with ice and water or really cold water.
- Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.
- Drain and peel the eggs.
Hard Boil Eggs in a Slow Cooker
- Start by placing the eggs you want to boil in a single layer in the slow cooker and cover with water.
- Add 1 tablespoon of salt to the water.
- Turn the slow cooker onto high and cook for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-5 hours.
- Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.
- Drain and peel the eggs.
Boil Eggs in an Instant Pot
- Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot.
- Place the trivet in the pot.
- Add your eggs, I usually do 6 – 12 eggs.
-
Quick Release Method – Use the manual setting, and set the timer on high for 7 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes before releasing the steam.Natural Release Method – Use the manual setting, and set the time on high for 5 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes before releasing the steam.
- Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.
- Drain and peel the eggs.
Hard Boiled Eggs in the Oven
- Preheat oven to 163˚C (325˚F).
- Place one egg into each hole in a muffin tin or a silicon tray.
- Place the tray in the oven and cook for 30 minutes.
- Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.
- Drain and peel the eggs.
Boil Eggs in an Air Fryer
- Place the eggs in the air fryer basket. Cook at 120˚C (250˚F) for 15 – 20 minutes. Time will vary depending on the wattage of the air fryer.
- Once done, remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in an ice-bath for a few minutes.
- Drain and peel the eggs.
Nutrition
Calories: 1kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.01g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 0.003g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.02mg
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. The values may vary according to the ingredients and tools that are used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed information.
Essentials List: 7 Must-Have Products for Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
Elevate your egg-cooking game with these Amazon finds:
- Vitamix Blender – Blends deviled egg fillings smoothly for creamy results.
- Ninja Air Fryer – Alternative air-fry method for eggs without boiling.
- Cuisinart Food Processor – Chops add-ins like herbs for egg salads effortlessly.
- Knife Set – Sharp blades for precise slicing of your boiled eggs.
- Pyrex Meal Prep – Stores peeled eggs sustainably for weekly meals.
- Microplane Zester – Grates lemon zest to brighten egg dishes.
- Glass Sealed Jars – Keeps pickled eggs fresh and eco-friendly.
Must-Read Books on Cooking Essentials and Egg Recipes
Deepen your culinary skills with these insightful reads:
- The Egg Cookbook: The Creative Farm-to-Table Guide to Cooking Fresh Eggs – Versatile egg ideas.
- Joy of Cooking – Classic techniques for basics like boiling eggs.
- The Perfect Egg: A Fresh Take on Recipes for Morning, Noon, and Night – Creative egg-focused meals.
- Eggs: Recipes, Techniques, and More – Expert boiling and prep methods.
- The Farmhouse Egg Cookbook: Simple Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner – Wholesome farm-inspired dishes.
P.S. Hungry for more easy recipes? Sign up for our free recipe e-book—enter your email at livelaughlovedo.com/holiday-cookbook and unlock seasonal meal ideas that nourish.
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By Sofia Patel – Wholesome Cooking Enthusiast