Making perfect hard boiled or hard cooked eggs is a task that flummoxes even seasoned cooks. Yolks too undercooked, or – more likely – overcooked, and maybe dry and flaky.  Maybe even tinged with that unattractive green circle. Rubbery whites. Not great.

You are now going to have your best shot at making perfect hard cooked eggs every time. There are no guarantees, and the hard-boiled egg gods are a mercurial bunch, but here are two methods that should ensure success as often as possible. First, some answers to those burning questions:

Two methods for making perfect hard cooked eggs with creamy yolks, tender whites, and shells that slip right off.

Tweet This

How do you cook hard boiled eggs?

How old should eggs be to hard boil them?

Older eggs, at least 1 week old, tend to peel more easily. Obviously you don’t want eggs that are no longer fresh, but super fresh eggs don’t peel easily so save those for scrambling and baking.

How do you hard boil fresh eggs so they peel easily?

There are two methods that I have had ongoing success with – they are right below!

How do you peel hard boiled eggs?

Peeling them after they have sat in an ice bath for a while, but while they are still warm, gives the best results. Rolling them on the counter before peeling them to crackle the shell also helps the shell come off cleanly. Peeling them under cold water (or running water, but that’s kind of wasteful) is another trick for getting the shells off easily.

Should you peel hard boiled eggs warm or cold?

Warm is best, the shells come off more easily. Chilled eggs don’t peel as smoothly.

Hard Cooked Eggs Method 1:

1. Place the eggs into a saucepan and add water to cover by at least 1-inch. Bring the water to a boil, and then allow the eggs to boil for 1 minute. Turn off the heat, cover and let the eggs sit for 10 minutes. While the eggs are sitting in the hot water, fill a bowl with ice water.
2. Transfer the cooked eggs to the ice water with a slotted spoon and let sit for about 5 minutes. Remove the eggs, tap both the ends on the counter to crack the shells, crackle them by rolling them on the counter, then peel them. Peeling them while still warm in the bowl of cold water is often helpful for allowing the shell to slip off easily.

Hard Cooked Eggs Method 2:

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil, making sure the water is high enough to cover the eggs.
2. Use a spoon to lower the eggs into the water. Boil the eggs for 9 minutes.
3. Transfer the cooked eggs to the ice water with a slotted spoon and let sit for about 5 minutes. Remove the eggs, crackle them by tapping the two ends on the counter, then rolling them on the counter, then peel them. Peeling them while they are warm in the bowl of cold water helps the shell slip off easily.