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–+ servings
Soft boiled eggs with flaky salt on a white plate, garnished with fresh green watercress.

Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs (Four Ways!)

Bree Hester
4.58 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 9 minutes
Course breakfast and brunch
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 5 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Eggs
  • Water

Instructions
 

Method 1 - Rolling Boil

  • Bring 2 to 4 quarts of water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Gently lower the eggs into the water using a slotted spoon.
  • Return to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 14 minutes for large eggs, 12 minutes for medium and small eggs, and 15 minutes for jumbo eggs
  • Transfer eggs to a bowl of cold water to stop cooking.
  • Super hard to peel.
  • The membrane stayed on the egg and it was a big ol' mess. It completely fell apart and this was the third attempt at peeling. All of the others split open.
  • Eggs were undercooked

Method 2 - Quick Boil and Let Sit

  • Place large eggs in a single layer in a saucepan. Cover with water, at least 1-inch over eggs. Cover and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from heat and let stand, covered for 15 minutes.
    (12 for medium and small, and 18 for jumbo)
  • Drain and rinse with cold water until completely cool.
  • Easy to peel
  • Perfectly cooked
  • Pretty much a perfect hard boiled egg.
    Soft-boiled eggs with cracked shell on kitchen towel, Baked Bree recipe inspiration.

Method 3 - Baked in Oven

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place eggs in a muffin tin. Bake for 30 minutes Transfer to a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes.
  • Really easy
  • No mess
  • Easy to peel
  • Nice, evenly cooked eggs.
    Soft boiled eggs with shells and a knife on a textured towel for breakfast or recipe preparation.
  • Tip: If you are concerned about the presentation, there is a little brown spot where the egg sits on the muffin tin. If you are making egg salad, it might not matter. But if you are going to make deviled eggs, I would not choose this method.

Method 4 - Instant Pot

  • Add rack to the bottom of the Instant Pot. Add eggs in a single layer. Pour 1 cup water over eggs. Cook on HIGH pressure for 7 minutes.
  • Manual release and transfer eggs to bowl of cold water and cool completely.
  • Perfectly cooked eggs
  • Easy to peel
  • If you have an Instant Pot, this is the way to go.
    Cracked eggshells and halved hard-boiled eggs on paper towel with "Instant Pot" note; breakfast or cooking ingredients.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 5kcalCarbohydrates: 0.03gProtein: 0.5gFat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 5mg
Keyword instant pot, quick boil, snack
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