Perfect hard boiled eggs: cooking times and procedure

The boiled egg is one of the simplest and most versatile preparations in the kitchen. You can obtain it by cooking a whole egg, with its shell, in boiling water, until both the white and the yolk have completely solidified. The result will be a food with a delicate flavour, rich in proteins and nutrients, which you can consume on its own or use as an ingredient in numerous recipes.

Boiled eggs are popular for their convenience: you can prepare them in advance and store them in the refrigerator for a few days, making them a great option for quick meals or snacks. They are especially popular as:

appetizer: cut in half and serve with sauces or a pinch of salt and pepper;
ingredient for salads: they add substance and proteins to mixed salads or potato salads (see salad nicoise);
filling for sandwiches and sandwiches: mash and mix with mayonnaise or other condiments;
base for elaborate dishes such as Scottish eggs;
protein snack: ideal for athletes or for those following high-protein diets;
decoration: used whole or cut to garnish dishes such as russian salad or lasagne;

Cooking a hard-boiled egg, apparently simple, actually requires attention to timing and technique to obtain the desired consistency of the yolk, which can vary from creamy to completely solid. Remember that if the yolk is liquid, you will not have obtained hard-boiled eggs, but soft-boiled eggs! To eliminate any doubts, here are all the precise times for preparing a perfect boiled egg.

Ingredients

Eggs 4

Allergens

Eggs

Procedure

Cooking times for hard-boiled eggs

The expression “as easy as boiling an egg” is not as true as the exaggerated “I don’t even know how to boil an egg” to say that one is incapable of cooking, and do you know why? Because in reality it is not at all obvious to cook an egg well.

The eggs cook in 6-7 minutes in boiling water if you prefer them soft, 8-9 minutes if you want them hard-boiled.

But if you too have had the experience of not getting the cooking right, of not understanding whether the water is boiling or not, of eliminating a lot of the egg white together with the shell, then you cannot miss these tricks for obtaining perfect hard-boiled eggs.

How to get perfect hard boiled eggs

#1 Boiling water: if you immerse the egg in already boiling rather than cold water, first of all you will have no doubts about when to start calculating the cooking time, furthermore the proteins in the egg white will coagulate more resistantly, thus contributing to smooth shelling. Use a teaspoon to dip it gently and gradually so as not to break the shell.

#1 Cold water: if you immerse the egg in cold water, you will reduce the risk of breaking the shell while placing it in the water because you will be able to do it gently with your hands, also there will be no thermal shock to the egg, but a slow heating that will not break the shell.

#3 Salt: the egg shell is very porous and consequently has a high absorbent power. Season the water with a little salt and your egg will be tastier too. The same goes if you decide to add vinegar or vegetable broth.

#4 Cooking time: if you immerse the eggs in already boiling water, count 6-7 minutes. Instead, if you immerse them in cold water, count 6-7 minutes from when the water starts to boil. Do not cook the egg for too long, otherwise the water contained in the yolk and white will reduce excessively and make it rubbery.

#5 Ice water: as is done with vegetables, an excellent method to stop the cooking of the egg is to immerse it, as soon as it is ready, in a basin of ice water.

How not to let the shell crack

How many times have I immersed the egg in water and seen the shell crack, with all the egg white then inexorably coming out! Whether you follow the advice to boil them in already hot or still cold water, here’s a trick to keep the shell intact.

You will only need a thumbtack. Stick it into the side opposite the tip of the egg, very delicately but firmly, and then put the egg to cook. This way you will ease the internal pressure that is generated once it is cooked! Then proceed as normal.

How to peel hard-boiled eggs

Sometimes, while I’m shelling a hard-boiled egg, I go crazy. It shatters into a thousand little pieces, the shell and the skin remain attached to the egg white! How annoying! Here’s how to shell it to perfection in the blink of an eye.

If you need hard-boiled eggs whole, once cooked, let them cool completely in cold water. It then begins to shell them from the tip, the most fragile point that can “drag” the rest of the shell away without difficulty.

Another trick is to place the cooled hard-boiled egg on a surface and press lightly on it with your hand, rolling it back and forth. The shell will shatter and then it will be very simple to remove it very easily.

How to peel hard-boiled eggs

Notes & advice

A recommendation: always choose fresh, quality eggs. These are my guides on how to do it:

Recipes with boiled eggs

Whether you need to prepare a lunch, an evening with friends or organise your lunch box to take to the office, I have the recipes for you:

In the recipe for the baked pasta, made to perfection according to southern tradition, hard-boiled eggs cannot fail to enrich this goodness, as also in the lasagne di Carnival

Fresh, simple to prepare and always appreciated by everyone: here is my tramezzino with mackerel and eggs

The Scottish eggs are a very classy appetizer to amaze your guests; I made them with quail eggs but you can opt for the classic chicken ones
Present on all festive tables, the Russian salad is often served with slices of hard-boiled eggs to decorate.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the yolk of a boiled egg sometimes turn green?

The green color is due to a chemical reaction between the iron contained in the yolk and the sulfur contained in the egg white. It occurs in the contact area between the yolk and the white when the egg is cooked for too long or at a high temperature. It’s not harmful, but you can avoid it by quickly cooling the egg after cooking.

Can I freeze hard-boiled eggs?

It is better to avoid it because the egg white becomes rubbery.

How can I tell if a hard-boiled egg has gone bad?

If the hard-boiled egg smells of sulfur or otherwise has a bad odor, it is better not to consume it.

How can I prevent the shell from breaking during cooking?

Add a spoonful of vinegar to the cooking water, avoid boiling the eggs at too high a heat, use eggs at room temperature and immerse them in the boiling water using a spoon.

Do hard-boiled eggs lose nutrients compared to raw eggs?

Cooking leads to a loss of thermolabile vitamins, but also makes some nutrients more easily assimilated by the body.

Can I reheat hard-boiled eggs?

Yes, but be careful not to heat them too much, otherwise they will become rubbery. Better to heat them briefly in hot water, or a few seconds in the microwave.

Can hard-boiled eggs be left out of the refrigerator?

No, hard-boiled eggs should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours to avoid bacterial growth.

Conservation

You can store hard-boiled eggs for a few days in the refrigerator:

7 days if you haven’t shelled them
2-3 days if you shelled them.

Here’s how you can store them:

quick cooling: After cooking, immediately immerse eggs in cold or ice water. This not only stops the cooking process, but also helps prevent the greenish halo from forming around the yolk
drying: once cooled, dry the eggs carefully with a clean cloth or absorbent paper
refrigerator storage: If you haven’t shelled the eggs, place them in a covered container or resealable bag. If you have shelled them, place them in an airtight container with a sheet of damp paper towel in the bottom to maintain humidity.

Additional tips:

Never leave hard-boiled eggs at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
If you plan to use hard-boiled eggs for a cold preparation (such as a salad), it is best not to shell them until ready to use.
Do not freeze hard-boiled eggs, as this will alter their texture, making them rubbery.

How can you tell if a hard-boiled egg is still good:

odor: if the egg gives off an unpleasant or sulphurous smell, it is better to discard it
appearance: if you notice the presence of mold or a slimy consistency, the egg is no longer edible.
consistency: if the yolk or white appears very dry or with a rubbery consistency, the egg may be too old

Curiosities

Boiled eggs are a nutritious and versatile food, rich in high-quality protein and numerous other essential nutrients. Here are the nutritional values (for a medium boiled egg, about 44g):

Calories: 68
Protein: 5.5g
Total fat: 4.7g (of which saturated fat: 1.4g)
Carbohydrates: 0.4g
Cholesterol: 164mg
Sodium: 55mg

Perfect hard boiled eggs: cooking times and procedure