Tips for the Perfect Hard Boiled Egg

Boiled eggs. So simple, yet not. Cook them too long and you end up with dry, grayish yolks; too little and they’re a slimy, wet mess. And then there’s that whole peeling problem. You know, when half of the egg white sticks to the shell.

When it comes to culinary woes, is there anything more frustrating?

With Easter right around the corner, chances are there will be lots of egg boiling going on over the next few weeks––so as part of my partnership with the American Egg Board, I’m going to share some tips to achieve the perfect hard boiled egg, every time.

To start, grab a saucepan that can comfortably hold all of the eggs you want to hard boil. Fill the pan with cool tap water, enough to cover the eggs by at least an inch or two.

Place the pan on high heat and bring the water to a full boil.

Once boiling, turn off the heat (remove from the burner if using an electric stovetop) and cover the pan with a lid. Let the eggs sit in the hot water for 9-10 minutes.

Note: If you’re at higher altitude, water boils at a lower temperature so you may need to give them a couple more minutes. Also, Extra Large and Jumbo eggs may require just a bit more time.

While the eggs cook, prepare an ice water bath.

Drain the eggs and transfer them into the ice water bath for a 3-5 minutes. If you plan to eat them immediately, gently crack the shells gently beforehand to allow the cold water to help separate the skin from the egg white. 99% of the time this makes for a perfect peel.

After a few minutes in the ice bath, roll eggs between the palm of your hand and the countertop to finish loosening the skin, and gently peel eggs.

Uneaten eggs can be left in their shells and refrigerated for up to a week.

For even more awesome tips and tricks for hard boiling eggs, check out this page full insider info from the IncredibleEgg.org.

Now, if you’re looking for egg dyeing ideas, last year I went with the ombre trend. They made for a super stylish centerpiece and my brunch guests loved them!  This Easter I’m going to experiment with food-based, natural dyes.  I think the more neutral palette will be a nice change, and this way I can eat the leftovers afterwards without worrying about any artificial colors. If you want some bright and bold looking eggs, check out these awesome  design ideas from former HGTV design stars, Cortney and Robert Novogratz.

Hard boiled eggs are easy to prep ahead of time and keep on hand in the fridge. With 6 grams of protein per egg, I love them for a post-workout snack––and when paired with a piece of fruit and a strong latte, they’re the perfect grab-and-go breakfast solution those mornings I’m running out the door for work. They’re definitely too good to let go to waste after Easter!

It’s been so fun working with the American Egg Board the past several months. They’re a great resource for all sorts of egg recipes, fun nutrition facts and even egg crafts! How cute are these planters? Be sure to follow them on Instagram and Pinterest for some awesome egg-spiration.

Hard boiled eggs: How do you make yours? Ever tried the ice water trick?

This post is part of a series sponsored by The American Egg Board and The Good Egg Project. I was compensated for my time but, as always, the opinions expressed are my own.