How to Boil Eggs

White plate with halved boiled eggs on a marble countertop.

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: how long to boil eggs, how to boil an egg, how to boil eggs

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 12

Servings: eggs

Calories: 72kcal

Author: Maureen Abood

Learn how to boil eggs soft, medium, or hard using just water and one pot with this foolproof method and simple steps!

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Ingredients

6 large eggs
Water enough to fill saucepan
Ice for ice bath

Instructions

Fill a medium saucepan 3/4 full of water. Bring the water to boil.
Use a large slotted spoon to lower the eggs, one by one, into the boiling water. Reduce the heat just a touch to prevent the eggs from knocking against each other.
Cook for 12 minutes for hard-cooked. Reduce the cooking time by 2 minute increments for softer cooked results; cook for 6 minutes for a soft, runny center. Cook for 8 minutes for medium-cooked eggs.
Fill a medium bowl halfway with ice and cool water. Remove the pot from the heat and with a slotted spoon transfer the eggs to the ice bath. Allow them to rest for 2 minutes.
Crack the eggs on a hard surface and peel them under a cool running faucet. Slice and serve.

Notes

For easier peeling, use slightly older eggs rather than very fresh ones.

Storage: Hard-boiled eggs will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, medium-boiled eggs last for about 5 days, and soft-boiled eggs will keep for up to 3 days.

Nutrition