Food & Cooking Recipes Appetizers How to Make Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs 3.2 (4,893) 101 Reviews Our easy, basic method for making hard-boiled eggs cooks them gently so the whites don't become rubbery. Use it when you make egg salad, deviled eggs, and more. By Martha Stewart Martha Stewart Martha Stewart is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and lifestyle expert who has taught millions of people through generations the joy of entertaining, cooking, gardening, collecting, crafting, and home renovating via her eponymous magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Emmy-winning television shows, and 99 books (and counting). Based in Katonah, N.Y., where she helms her 156-acre Bedford Farm, Martha is America's first self-made female billionaire. Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 11, 2024 Rate PRINT Share Yield: 1 dozen Make perfect hard-boiled eggs every time with our simple recipe that cooks up to a dozen eggs at once. It's a one-ingredient wonder: All you need are eggs, a pan large enough to hold them, and water to cover. Before you get started, make sure the eggs are at room temperature—this will prevent the whites from becoming rubbery. And don't go out and buy fresh eggs to hard-cook them; its easier to remove shells from older eggs. When you're done, follow our tips for easily peeling hard-boiled eggs, then enjoy them as a protein-packed snack, for your favorite deviled eggs recipe, or in egg salad. Emily Laurae Everything You Need to Know About Storing Eggs—Including Why They Should Always Be Refrigerated 4 Tips for Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs Do not buy fresh eggs to make hard-boiled eggs: For most recipes, we call for the freshest ingredients you can find, but eggs you already have in your refrigerator will be easier to peel once cooked.Avoid cooking cold eggs: Wait 30 minutes for the eggs to come to room temperature after you take them out of the refrigerator. This will help ensure that the whites stay tender and will make your boiled eggs easier to peel.Cooking different-sized eggs: Our recipe uses large eggs; if you use extra-large or medium eggs, you will need to increase or reduce the time the eggs sit on the stove.How to avoid the green ring around the yolk: A green ring on a hard-cooked yolk is caused by sulfur and iron compounds in the egg reacting on the yolk's surface. It's caused by overcooking or cooking at too high a temperature, but is safe to eat. Our method—bringing the eggs to a boil and then turning off the heat and letting them sit in the hot, not boiling water—minimizes the chance of getting a green ring. How Long to Cook Eggs Our recipe details how to cook classic hard-boiled eggs. If you prefer a less hard-cooked egg, follow these variations: For soft-boiled eggs: For boiled eggs with a runny yolk, follow the recipe but let the eggs stand in the water for 90-seconds to two minutes.For a medium-boiled egg with a jammy center, let the eggs sit for between one minute 45 seconds and two minutes 15 seconds. Ingredients 12 large eggs, room temperature Directions Emily Laurae Cover eggs with cool water: Place eggs in a large saucepan. Cover them with cool water by 1 inch. Emily Laurae Use a pan that can hold all the eggs you want to hard boil comfortably, without crowding them. Bring eggs to boil: Slowly bring water to a boil over medium heat; when the water has reached a boil, cover and remove from heat. Let sit 12 minutes. Emily Laurae Run under cool water: Transfer eggs to a colander; place under cool running water to stop the cooking. Emily Laurae Don’t skip running the eggs under cold water, this important step stops the eggs from cooking and is key to avoiding overcooked eggs. Peel eggs: Tap the top and bottom of the egg on a board or countertop and then gently roll the egg with the palm of your hand to begin to crack the shell. Emily Laurae Cut eggs and serve: Halve the eggs or slice them and serve. Emily Laurae The Right Way to Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs If you use our technique, which cooks the eggs gently, they should be easier to peel than eggs that are hard-boiled for their entire cooking time. Place the hard-boiled egg on your work surface and roll it under your palm to crack the shell. Use gentle pressure to avoid marring the egg white. Hold the egg under cold running water, and start peeling at the large end to get under the membrane where the air sac grants a little access. If you are peeling a large number of hard-boiled eggs, a bowl of water is more effective—and eco-friendly—than running water. Fill a medium bowl with cool water, then crack the shell gently on a work surface or on the inside of the bowl under the surface of the water. Peel each egg individually under the water, letting the shells fall into the bowl as you work. How to Store Hard-Boiled Eggs Hard-boiled eggs should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container and will keep for up to one week. To ensure the eggs stay fresh, wait until they have cooled completely before storing. We also recommend peeling them before storing as the eggs are easier to peel when they are first cooked rather than after they have been chilled in the refrigerator. Hard-boiled eggs should not be frozen. Recipes That Use Hard-Boiled Eggs Classic Deviled Eggs Martha's Favorite Egg Salad Sandwich Martha's Favorite Potato Salad Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs Deviled Egg Potato Salad Frequently Asked Questions How many eggs should you hard boil at a time? We like to boil up to a dozen eggs at one time. Even if we only plan to use a couple of eggs, we often boil more so we have them on hand for a healthy snack. Can I use my Instant Pot to make hard-boiled eggs? Yes, if you have an Instant Pot you can use it to make hard-boiled eggs because the eggs come out tender and easy to peel. Use our recipe as your guide. How to tell if hard boiled eggs are done? The best way to tell if hard-boiled eggs are done is to use a timer. There are various hacks about spinning eggs or shining a flashlight into the eggs to see if they are done, but none of these tricks work. Timing how long the eggs are in the cooking water for is much the best way to tell if they are done. How long can a hard-boiled egg sit out? A hard-boiled egg can sit out for no longer than two hours. If you have hard-boiled eggs that are out of the refrigerator for longer than that time, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says they are no longer safe. This two-hour window is the safety point for many foods, not only hard-boiled eggs. Originally appeared: Martha Stewart Baby, n/a 2000 Rate It PRINT Updated by Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years.