How to Boil Eggs

Boiling eggs is an essential cooking skill that almost all of us possess. However, do you know how to boil eggs perfectly? Beginners often need to correct mistakes, like accidentally turning soft-boiled into hard-boiled ones or vice versa. 

There are many tips & techniques for boiling eggs effectively. Since I started cooking, I’ve learned various methods and am excited to share them in this article.

Types Of Eggs

Eggs are also come in different types. The most common type of egg we use is chicken. They come in different sizes. The hue of the yolk can range from yellow to brown, varying based on the chicken’s breed. You can boil them soft, medium, or hard. 

The benefit of boiling is that their nutrient value is maintained. These eggs can also be used in salads or sandwiches. For such dishes, people prefer these.

There are various kinds of eggs available. Duck eggs are larger, so people mostly choose them for baking. Quail eggs are smaller, so people use them in salads.

How To Boil Eggs? Step By Step Important Instructions

Before you start, choose a large pan to hold the number of eggs you want to boil. First, place the ‘em in a single layer in the pan. Do not add a second layer because this can crack the eggs.

Avoid overcrowding the pan; this applies not just to eggs but to cooking anything. If you want to boil additional eggs, ensure each egg has adequate space. If there’s insufficient space, cook the extra in another batch or use a larger pan.

Add Water

In the second step, fill the pot with water. The water needs to be roughly an inch higher. Next, pour cold water into the pot. A common mistake is placing the egg in hot water to speed up boiling, which can lead to cracks in the egg. 

By placing the eggs in cold water, they warm slowly and uniformly, which helps avoid cracks and results in a better boil. If you use hot water, the temperature changes too quickly, which can cause the egg to crack.

Place Pot On Stove

Put the pot on the stovetop & turn the heat to high. While the water heats up, it will bubble and eventually reach a rapid boil. Watch it because this can happen pretty quickly.

Cover & Remove from Heat

Once the water is boiling hurriedly (rolling boil), place the pot back on the heat & carefully put the lid on top of the pot. Covering the pot is important because it helps trap heat and steam, which will help cook the eggs equally. 

As soon as the pot is covered, remove it from the heat. So don’t lift the lid while resting because that can release steam and affect the cooking time.

Set Time Accordingly

Type	Cooking time	Yolk Type	White Texture
Soft Boil	4-5	Runny	Tender
Medium Boil	6-7	Slightly Firm	Tender
Hard Boil	10-12	Firm	Firm

Common Boiling Problems & Their Solution

When boiling them, we often face some common problems. Here are those issues and their solutions so you know what to do if they happen to you.

Green Ring Around the Yolk  

Occasionally, you might notice a green ring surrounding the yolk. This happens when the egg has been cooked too much.

Solution

To avoid this, read a timing chart before boiling. When the timer goes off, if they are overcooked, promptly transfer them to a bowl filled with ice water. This cools them off and stops the cooking process.

Egg Cracks While Boiling

Many of us have experienced cracked ones during boiling. You might wonder if the cracked egg is still safe to eat or if it should be thrown away.

Solution

You can eat a cracked egg if it is cooked well. However, to prevent cracking in the future, don’t boil straight from the fridge. This can cause cracks. 

Also, avoid putting too much in one pan, as they can bump into each other and crack. Be careful while boiling.

Not Cooked Enough

An egg is considered undercooked if the yolk remains too liquid when you cut it open or if the white isn’t transparent.

Solution

Double your timer for the egg type you want: soft, medium or hard-boiled. If it is not ready, put the egg back in boiling water for another minute or two.

Overcooked Eggs

Cooked over a temperature too high will become rubbery and dry.

Solution

Proceed at your own pace, as it’s important to monitor cooking durations and always place ’em in ice water immediately after they are done cooking. It keeps them tender and keeps them from overcooking.

Trouble While Peeling

Peeling a fresh one after boiling & making a mess of your perfectly cooked egg is hard.

Solution

Using older eggs rather than fresh ones can make the peeling process easier. Additionally, adding a teaspoon of baking soda or vinegar to the boiling water can help the shells come off more easily.

How To Store Boil Eggs?

Everyone stores, but very few people know that boiled eggs can also be stored. I will tell you the complete process of how you can store every type of egg.

Duration
Hard Boil	One Week
Soft Boil	3 Days

Storing Methods

1. There are two ways to store them. If the eggs are hard-boiled, I suggest keeping them in their shells. This is the most secure way to store them as it stops bacteria from getting in and prevents odours from impacting the eggs.
2. Place them in an airtight container if you have already peeled them. Make sure there is a little air in the bag; otherwise, they can spoil.

Storing Tips

1. If you store many eggs, write the date on your bag. This way, you will remember when you stored them & can use them on time. 
2. Never try to store ‘em at room temperature. If they stay at room temperature for more than 2 hours, they can start to spoil.

How To Peel Boil Eggs? Tips & Tricks

Start at the Vaster End

Please start at the wider end of a boiled egg when peeling it. Most people break the egg at his end because it usually has a smaller air pocket, making it easier to get under the shell. Starting here helps remove the shell more easily and diminishes the possibility of tearing the egg white. It’s an easy trick that will get you started correctly.

Peel Under Tap Water

An excellent way to peel the egg is under running water. 

How can you do this? 

Hang the egg under the stream of water or, when eating it, peel it in the water bowl. The water helps wash away any persistent shell that sticks to the egg. This makes it easier to remove the shell completely. In this case, you will achieve a cleaner and smoother peeling process.

Crack & Roll

The ‘ crack and roll ‘ method is another great way to make peeling easier. Gently tap the egg on a hard surface – like a countertop – to create small cracks all over the shell. Then, roll the egg lightly between your hands. 

This action makes this shell looser, loosening/making it easier to peel into bigger pieces. A simple way to avoid shelling tiny bits of shell.

How Can I Protect Egg From Cracking While Boiling?

1. Use Older one

Try to use an older one for boiling. Newer have a low pH level, which can cause them to crack while boiling. If they are kept for a few days, this risk decreases.

2. Pierce the Shell

As with most eggs, gently pierce the rounded end with a pin or needle before heating it. It is a small hole through which the trapped air exits from the egg to help reduce pressure buildup inside the shell. 

In this case, you will reduce the risk because the egg is cracked before being cooked. It’s a simple matter that can help!

3. Add Salt or Vinegar to Water

Boiling the water in a teaspoon of salt or vinegar can be very helpful. Salt helps to strengthen the egg whites, which will be less prone to cracking during cooking. 

When you cut the egg, vinegar also helps the egg whites coagulate faster so the egg stays unaffected.

4. Use Gentle Heat

Once the water is boiling, turn down the water to simmer very gently—the bounciness of eggs in a pot results in the racking of the shells. 

Gently steaming them helps make sure they are even cooking and keeps them safe from damage. It guarantees they come out perfectly.

5. Cool Slowly

Place in a bowl & slowly let ‘em cool at room temperature for a short time after boiling. Or else you transfer them right away to an ice bowl. 

When this sudden cooling stops the cooking process, peeling becomes easier. Cooling them properly will help you have better results and smoother peeling.

Steaming Vs Boiling Egg? Which One Is Better: My Opinion

Steamed are usually thought to be much better than boiled. Steaming gives you the same consistency as hard-boiled but with a creamier texture. For many cooks, this method makes it much easier to peel them, which is a big advantage.

Steaming is one great way because it helps cut back on overcooking. Boiled can develop that unwanted green ring around the yolk if they’ve been in the water too long. 

It controls the cooking time better, which prevents steaming. Steaming for 15 minutes or so and plunging them into an ice bath after that to stop the cooking, they’ll stay tender.

Not only are steamed eggs easier to peel, but they’re also cooked perfectly every time with a minimum risk of becoming rubbery. 

Over time, this has become a popular technique for many chefs and home cooks because it provides a surefire way to get delightful results.

Why Add Salt While Boiling Eggs?

While cooking, you’ve probably added some salt, pizza sauce or other seasonings. But why do we add salt to the eggs? Let me explain.

Here’s the first reason: Adding salt to the egg decreases the chances for the egg white to leak out. This means that the boiled egg will retain its inner white part encapsulated.

Now, why does this happen?

Mainly because the salt water coagulates the egg white faster, it doesn’t leak out because of that. It’s another reason why eggs cook quickly.

Well, you might know that the boiling point of water is 100 degrees Celsius. Add salt, and the boiling point will rise slightly. Cooking the egg faster means it is set even more efficiently.

How To Reheat Boiled Eggs?

Method 1: Boiled Eggs Reheated with Boiling Water

The first method we devised was reheating boiled using boiling water. It’s super fast and easy, and it does work!

• First, put a saucepan of sufficient water in it to cover them. Then, place it over medium heat and bring the water to a gentle boil.

• Once the water starts to boil gently, lower your boiled eggs into your saucepan using a slotted spoon or tongs. Make sure they are fully submerged.

• Let ‘em simmer in the boiling water for about 3-4 minutes. It should be long enough to get them through without burning.

• Then, carefully pour the eggs out of the boiling water with your slotted spoon or tongs and dump them into a bowl of cold water. Let them cool for a few minutes to keep the cooking process from continuing.

Method 2: Boiled Eggs Reheated with Microwave

• Preheat your oven to 325°F (or 165°C).

• Place them in a single layer on a baking dish. If you want, you can lightly grease the dish to prevent it from sticking.

• Once they have been placed in the preheated oven, you would place the baking dish in the oven & let ’em heat up for about 15 minutes.

• When the eggs are heated, take them out of the oven & let them sit for a few minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and enjoy with peel.

No matter whether you opt for the boiling water technique for ease or the oven method for a unique texture, your reheated eggs will be ideal for any meal.

Read also: Does Bread Have Eggs?

Conclusion

Try various cooking times and methods to discover how to boil eggs best. Whether you enjoy them soft and runny, a bit firmer, or fully cooked, learning to boil is a basic cooking skill that can lead to many delicious meals. 

Have fun researching new recipes and ways to enjoy boiled eggs—they’re versatile ingredients that can improve many dishes.