This recipe will teach you how to make perfect Hard Boiled Eggs every single time. We’ll show you our easy fool-proof method that you can use whether you are decorating eggs for Easter or using them to make your favorite deviled eggs or egg salad sandwiches.
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Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs (Baking Soda Method)
Learning how to cook the perfect Hard Boiled Egg really just comes down to a few simple tips that I share in this recipe. Rather than cooking them in harsh boiling water, we’ll show you how to turn off the heat and allow the hot water to make perfect Hard Boiled Eggs. Just set your timer according to how “done” you want your eggs, then plunk them into a big bowl of ice water.
You can use Hard Boiled Eggs to make Deviled Eggs and egg salad sandwiches, to toss into green salads, to serve alongside a big bowl or ramen, or to decorate Easter Eggs. All you need are eggs, a little baking soda, a bowl of ice, and a timer.
Ingredients To Make Hard Boiled Eggs with Baking Soda
- Eggs - you can use any kind of eggs that you’d like. We recommend using older eggs rather than super fresh eggs. Older eggs are easier to peel simply because they have had more water evaporate out through the shell. If you plan on decorating these eggs, you may want to use eggs with a white shell.
- Baking Soda - a quick and easy tip is to use baking soda to boil eggs because it helps raise the pH level of the eggs, making them easier to peel.
- Ice - you will need ice to make an ice bath. This helps to quickly stop the cooking and cool the eggs down. If you don’t have ice on hand, place a metal bowl in the sink with cold running water and add the eggs.
How To Boil Eggs with Baking Soda
- Add the eggs, baking soda, and water to a pot. Place your raw eggs in a large dutch oven or pot and cover them with water by about 1". Add the baking soda.
- Bring to a boil. Bring the water to a low boil over high heat. Once the water has reached a rapid boil, remove the pot from the heat and cover with a lid.
- Allow eggs to sit in hot water for desired time. Let the eggs sit for 9-12 minutes, depending on how "done" you want your eggs. (For soft boiled eggs, 4-6 minutes is enough).
- Add cooked eggs to an ice bath to chill. While the eggs cook, prepare a large bowl of ice water. After the desired resting time, use a slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the hot water and place them in the ice water to stop the cooking and cool completely. Let the eggs sit in the ice water for about 5 minutes, then remove and place on a towel to dry.
- Use as desired. Crack, peel, decorate, or prepare as desired. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
First of all, no you will not taste any baking soda in boiled eggs. Boiling eggs with baking soda helps to lower their pH which loosens them from the shells just enough to make them easier to peel. It’s not entirely necessary, but if you are planning on peeling a lot of eggs you will thank yourself later.
This recipe actually only boils the eggs for a moment. As soon as the water comes to a boil, you can turn off the heat and let the hot water actually cook the eggs. The cook time is really the amount of time that you let them sit in the hot water. This all depends on how cooked you want your eggs. For super hard boiled, keep them in for about 12 minutes. If you want a soft-boiled egg, leave them for only about 4-6 minutes.
Once they have sat in the hot water for the desired length of time, be sure to plunk them into an ice bath to stop the cooking.
Adding eggs directly into boiling water will often cause them to crack very easily, leaking the eggs out into your boiling water rather than cooking gently inside the shell. The best way to avoid this is to add the eggs to the pot with the water and let them both rise in temperature at the same time.
When you see a green ring around the yolks, it means that they were overcooked. To avoid this, stick to the times in this recipe.
Storing
- How to Store Unpeeled Eggs: make sure that the eggs are completely cooled then store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- How to Store Peeled Eggs: place peeled eggs in an airtight container with enough cold water to cover the eggs. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days making sure to replace the cold water each day.
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs
Ingredients
- 18 large Eggs
- ½ gallon Water
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- 8 cups Ice
Instructions
- Place your raw eggs in a large dutch oven or pot and cover them with water by about 1". Add the baking soda.
- Bring the water to a low boil over medium high heat. Once the water has reached a rapid boil, remove the pot from the heat and cover with a lid.
- Let the eggs sit for 9-12 minutes, depending on how "done" you want your eggs. (For soft boiled eggs, 4-6 minutes is enough).
- While the eggs cook, prepare a bowl of ice water. After the desired resting time, use a slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the hot water and place them in the ice water to stop the cooking and cool completely.
- Let the eggs sit in the ice water for about 5 minutes, then remove and place on a towel to dry.
- Crack, peel, decorate, or prepare as desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More of the Best Egg Recipes
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- Easy Sausage Egg Biscuit Casserole
- 3 Cheese and Pesto Quiche
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- Baked Denver Omelet
- Vegetable Quiche
- Turkey Bacon Avocado Chaffle Sandwich
- More Meal Prep Ideas
- More Condiment Recipes
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This Hard Boiled Eggs Recipe will show you how to make perfectly hard boiled eggs with baking soda every single time. You only need eggs, water, ice, baking soda, a timer, and a few helpful tips.
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