Here’s a commonly asked cooking question: How do you know when boiled eggs are done?
For hard-boiled eggs, we say 10-12 minutes. But the answer really depends on the style of boiled egg you prefer, whether it’s a completely-cooked yolk or soft, creamy center.
The truth is, when it comes to cooking a boiled egg, timing is everything. And if you’re planning to make deviled eggs for a cookout, egg salad, or if you’re just in need of a quick and easy protein snack — you need to know exactly how long to boil eggs. We can help! This handy guide shows you a foolproof method for how to tell if eggs are boiled, no matter which type you prefer.
How to Make a Perfect Hard Boiled Egg
Stick to the formula below for a perfect hard boiled egg, every single time:
Step 1: Place a single layer of raw eggs in the bottom of a medium or large saucepan. Fill the pan with water to about 2 inches over the eggs.
Step 2: Place the pan on high heat. Bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat. Cover, and let the eggs stand for 12 minutes.
Step 3: Run the eggs under cold water or place in an ice bath to cool. Peel the hard-boiled eggs, and enjoy.
Extra Tips
- Don’t just throw cold eggs into boiling water! The sudden change of temperature can lead to “shocked,” or unevenly cooked, eggs or even worse—cracked, damaged eggs. Instead, heat the eggs gently using the water. This allows for a gradual, even cook that equals the perfect hard-boiled egg.
- You’ll know that your egg is perfectly cooked if it has an opaque, yellow center. The yolk of an overcooked egg, on the other hand, will turn a greenish-gray color.
How Long to Boil Eggs (Soft, Firm, or Hard)
Soft-boiled egg (slightly runny center)
Let the eggs sit in the water after it comes to a boil for 4 to 5 minutes. It's imperative with soft-boiled eggs that you don't let them continue to cook after removing them from the water. To avoid this, prepare an ice bath and dunk the eggs immediately after taking them out of the boiling water. Remove them from the ice bath quickly if you want to serve the eggs still warm overtop toast or a salad.
Slightly firmer yolk (custard-like texture)
Leave the eggs in the water for 6 minutes. Same as with soft-boiled eggs, make sure to dunk them in an ice bath as soon as you remove them from the boiling water.
Firm yolk (still a bit creamy with some liquid)
Leave the eggs in the water for 10 minutes. If peeling and eating right away, you can forego the ice bath. Otherwise, make sure to chill the egg to prevent overcooking.
Completely hard-boiled egg (for deviled eggs or egg salad)
Leave the eggs in the water for 12 minutes. If you're getting the dreaded green ring, make sure your timing is exact, but also consider the water you're using. If your tap water has higher levels of iron, that could be affecting the outcome. In that case, use filtered water to boil your eggs. Also: Use the ice bath if you're not peeling and eating the eggs immediately.
How long do hard-boiled eggs last in the refrigerator? You can safely refrigerate the eggs in their shells for one to 1½ weeks.
Related:
FAQs
Once the water is at a rolling boil, turn off the heat and cover the pot with the lid. Allow the eggs to sit in the hot water for the following times according to the desired doneness: 3 minutes for SOFT boiled; 6 minutes for MEDIUM boiled; 12 minutes for HARD boiled. Prepare a bowl of ice water.
How long does it take to boil an egg correctly? ›
Once the water is at a rolling boil, turn off the heat and cover the pot with the lid. Allow the eggs to sit in the hot water for the following times according to the desired doneness: 3 minutes for SOFT boiled; 6 minutes for MEDIUM boiled; 12 minutes for HARD boiled. Prepare a bowl of ice water.
Is 10 minutes long enough to hard boil an egg? ›
How much time is needed to make hard boiled eggs? Hard boiled eggs should be cooked for about 10-12 minutes. This timing avoids a powdery, dry yolk that comes from overcooking while keeping it solid enough for applications like devilled eggs or egg salad.
How do you know if you boiled eggs long enough? ›
For hard-boiled eggs, remove after 8 minutes.
The yolks of hard-boiled eggs are crumbly and bright yellow, completely solid, but with none of the grayish-green around the yolk that over-cooking yields.
How long to boil 24 eggs for deviled eggs? ›
Heat over high heat until the water comes to a rolling boil, cover the saucepan with a lid, cook for 30 seconds then remove completely from the heat and let stand for 12 minutes. (This can range from 12 to 14 minutes, depending on the size of your eggs).
Do you put boiled eggs in before or after water boils? ›
You might have heard that you should drop your eggs into room temperature or cold water and then bring the water to a boil. This is a myth. In our tests, bringing the water to a boil first and then lowering the eggs into the bath made for easy peeling and more accurate timing.
How do you know when boiled eggs are done? ›
You'll know that your egg is perfectly cooked if it has an opaque, yellow center. The yolk of an overcooked egg, on the other hand, will turn a greenish-gray color.
How do you boil eggs so they peel easily? ›
Bring to a boil, then cover the pot and turn off the heat. Let the eggs cook, covered, for 9 to 12 minutes, depending on your desired done-ness (see photo). Transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water and chill for 14 minutes. This makes the eggs easier to peel.
Is 20 minutes too long to boil eggs? ›
For one to four eggs, bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and turn the heat down to its lowest setting for 12-14 minutes. For five to eight eggs, cook for 15 to 18 minutes. For nine to one dozen eggs, cook for 20 minutes. After cooking, transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water.
Is 30 minutes too long for hard boiled eggs? ›
"A 12-minute egg is the maximum amount of time I'll do for a (large) hard-boiled egg," she says. Steele shares this pro tip: when cooking a medium- or jumbo-sized egg, decrease or increase the cook time by approximately 1 minute, depending on how firm or jammy you like your yolk.
Bottom Line
After trying several methods to determine if an egg is cooked or not, there were a few that came out on top. Contrary to what you might have heard, hard-boiled eggs do not float—but they do act differently when you spin them or shine a flashlight through them.
Can you overcook a hard-boiled egg? ›
Overcooking can result in a rubbery texture and a dry taste. Some people may find this unappetizing and choose not to eat them. Nonetheless, overcooked hard boiled eggs are safe to eat as long as they have been properly stored and are not past their expiration date.
What to do if you didn't hard boil eggs long enough? ›
The best way to salvage an under-boiled egg is to get it back into hot water. You can either reboil them directly on the stove, or put them in a bowl that can handle boiling water and pour hot water over the eggs. Note: Do not cook boiled or partially boiled eggs in the microwave; this will cause them to explode.
How to cook hard-boiled eggs so they don't smell? ›
Specifically, adding some vinegar to the water you use to boil the eggs can make all the difference. So, how do you do it? To get rid of any pungent sulfur smells while making hard-boiled eggs in your kitchen, simply add a few teaspoons of white distilled vinegar to the pot of water before you start cooking.
What is the maximum time to boil an egg? ›
For a soft yolk, boil large eggs for about 7 minutes. For a classic hard-boil, cook them for up to 13 minutes. Keep in mind that smaller eggs cook faster and that you may need to cook for longer at higher altitudes due to changes in atmospheric pressure.
How long to hard boil eggs for Easter coloring? ›
Place a single layer of eggs in a saucepan. Add cold water to come at least 1 inch above the eggs. Cover and bring the water to a boil; turn off the heat. Let the eggs stand covered in the hot water for 15 minutes for large eggs, 12 minutes for medium, and 18 minutes for extra large.
Is 30 minutes too long to boil eggs? ›
If you boil an egg for five or 10 minutes, it becomes firm and cooked. If you boil it for hours, it becomes rubbery and overcooked.
What is the normal time to boil an egg? ›
How Long to Boil Eggs
| Boiling Time | Egg Yolks | Egg Whites |
|---|
| 2-4 minutes | Soft, runny | Soft, runny |
| 6-8 minutes | Soft but set | Firm |
| 10-15 minutes | Fully set | Fully set |
Mar 2, 2023
Overcooking can result in a rubbery texture and a dry taste. Some people may find this unappetizing and choose not to eat them. Nonetheless, overcooked hard boiled eggs are safe to eat as long as they have been properly stored and are not past their expiration date.
Does it take longer to boil two eggs than one? ›
It would take marginally longer to get the water to a boil (because you have a little more mass to heat up. But once the water is boiling, it stays at exactly the same temperature, no matter how many eggs are in there. Since the water is at the same temperature, the eggs will cook just as quickly.
