Boiling an egg may seem like an easy task, but making it perfect requires an exact timing and a foolproof method. For the perfect yoke texture and no discoloration of the egg white you better have your kitchen timer ready!
Here’s Paula’s tried and true method:
1. Start by covering your eggs in a pan with cold water and a generous amount of salt and white vinegar; the salt and white vinegar actually help the shell separate from the egg for easier peeling.
2. Next, bring the water to a boil, and right when it starts to rumble, remove the pan from the heat, and cover it with a tight-fitting lid.
3. Now time for that kitchen timer; set it for exactly 20 minutes.When the timer goes off, remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and put them directly into a bowl of cold water with ice cubes. Voila! Paula’s perfect egg.
And remember, fresher eggs may be harder to peel, but they are worth it because they taste so much better!
Now here’s the thing, there seems to be a discrepancy in the Deen family about how to boil the perfect egg. Jamie uses the same technique as his mom, but he swears that just 10 minutes in the hot water cooks the perfect boiled egg.Obviously our Test Kitchen had to try and solve this family conundrum once and for all.We found that by splitting the difference and leaving the eggs in the hot water for 15 minutes provided the best results.
So if you have a hankering for a hard-boiled egg or want to try one of Paula’s delicious deviled egg recipes, use this method and see which timing works best for you! Tell us in the comments section how you boil your eggs and what your favorite boiled egg recipe is. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Traditional Southern Deviled Eggs
BLT Deviled Eggs
Deen Brother’s Lighter Southern Deviled Eggs
Curry Pecan Deviled Eggs
FAQs
Here's Paula's tried and true method:
What is the proper way to boil an egg? ›
Instructions
- Place your eggs in a single layer on the bottom of your pot and cover with cold water. ...
- Over high heat, bring your eggs to a rolling boil.
- Remove from heat and let stand in water for 10-12 minutes for large eggs. ...
- Drain water and immediately run cold water over eggs until cooled.
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 does Martha Stewart boil eggs? ›
Carefully place the eggs in a large saucepan; add cold water to cover by one inch, and bring to a rolling boil. Cover pan; remove from heat. Let stand 12 minutes, then drain and rinse under cool water. To store, keep eggs unpeeled in the refrigerator, up to 4 days.
What is the trick to boiling eggs? ›
Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Then, let them sit in the hot water. As soon as the water begins to boil, turn off the heat and cover the pot. Leave the eggs in the hot water for anywhere from 10-12 minutes, depending on how you like your eggs.
What is the rule for boiling egg? ›
Start the timer – 6 minutes for runny yolks, 8 minutes for soft boiled, 10 minutes for classic hard boiled, 15 minutes for unpleasant rubbery whites and powdery dry yolks. Transfer into a large bowl or sink of cold water. Peel under water starting from the base (it's easier).
Do you boil eggs in boiling or cold water? ›
The food scientist's method: start with cold water
Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat, cover with a lid, and leave your egg to cook in the residual warmth – about six minutes for a soft egg, or nine for hard boiled.
How does Paula Deen boil eggs? ›
Here's Paula's tried and true method:
Next, bring the water to a boil, and right when it starts to rumble, remove the pan from the heat, and cover it with a tight-fitting lid. 3. Now time for that kitchen timer; set it for exactly 20 minutes.
What is the trick to boiling fresh eggs? ›
The best method is to bring the water to a full boil and then reduce it to a simmer, carefully lower the eggs in (a slotted spoon, fine mesh strainer, or spider-skimmer work well), cover the pot, then keep them at a low simmer for 13 minutes.
How long to boil eggs when water is already boiling? ›
Lower your eggs straight from the fridge into already-boiling water, or place them in a steamer insert in a covered pot, steaming at full blast on the stovetop. If boiling, lower the heat to the barest simmer. Cook the eggs for 11 minutes for hard or six minutes for soft.
It should be bubbling, but not so hard that the eggs bounce around. If the water starts to boil too fast, the shells will break against the bottom of the pot. Don't skip the ice bath.
How do you know when boiled eggs are done? ›
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 does Ina Garten boil eggs? ›
Place the eggs in a saucepan and add enough cold water to cover. Bring the water to a boil and immediately turn off the heat. Let the eggs sit in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove the eggs to a bowl and allow to rest for at least 2 minutes.
How does Bobby Flay boil eggs? ›
Boil water. Add eggs. 12 min. Then to ice bath for 5.
What not to do when boiling eggs? ›
If you're about to place uncooked eggs in a pot of boiling water, stop what you're doing immediately. Making hard-boiled eggs should always begin with cool water. Bringing the water and eggs up in temperature together helps promote even cooking and prevent cracking. Follow this tip: Always start with cold water.
What is the best method for boiling hard-boiled eggs? ›
How to Make Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
- Add the eggs to a saucepan and cover with water: Fill a saucepan about a quarter of the way with cold water. ...
- Bring to a rolling boil: Leave the pan uncovered. ...
- Turn off the heat, cover, and let sit: ...
- Strain and run under cold water: ...
- Peel or store for later:
Fill a medium or large pot with enough water to cover eggs by at least 2 inches, but do not add eggs yet. Bring water to a rolling boil. Once water is boiling, add the eggs and adjust the temperature to maintain a rolling boil. Start a timer for 12 minutes and prepare an ice bath.
Should eggs float or sink? ›
To perform the float test, gently set your egg into a bowl or bucket of water. If the egg sinks, it is fresh. If it tilts upwards or even floats, it is old. This is because as an egg ages, the small air pocket inside it grows larger as water is released and replaced by air.
