How to Boil Eggs
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Ah, consider the egg ...
I grew up not really ever being told how to boil an egg. Which is probably just as well given that I also grew up thinking that pale yellow centers with a green coating around them was just the way a boiled egg looked. Trust me; if yours are green, you need to read the directions again. (Love you, Mom!!)
So let's look at how to boil eggs -from soft to hard - and some great things you can do with them once you've got a fridge full of boiled eggs.
So Why Do You Want to Boil Eggs?
Boiled Eggs - The Hard Variety
This is how I do it - every week!!
1Add the eggs to a pot and fill with cool water until the eggs are covered.
2
Turn the burner on high and place the pot on the heat. Cover with a lid to get the water boiling faster.
3
Keep an eye on the pot until the water starts to boil. Turn the burner down to low at that point and set your timer for 10 minutes.
4
When the timer goes off, remove the pot from the flame and drain the water from it. Add cool water to the pot repeatedly to cool down the eggs. Once the pot is no longer hot, add cool water, then ice. (Or, you could prepare an ice water bath and put the eggs directly into it.) This stops the cooking process, so the eggs don't get overcooked.)
5
Peel your eggs and enjoy!
NOTE: Your timing might be different depending on your elevation.
Boiled Eggs - Just the Variety
Testing various tips you hear on boiling eggs
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1Salt vs. No Salt
There are those who swear by putting salt in the water to help create a boiled egg that will peel perfectly every time. Others say the salt just makes the eggs tough so leave it out.
Susan Says: Tried it. Didn't see that it made a difference so I just leave it out.
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2What Comes First - The Water Or The Egg?
There are two schools of thought here as well. Do you bring the water to a boil, then add the eggs? Or do you add the eggs, then bring the water to a boil?
Susan Says: Tried it. Find it just easier to start with everything in the pot so I don't boil the water away.
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3Boiling Mad or Just Let It Simmer?
Debate rages about whether the water should be raging while the eggs are cooking. Some people believe you should turn the heat down first to slow down the cooking process and get a more uniform cooking.
Susan Says: Tried it. Find I get a more evenly cooked egg by turning down the heat.
Storing Your Eggs After Boiling
To Peel or Not To Peel?There is some debate as to whether you should peel your eggs right away or wait until you actually plan to use them. Most of the issue/conundrum comes from whether it makes the egg easier or harder to peel. Me, I'm more interested in how quickly I can eat it, so I peel mine right away. I then typically store them in a plastic sandwich bag in the fridge. (Ooo! Fancy!)
If you plan to peel as needed, you can just plop the eggs back into the container they came in and you're good. An extra tip: Add some food coloring to the water to change the color of the shell. This helps you separate your cooked from your uncooked eggs. (You can also spin them on the counter, but coloring is fun!)
Will your Easter eggs look like these?
How to Boil An Egg
How To Boil An Egg: And 184 Other Simple Recipes for One
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Ways to Use Boiled Eggs
Deviled Eggs: 50 Recipes from Simple to Sassy (50 Series)
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More Cooking with Eggs
Beginners' Cooking
Absolute Beginner's Cookbook, Revised 3rd Edition: Or How Long Do I Cook a 3 Minute Egg?
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How To Boil Water
How to Boil Water
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Cooking Basics
Betty Crocker's Cooking Basics: Learning to Cook with Confidence
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More Ways to Cook Your Eggs
Share Your Cooking Adventures Here!
Did you find this information helpful? Were you able to successfully boil your eggs? Got a tip to share? Let's hear from you.
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LDWorld Dec 16, 2011 @ 12:56 pm | delete
- I love eggs!
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stephanieelizabeth Sep 24, 2011 @ 9:18 pm | delete
- Thanks for this!
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bames24
Jul 15, 2011 @ 3:48 am | delete
- great lens... I love your sense of humor.. :)
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RetroMom
May 1, 2011 @ 10:18 am | delete
- Boiling eggs may be an easy task but some people may find it too difficult to do. geez, it's true I know a lot of them hilarious as it may seem but no longer funny when they almost burn your house down LOL. I will find the time to show this to them. Very helpful lens. Good work.
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gravityx9
Dec 13, 2010 @ 11:24 am | delete
- yes, definitely helpful. It is really embarassing when trying to make deviled eggs and the shell sticks to the egg, or the yolk is under done. Your yummy lens has been added to a featured section of my
PLAYING WITH FOOD Lens! THUMBS UP!
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