How Long To Boil Eggs: A Guide to Perfectly Cooked Eggs

Eggs are a delicious and nutritious food that can be cooked in many different ways and can be found in many recipes on our blog! Whether you like boiled, fried, poached, or scrambled eggs, there's no denying their versatility and here I'll share how to boil eggs on the stovetop, in an air fryer or microwave oven, as well as how to peel easily boiled eggs!

Jump to:

• What are Eggs?
• Are Eggs Good for You?
• How Long To Boil Eggs
• How To Boil Eggs On Stove
• How To Boil Eggs in the Air Fryer
• How To Boil Eggs in the Microwave
• How To Boil Eggs for Easter
• How To Peel Boiled Eggs Easily
• Recipes with Boil eggs
• People Also Ask [FAQs]
• Wrap Up: How To Boil Eggs
• Recipe

What are Eggs?

Eggs are a common food item laid by birds, such as chickens, ducks, and quail, among others; depending on the species of bird, they come in different shapes, sizes, and colors.

Chicken eggs are the most common type of egg used in cooking, but others, such as duck and quail eggs, can be found in more exotic cuisines.

Eggs consist of yolk and a white, or albumen as it's formally known. The yolk contains most of the egg's nutrients and cholesterol, while the white is mostly protein.

Are Eggs Good for You?

Eggs are an excellent source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. One large whole hard boiled egg contains about 6.3 grams of protein, which is around 12% of the recommended daily intake for adults.

It's important to note that how you cook your eggs can affect their nutritional value. Frying eggs in oil or butter, for example, can add unnecessary calories and fat to your meal. In contrast, boiling or poaching eggs can help preserve their nutritional content.

They are also high in vitamins D and B12, as well as minerals such as iron and selenium. Although eggs do contain cholesterol, this doesn't necessarily mean they're bad for you. In fact, research has shown that for most people, eating eggs doesn't significantly increase cholesterol levels or increase the risk of heart disease.

How Long To Boil Eggs

Boiling eggs is a classic cookery technique that many people enjoy, but figuring out how long to boil them can be a bit tricky as different methods call for different times.

How To Boil Eggs On Stove

Boiling eggs on the stove is a traditional method that has been around for ages and this is an easy and fool-proof way to get perfect soft or hard boiled eggs.

1. Fill a large pot with cold water and place it on the stove on high heat. Ensure the pot is wide enough that the eggs can rest in a single layer, and that there is enough water to submerge them completely.
2. Add a teaspoon of salt and half a cup of white vinegar to the water; this will stop the eggs from breaking and leaking in the water, as these ingredients help the protein in the egg white to harden, closing any holes that may form.
3. As soon as you bring it to a rolling boil, reduce the heat to medium and add the eggs helping yourself with a slotted spoon to avoid cracking them.
4. Cook the eggs according to your taste: soft boiled egg will require 4-6 minutes, while hard cooked eggs will need 10-14 minutes.
5. Once ready, immediately transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water for 3-5 minutes in order to stop the cooking process and preserve their freshness. Overcooked boiled eggs will have a green ring around the yolk.
6. Peel and use as desired.

How To Boil Eggs in the Air Fryer

Boiling eggs in the air fryer is a relatively quick and easy way of preparing them, but it is not something you might hear often.

1. Preheat your air fryer to 250°F. Add the required number of eggs to the air fryer basket and cook for 16 minutes.
2. The eggshell is often cracked due to the pressure of the steam. You can experiment with the cooking time based on how well you want your eggs cooked.

How To Boil Eggs in the Microwave

Yes, you heard it right, it is possible to them in a microwave! However, you need to be extra careful, as microwaving eggshells without piercing them may lead to them exploding, so you only want to boil eggs in the microwave using an egg cooker or specialized egg-shaped containers meant for microwaving.

1. Add water, place it in the microwave, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes if you like soft-boiled eggs, while for hard-boiled, the cooking time is from 10 to 12 minutes.

How To Boil Eggs for Easter

Easter is one of the most popular festivities of the year and painting and decorating hard-boiled eggs are some of its favorite activities. But, how long to boil eggs for Easter?

1. If possible, opt for white fresh eggs, as the dye will be more visible.
2. Choose your natural dye and color for the Easter eggs:
   • Yellow or red onions skin, or saffron: orange and yellow
   • Turmeric powder: orange
   • Red wine: red
   • Parsley, cilantro, or spinach: green
   • Beetroot: pink
   • Blueberries: baby blue
   • Red cabbage: purple and red
3. Put the eggs in a pot with enough cold water to cover them completely, then add your coloring agent and a couple of tablespoons of vinegar.
4. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, and then let the eggs cook for 6-8 minutes.
5. Remove the pan from the heat but leave the eggs in the water to continue absorbing the natural dye; allow the water and eggs to cook completely, ideally for at least a couple of hours.
6. Your perfect hard boiled eggs are now beautifully colored and ready to be decorated further!

How To Peel Boiled Eggs Easily

How to peel boiled eggs easily, without hurting yourself or ruining the eggs? Here's how:

1. Start with the right egg preparation

The first and most crucial step in peeling boiled eggs is to prepare them right!

Make sure you use eggs that are at least five to seven days old, as older eggs tend to have a more alkaline environment, which makes it easier to peel them.

After boiling the eggs make sure to transfer the eggs to cold water to stop the cooking process, for about 3-5 minutes.

2. Tap and break the shell

After cooling, tap the egg gently against a hard surface, like a countertop, until the whole surface of the shell has small cracks in it.

You can use the edge of the countertop or a spoon's back to tap the egg. Then, roll the egg in your hand to loosen the shell, making it easier to peel. It's essential to crack the shell all around the egg, as this will make it easier to peel.

3. Peel under running water

Peeling them under running water or in a bowl of water is one of the quickest and easiest methods that most chefs use, as the water will create a layer of separation between the egg white and the shell, making it easier to peel.

Hold the egg under cold running water or submerge it in a bowl of cold water, and start to peel from the wider end of the egg.

Sometimes, the process of peeling eggs under running water may take off bits of the egg's white, but this won't affect the egg's taste.

4. Use a spoon to peel with ease

If you don't like peeling boiled eggs with your fingers, you can use a spoon to peel them.

Tap the wider end of the egg to make a small hole, insert the spoon under the shell, and turn the spoon back and forth to loosen the shell.

Then, gently lift the surface away from the egg. This method is useful if you're trying to prepare deviled eggs, where you need to cut the egg in half and remove the yolk, and the outer part of the egg will still be visible when served.

5. A few tips to make peeling boiled eggs even easier

If you're still struggling with peeling boiled eggs, here are a few tips that may come in handy.

1. Try adding about a teaspoon of baking soda to the water when boiling the eggs. This will help to raise the egg's pH level, making it easier to peel.
2. Another trick is to start peeling the egg from the wider end. This is where the air cell is, and it's the easiest place to start peeling.
3. Lastly, if you want to peel more than one egg at a time, place them in a jar with a few inches of water, screw the lid on, and shake the jar for a few seconds. The shell will come off quickly.

Recipes with Boil eggs

People Also Ask [FAQs]

Wrap Up: How To Boil Eggs

• Eggs are a great source of nutrition and can be cooked in various ways to suit your taste.
• Boiling is one of the most popular methods for preparing eggs but it does require some practice and patience to get it just right. The perfect hard boiled egg is the one you like the most, so practice until you find the right timing for you!
• Peeling boiled eggs is not as difficult as it may seem, and there are a few tricks to help!

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