Getting perfect cooked eggs is a challenge that not everyone achieves. The whites are firm but not rock-hard and the yolks are cooked but creamy. Cooking eggs requires exact techniques, especially depending on the type of method used.
Normally we usually cook this food in a pot with boiling water, although it will depend on the time for the yolks to cook in the way we prefer. However, we also teach you how to cook them in the oven and in a pressure cooker.
Something to keep in mind is that the freshest are more delicious fried or scrambled, and the older eggs are easier to peel. The best option for hard-boiled eggs that are easier to peel is to choose eggs that you’ve had in the fridge for a week or two.
How to make boiled eggs in a pot?
The big question is whether the water should be boiling or cold when introducing them. Most recommend that it be done with cold water, as this prevents the eggs from overcooking. Never again will you have to deal with dry or overcooked eggs with greenish yolks.
Just three steps are enough to perfect cooked eggs:
- Place the eggs in a saucepan or pot and cover them with cold water. First the eggs and then the water. This is because if you put the eggs later, they could break when they fall to the bottom.
- Put the pot over high heat and bring the water to a boil . Remove the pot from the heat and cover it. The exact time it takes to boil an egg is how long you want the water to boil but not stay there. Eggs exposed to high temperatures for a long time go through a chemical reaction that causes the yolks to turn green. So the time they should boil is practically nothing.
- Drain the eggs immediately and place them in a bowl filled with water and ice cubes. Ice water cools the eggs and prevents the green yolk problem. If you want to peel the eggs, break them up a bit before putting them in the ice water and let them sit for an hour.
How long should the eggs boil?
Let the eggs sit in the hot water for 4 to 12 minutes, depending on how firm you want the yolks to be.
The longer the eggs remain in hot water, the more cooked the yolk will be. Allow less time for soft-boiled eggs and more time for hard-boiled eggs. In addition, we must take into account their size, since the smallest will need less time and the extra large or giant eggs will need more.
In the case of large eggs, take into account the following times:
- 2-4 minutes: the yolk will be smooth and runny, just like the white.
- 6-8 minutes: the yolk will be smooth and firm, and the white will be firm.
- 10-15 minutes: the yolk and white will be completely done.
How to cook hard-boiled eggs in the oven
This method is not one of the most used in the kitchen, but it can also be an option. It doesn’t require water, which technically makes this method more cooked than boiled, but they are just as delicious. The baked ones are simply eggs heated in a dry and hot air. It’s a smart move when you’re making a lot of eggs or pot space is at a premium.
A good tip is to use a muffin tin to prevent the eggs from rolling in the oven. The proper technique to achieve a perfect result is:
- Preheat the oven to 170º C with heat up and down.
- Once hot, the eggs are placed on the middle rack of the oven and left to cook for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, we remove the eggs from the oven and place them in very cold water.
Steps to make boiled eggs in the pressure cooker
This is the best way to boil fresh eggs. The fresh ones are very difficult to peel, but with this method it is easier.
If you happen to raise your own chickens or have access to fresh eggs, a pressure cooker is the best way to get hard-boiled eggs. It doesn’t really save time, but it actually makes them easy to peel.
The steps to follow are:
- Put a steamer basket and 1 cup of water in a pressure cooker. Pop the steamer basket that comes with your electric pressure cooker, or just a collapsible steamer basket. Pour in 1 cup of water.
- Add 3 to 12 eggs at a time.
- Close the lid. It is important to know how the lid of your pressure cooker works. Make sure it’s locked. Most pressure cookers will not turn on without the lid properly closed.
- Turn on the pressure cooker and set to a low pressure.
- Cook the eggs. For soft-boiled eggs, set the timer for 3-4 minutes. For medium-cooked eggs, set the timer for 5 to 7 minutes. For hard-boiled eggs, set the timer for 8 to 9 minutes. The ideal time for eggs depends on how you like the yolks.
- When the timer rings, release the pressure manually. The pressure cooker will gradually increase the pressure and then start counting the time you set. After the time you set is up, the machine will beep. Gently use a towel to release the pressure by balancing the pressure release on the lid.
- Immediately put the eggs in an ice bath. When all the steam has been released and the pressure cooker safety latch allows you to remove the lid, open the pressure cooker and immediately transfer the eggs to an ice water bath. Let them cool for 5-10 minutes.
How to store hard boiled eggs?
It is recommended to store leftover hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator in a covered container. The lid is important to prevent odors from spreading throughout the rest of the refrigerator. They will last a week in perfect condition at most, as the peel will help prevent odors from the refrigerator from being absorbed.
If you’ve already peeled the hard-boiled eggs, you can store them in an airtight container with a damp paper towel for a week. Remember to change the paper every day.
If you store them properly, you can keep your hard-boiled eggs for a week or seven days. For best results, leave them cooked in the shell until you decide to eat them.
