How to Boil Eggs Perfectly

Ever hear the expression “I can’t cook. I can’t even boil eggs.” You may be surprised to find out that even people who are self-proclaimed cooks don’t know exactly how to boil eggs so they come out perfectly every time. That’s because making perfect hard boiled eggs, without cracking the shells and thoroughly cooking the yokes, is tricky.

My mother, a wonderful cook who could whip up just about any type of culinary concoction, even had trouble on occasion when it came to making hard boiled eggs. Once she even forgot there were eggs cooking on the stove until the pot boiled dry and the over-cooked eggs exploded. News flash: exploding eggs really stink and are a mess to clean up!

Boiling an egg might sound like the simplest of cooking tasks, but it stumps even the most seasoned of chefs. As my mom—a powerhouse in the kitchen—proved, knowing how to boil eggs just right can be a challenge.

So what’s the secret for making perfect hard boiled eggs?

Tip number one: Never put cold eggs in hot water. They will crack!

Follow along with chef and Food Network contestant Danni Bleil as she shares easy step-by-step instructions for how to boil eggs. Here’s her egg boiling tips:

1. Place eggs into an empty saucepan.
2. Cover the eggs completely with cold water.
3. Add a few pinches of salt to the water. This makes it easier to peel the eggs when cooked.
4. Turn on the stove and bring the water to a boil.
5. Boil for 3 minutes.
6. Turn off the heat and let the eggs sit in the water until they are cool enough to handle.
7. Lift the eggs out of the water with a slotted spoon. Peel them and they’re ready to eat or use in your favorite recipes.

These easy instructions take the guesswork out of how long to boil eggs. By cooking the eggs for 3 minutes (in boiling water) and then letting them sit in the pot until they have cooled, you’ll wind up with perfectly boiled eggs every time.

Now that you know how to boil eggs to perfection, here are 7 delicious recipes for using those hard boiled eggs.