Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

There’s nothing better than perfect hard boiled eggs that peel with a tap of the counter. We make our hard boiled eggs in a steamer basket and they are perfect every single time.

In a perfect world, I would make the time to hard-boil 1 dozen eggs each week and have them sitting in the fridge. When I do make the time, we all have a quick, healthy snack with a little sea salt or hot sauce – or chopped up hard-boiled eggs into a delicious egg salad. I’m not a sandwich fan to begin with, so I make creamy egg salad and eat it right out of the bowl!

Are Eggs Healthy?

This is one of those questions that can’t exactly be answered with a simple yes or no. The answer depends on several factors. To know whether eggs are healthy, we must first discuss the health of the chicken that laid the egg and the cholesterol conundrum. You can learn more about healthy eggs here.

But just in case you don’t want to read all the science behind healthy eggs, just know this. Eggs are healthy and full of wonderful nutrition: Vitamin D, Omega 3’s, Lutein, Vitamin A and many more. You’ll get the best benefit from pastured eggs. We love Vital Farms and now their website has an amazing tracking tool to help you find their pastured eggs locally.

Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs with an Easy Peel Shell

In order to have easy-to-peel eggs that come out perfect hard boiled eggs every single time, there is one method that has always worked for me.

Steam Eggs for Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

In just 5 easy steps, using a steamer basket, your eggs will cook perfectly and peel perfectly every time.

Step 1: Prepare the Steamer Basket or Steamer Pan

Use a steamer basket or steamer saucepan (similar to the one I use) and fill the saucepan 1-2 inches.

Step 2: Heat Water to Boiling

Turn on the stove top to medium-high heat and add the lid. Wait until the water is boiling and producing steam. Typically within 5-7 minutes. If the water isn’t boiling, don’t even bother. Have a little patience for those perfect hard boiled eggs.

Step 3: Add Pastured Eggs to the Steamer Basket

Okay, so you can use any kind of eggs, but pastured eggs are the best and healthiest. Just add the eggs in a single layer to the steamer basket or saucepan steamer and turn heat to medium-high. Cover the saucepan.

Step 4: Set a Timer and Stay Close-by

If you prefer soft-boiled eggs, then you’ll need to set your timer to 6 minutes. For semi-hard-boiled eggs, set your time for 10 minutes. For cooked-through hard-boiled eggs, go with 12-15 minutes.

Many things can influence your cook time, so, you may need to try this method a few times to find your ideal cook time. Consider the size of the eggs and adjustments for altitude.

My family prefers the 10 minute eggs for egg salad or eating with a little sea salt. To us, these are the perfect hard boiled eggs. If you’re not happy the first time you make these steamed eggs, be sure to check your time and adjust for the next round.

Step 5: Add the Hard Boiled Eggs to a Icy Water Bath

Remove the eggs with a spoon into a prepared bowl full of cold, icy water. Let sit in the cold icy bath for about 10 minutes. Then rinse them off under fresh cold water.

You can store the perfect hard boiled eggs in the fridge for a few days or make one of our favorite egg recipes.

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Our Favorite Perfect Hard Boiled Egg Recipes

Now that you know how to make perfect hard boiled eggs, here’s some great recipes to use them in:

Shiitake, Hard Boiled Egg and Arugula Salad

Sweet Relish Egg Salad

Mayo-Free Egg Salad

Classic (CLEAN!) Potato Salad