Here’s a commonly asked cooking question: How do you know when boiled eggs are done?
For hard-boiled eggs, we say 10-12 minutes. But the answer really depends on the style of boiled egg you prefer, whether it’s a completely-cooked yolk or soft, creamy center.
The truth is, when it comes to cooking a boiled egg, timing is everything. And if you’re planning to make deviled eggs for a cookout, egg salad, or if you’re just in need of a quick and easy protein snack — you need to know exactly how long to boil eggs. We can help! This handy guide shows you a foolproof method for how to tell if eggs are boiled, no matter which type you prefer.
How to Make a Perfect Hard Boiled Egg
Stick to the formula below for a perfect hard boiled egg, every single time:
Step 1: Place a single layer of raw eggs in the bottom of a medium or large saucepan. Fill the pan with water to about 2 inches over the eggs.
Step 2: Place the pan on high heat. Bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat. Cover, and let the eggs stand for 12 minutes.
Step 3: Run the eggs under cold water or place in an ice bath to cool. Peel the hard-boiled eggs, and enjoy.
Extra Tips
- Don’t just throw cold eggs into boiling water! The sudden change of temperature can lead to “shocked,” or unevenly cooked, eggs or even worse—cracked, damaged eggs. Instead, heat the eggs gently using the water. This allows for a gradual, even cook that equals the perfect hard-boiled egg.
- You’ll know that your egg is perfectly cooked if it has an opaque, yellow center. The yolk of an overcooked egg, on the other hand, will turn a greenish-gray color.
How Long to Boil Eggs (Soft, Firm, or Hard)
Soft-boiled egg (slightly runny center)
Let the eggs sit in the water after it comes to a boil for 4 to 5 minutes. It's imperative with soft-boiled eggs that you don't let them continue to cook after removing them from the water. To avoid this, prepare an ice bath and dunk the eggs immediately after taking them out of the boiling water. Remove them from the ice bath quickly if you want to serve the eggs still warm overtop toast or a salad.
Slightly firmer yolk (custard-like texture)
Leave the eggs in the water for 6 minutes. Same as with soft-boiled eggs, make sure to dunk them in an ice bath as soon as you remove them from the boiling water.
Firm yolk (still a bit creamy with some liquid)
Leave the eggs in the water for 10 minutes. If peeling and eating right away, you can forego the ice bath. Otherwise, make sure to chill the egg to prevent overcooking.
Completely hard-boiled egg (for deviled eggs or egg salad)
Leave the eggs in the water for 12 minutes. If you're getting the dreaded green ring, make sure your timing is exact, but also consider the water you're using. If your tap water has higher levels of iron, that could be affecting the outcome. In that case, use filtered water to boil your eggs. Also: Use the ice bath if you're not peeling and eating the eggs immediately.
How long do hard-boiled eggs last in the refrigerator? You can safely refrigerate the eggs in their shells for one to 1½ weeks.
Related:
FAQs
When the water is almost boiling, gently stir the egg, and boil it for between 3 to 8 minutes, depending on the softness or hardness of egg you require.
How long is enough to boil eggs? ›
Start the timer – 6 minutes for runny yolks, 8 minutes for soft boiled, 10 minutes for classic hard boiled, 15 minutes for unpleasant rubbery whites and powdery dry yolks. Transfer into a large bowl or sink of cold water. Peel under water starting from the base (it's easier).
What is the perfect boiling time for an egg? ›
Put the pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Once the water is at a rolling boil, turn off the heat and cover the pot with the lid. Allow the eggs to sit in the hot water for the following times according to the desired doneness: 3 minutes for SOFT boiled; 6 minutes for MEDIUM boiled; 12 minutes for HARD boiled.
Is 20 minutes too long to boil eggs? ›
For one to four eggs, bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and turn the heat down to its lowest setting for 12-14 minutes. For five to eight eggs, cook for 15 to 18 minutes. For nine to one dozen eggs, cook for 20 minutes. After cooking, transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water.
How long to boil eggs for safety? ›
Add enough cold tap water to come at least 1-inch above the eggs. Cover the pan and quickly bring the water just to boiling. Turn off the heat and let the eggs stand, covered, 12 minutes for medium-size eggs, 15 minutes for large eggs and 18 minutes for extra-large eggs.
How to tell if an egg is fully boiled? ›
Spin the egg.
A raw egg will wobble and spin slowly, because it's filled with liquid, while a boiled egg will spin very quickly and very easily. Try this now by getting out a raw egg and trying to spin it like a top, on the flat side of the shell.
Is it OK to boil eggs for 30 minutes? ›
Overcooked eggs will result in a very hard yolk and sometimes a green ring around the yolk. They will also have a slightly unpleasant sulfur smell after sitting in the fridge. I recommend cooking them for no longer than 12 minutes and transferring them to a large bowl of ice water as soon as they are done cooking.
Is it OK to boil eggs for 10 minutes? ›
A soft boiled egg is boiled for a shorter amount of time, typically 4-6 minutes, so that the yolk remains runny while the white is only partially set. A hard boiled egg is boiled for a longer amount of time, typically 10-12 minutes, so that both the yolk and white are fully cooked and solid.
How do you boil eggs so they peel easily? ›
Instructions
- Place eggs in a medium pot and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, then cover the pot and turn off the heat. ...
- Transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water and chill for 14 minutes. This makes the eggs easier to peel.
Bring water to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to moderately high and cook eggs at a gentle boil, uncovered, 10 minutes. Pour off hot water. If using eggs right away, shake pan gently so eggs bump into one another (to crack shells).
The best way to salvage an under-boiled egg is to get it back into hot water. You can either reboil them directly on the stove, or put them in a bowl that can handle boiling water and pour hot water over the eggs. Note: Do not cook boiled or partially boiled eggs in the microwave; this will cause them to explode.
What happens if you boil a bad egg? ›
An old egg isn't necessarily unsafe to eat, but it might not taste as good as a fresh egg. A rotten egg is one contaminated by common bacteria; it'll give off a putrid, sulfurous smell. In most cases, consuming a rotten egg will cause mild digestive issues, at most, compounded by a few days of cramping.
What is the maximum time to boil an egg? ›
The bottom line
For a soft yolk, boil large eggs for about 7 minutes. For a classic hard-boil, cook them for up to 13 minutes. Keep in mind that smaller eggs cook faster and that you may need to cook for longer at higher altitudes due to changes in atmospheric pressure.
Can you eat 2 week old hard-boiled eggs? ›
The FDA recommends consuming hard-boiled eggs within a week, and two weeks is well past that deadline. Since spoiled hard-boiled eggs can make you sick, it's best to be safe and toss out any leftover hard-boiled eggs that have been in the fridge for more than one week.
What is the time limit on boiled eggs? ›
Hard cooked eggs can be stored in the refrigerator up to seven days, either left in their shells or peeled. Make sure eggs are refrigerated within two hours after cooking, and don't leave refrigerated cooked eggs out at room temperature for more than two hours.
Is 10 minutes long enough to hard boil an egg? ›
A soft boiled egg is boiled for a shorter amount of time, typically 4-6 minutes, so that the yolk remains runny while the white is only partially set. A hard boiled egg is boiled for a longer amount of time, typically 10-12 minutes, so that both the yolk and white are fully cooked and solid.
What's the longest you can boil an egg? ›
If you boil an egg for five or 10 minutes, it becomes firm and cooked. If you boil it for hours, it becomes rubbery and overcooked.
Can you boil eggs too long? ›
“When an egg is cooked for too long and/or at too high a temperature, the sulfur in the egg white combines with the iron in the yolk and creates ferrous sulfide, which has a green tint,” she explains. Unfortunately, this chemical reaction—which scientists call denaturation—isn't limited to hard-boiled eggs.
How long should boil eggs last? ›
According to the Food and Drug Administration, you can keep hard-cooked eggs in the refrigerator for up to seven days after they have been cooked. 1 And it doesn't matter whether the eggs are already peeled or still in the shell. Either way, they will last for a week.
