In the South, we love our deviled eggs. They always show up on our holiday menus but sometimes, they are less than delicious. If you are tired of unpredictable boiled eggs and that ugly green band around the outside of the egg yolk, here’s how to get perfect hard-boiled eggs every time. No more rubber eggs!
These eggs are so delicate and delicious, all you need is a little salt and pepper after you peel them.
HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT HARD BOILED EGG
Use a stainless steel pot- don’t use a non-stick pan.
Layer the eggs in the pan leaving some room between them. Cover with tepid/room temperature water by one inch. Bring the eggs to a low boil, frequently giving them a gentle stir to move them about a bit. This motion will help keep the yolk centered and result in a more even egg white. You know how it seems one side is thicker than the other? The stirring will help prevent that.
The cooking time will depend on the size of the egg.
Medium eggs = 4 minutes
Large eggs = 5 minutes
Extra-large eggs = 6 minutes
Once the eggs reach a low boil, immediately set a timer and reduce the heat to medium high.
When the timer goes off, turn the heat off and allow the eggs to stand for the same amount of time you boiled them for—4, 5, or 6 minutes —stirring occasionally.
Once the second timer goes off, place the pot in the sink and run cold water over the eggs to cool them just enough to handle them. Pop each egg on the larger side-where the air pocket is. Put them back into the water. Immediately peel the eggs while they are warm. You can store them in the fridge until you are ready to use them but they are harder to peel when they are cold.
The tip is to make sure to pierce the membrane when you peel-it makes the whole process easier. If the membrane is tough, I will usually pinch it to pierce it. The shell peels much easier that way.
You can also lightly roll the egg on the counter with your hand and the shell should crack and peel away easily. Some people also use a teaspoon- pushing the spoon between the egg and the membrane and gently rolling the spoon to pull the shell off.
Want a recipe to go with those perfectly hard-boiled eggs? Try my deviled egg recipe or my favorite way to serve them by making a deviled egg bar so guests can design and create their own flavors.