How To Steam Eggs To Hard
The process couldn’t be simpler. Here’s all you do:
1. Put 1 inch of water in the bottom of a pot that either has a steamer insert or can accommodate a steamer basket and has a lid.
2. Place your eggs in the insert on the counter while bringing the water in the pot to a boil, then carefully lower the eggs into the pot, being sure that the eggs are not at all touching the water.
3. Cover and cook for 12 minutes for a perfect hard-boiled egg.
4. After 12 minutes, remove the insert or basket and immediately transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Let cool completely in the ice water, at least 15-30 minutes.
You should now be able to either store in their shells in the fridge, or peel for use. I tap all over to crack shell and then peel under running cold water, and they slip right out of their peel. PRO TIP: If you want to be sure to have perfect, easy to peel eggs for things like deviled eggs, buy your eggs a week before you want to use them, as fresher eggs are harder to peel than slightly older ones.
And bid boiling good-bye!
Don’t Just Use Old Eggs
Everyone says “just put some aside for a few weeks, then hard boil them and they’ll peel fine”.
Well, to me, that defeats the purpose of raising chickens for the fresh eggs if you’re just going to let them sit around and get old.
In addition to just not tasting as fresh, an old egg won’t be the perfect oval shape, since air seeps in through the shell as the egg ages. So an older egg will have that indentation or dip at one end when you hard boil it.
You really want a perfect egg-shape when you’re making either hard boiled or deviled eggs.
So I was determined to figure out how to get easy-to-peel farm fresh eggs.
How Long To Steam Hard Boiled Eggs
Once your pot is at full steam the eggs typically take about 15 minutes to steam to hard boiled. Then if you transfer them to an ice bath for 5 minutes, you’ll have no trouble peeling. This steaming time is for standard large eggs so keep that in mind the steaming time will vary for extra large or smaller eggs. Add a minute for extra large eggs and take off a minute for smaller eggs.
We’d love to hear how these peel for you using different types of eggs, so please share your comments with us. Happy Peeling!
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More Hard Boiled Eggs Recipes
There are so many egg dishes in the world, you can take a look at my entire collection of Left Over Hard-Boiled Egg Recipes for easy dish ideas.
Here are a few of my all-time favorites, like a Classic Original Cobb Salad. This great recipe is the original from The Brown Derby in Los Angeles California. A simple dish that is now iconic and as the story goes was created late one night for a hungry customer.
For picnics, cookouts, and family gatherings make this Seven Layer Salad. It’s an easy recipe that serves a crowd. Put this great dish together the night before your party!
Make some Jalapeno Pickled Eggs or Chili Pepper Pickled Eggs. These are like the ones at old-fashioned delis. The peppers add extra flavor to both of these recipes.
- Recipes To Make With Hard Boiled Eggs
CRAVING MORE?
Do All Eggs Need To Be Boiled

The best way to boil an egg is to crack it in a pan, and immerse it in a large amount of cold water. This will ensure that it is completely immersed. You dont need to do this with all eggs. If you are boiling eggs for breakfast, you can skip this step. You also dont need to boil eggs that are shell eggs. Once the egg is cracked, remove it from the pan immediately, and immerse it in a large amount of cold water. This will help to get rid of the shell. If the egg is still in the shell, remove it and soak it in cold water for a few minutes. Then, place the shell in the fridge for a while. After it cools down, you can carefully remove the shell.
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What Happens If You Eat Boiled Eggs Everyday
But another study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that eating two hard-boiled eggs daily increased the formation of trimethylamine N-oxide , a chemical linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Egg yolks contain lecithin, an essential fat that contributes to TMAO formation.
What Are Steamed Eggs
Steamed eggs have been cooked inside their shells by placing them in a steamer basket suspended over a boiling water bath.
The egg is fully cooked when the white is completely firm.
It may be desirable for the yolk to be a soft creamy liquid or completely firm, depending on what the cooked eggs will be used for.
The firmness of the yolk is determined by the cooking time.
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How Long Should I Boil 4 Eggs
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.
Various Methods For Hard Boiling Eggs
I’m pretty sure I tried every method out there – with mixed results. I tried adding salt to the water, I tried adding vinegar to the water. I tried adding baking soda to the water. Nothing seemed to make much of a difference.
I tried poking a tiny hole in the eggshell with a pin. That was kind of a pain in the neck and again, didn’t seem to help.
I tried using eggs straight from the fridge, I tried using room temperature eggs. I tried adding the eggs to cold water, and waiting until the water was boiling. And still, my fresh eggs wouldn’t peel right.
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How Long To Boil Eggs
The easy answer boil large eggs for about 12 minutes to make hard boiled eggs.
The long answer The amount of time needed to hard boil an egg can vary depending on several factors including, but not limited to:
- The size of the egg
- The type of cookware and stove top used
- The starting temperature of the egg
- The boiling method used
Im going to provide a general guide below, but youll need to experiment a little to find the exact time needed to make perfect hard boiled eggs using your equipment, your eggs, and at your altitude.
The image above shows my results after 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 minutes.
- 6 minutes: nice jammy yolk
- 8 minutes: yolk is half set, half jammy
- 10 minutes: mostly set with a bit of wetness in the center of the yolk
- 12 minutes: completely solid yolk
- 14 minutes: solid yolk, not yet overcooked to the point of a green yolk
How To Peel Eggs
After the steamed hard boiled eggs sit in the ice water, peel the ones you want to eat immediately. Here are a few tips on how to peel eggs:
- Gently tap the larger end of the egg so that the shell crushes. The bottom end of the egg has an air bubble, which makes it easier to crush the shell. Then start to peel off the shell. Continue peeling the shell until all the pieces are removed.
- Keep the eggs you dont want to eat unpeeled and store refrigerated. You can store leftover unpeeled eggs in the fridge for up to 1 week. Keeping the peel on keeps them fresher longer.
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Can You Cook Potato In A Rice Cooker
If yes, then it is definitely a good idea. A rice cooker is perfect for making easy and delicious meals that are all-in-one.
Plus, they are affordable, so you can try out this cooking method without spending a fortune. Heres how to cook potato in a rice cooker:
1) Choose the right one There are many different types of rice cookers on the market. Make sure to choose one that has an oven or stove top compatibility. This way, you wont have to worry about the food sticking to the sides or not cooking evenly. 2) Add water Once you have selected your Cooker, add enough water to cover the potatoes by at least two-thirds of their total weight.
How Do You Steam Eggs Without A Steamer

If youre looking toSteam eggs without a steamer, then you may want to consider using an electric steamer. Electric steamers can be used for a variety of different tasks, such as Steam eggs without a steamer.
Some electric steamers are more efficient than others and can be less expensive than traditional steamers. If youre not sure which electric steamer is right for you, the best way to find out is to read our reviews and compare the models.
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Can You Eat 2 Week Old Hard
Kitchen Fact: Hard-boiled eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week. Hard-boiled eggs, peeled or unpeeled, are still safe to eat up to one week after they were cooked. Keep them stored in the refrigerator, and you should consider writing the boiling date on each egg to know if theyre still good!
How To Make Hard Boiled Eggs
- boiling in water
- steaming in a pot
- pressure cooker
There are plenty of ways to make hard boiled eggs and its not just by placing them in a pot of water and boiling away. If you want easy to peel hard boiled eggs we love a few other methods, but steaming hard boiled eggs is by far our favorite. We have also had great results making hard boiled eggs in the oven recently. We love making perfect hard boiled eggs everytime.
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How Do You Steam Eggs So They Peel Easy
How to steam eggs so they peel easily is a question that people have been asking for years. The answer is not as difficult as it seems, and it can be done with a little effort. Here are four tips on how to do it:
1) Place the eggs in a large pot or Dutch oven and cover them with water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and let the eggs simmer for about 10 minutes.
2) After 10 minutes, remove the eggs from the pot and place them in cold water. Let them sit for 3-5 minutes before peeled.
3) After 3-5 minutes, use a sharp knife to slice through the center of each eggshell. Be careful not to cut through too much of the white. Be sure to remove all of the skin before eating!
How To Boil Eggs
Boiling eggs is an essential skill for a kitchen. If youre not sure how to boil an egg, then this guide will teach you. Put the egg in a pan and fill with cold water. Bring the water to a boil and boil the egg for about 10 minutes. To keep the egg from cracking, use a clean towel or a dishcloth to carefully remove it from the pan. Dont use a spoon, as it will crack the shell. Serve your hard boiled egg with a little salt and pepper.
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How To Steam Hard Boiled Eggs
The steaming time will vary depending on the size of your eggs, how cold your eggs are to begin with, the altitude of your location, how vigorous the water is boiling, if your eggs are in a single layer or are stacked, and how soft or firm you like your hard cooked eggs. So you may need to experiment to find the right timing for your situation.
A steamer basket is convenient, but not necessary.
And Last: Arent Eggs Bad For Me Due To High Cholesterol In The Yolks
Thankfully, no. At one time people were leery of eating eggs because of the cholesterol in egg yolks. Recently, researchers have found that eggs actually raise the good cholesterol your body needs, and the Federal dietary guidelines were changed to reflect that. Now they no longer warn against dietary cholesterol that suggested folks limit the number of eggs they consume. Translation: Bring on the egg salad!
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The Secret Of How To Peel Fresh Hard
EggsRecipesSavoryThere’s a secret to perfectly peeled farm fresh eggs which are notoriously difficult to remove from their shells. Never boil your eggs again! Using my tips, you’ll find that there’s some “eggy magic” that happens, which makes removing the shells so easy ensuring that your eggs will peel perfectly. Every. Single. Time.
I love hard-boiled eggs. I like to keep a container of them in the fridge to grab throughout the day when I get hungry for a quick, nutritious – and delicious – snack or to make up a batch of deviled eggs.
The one downside to farm fresh eggs is how hard they are to peel.
How Do I Avoid That Hideous Green Ring In My Hard

Ah, the gruesome green ring that circles the yolk. That occurs due to a reaction between the sulfur in the egg white and the iron in the yolk when youve cooked your eggs too long or at too high a temperature. The great thing about steaming eggs is its gentler than furiously boiling them. An immediate plunge in ice water afterward also helps stave off the green.
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How To Steam A Hard Boiled Egg
Hard boiled eggs are a quick and easy breakfast staple. Theyre a great way to start the day, but sometimes, they can be difficult to peel. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can follow to make it easier to peel the shell of an egg. Heres how to steam a hard boiled egg.
Why Steaming Eggs Works Vs Boiled
We want to avoid overcooked yolks, tough rubbery whites, and ripped-up, torn eggs. The best way to cook hard-cooked eggs is to steam them in a pot as we avoid all those things.
Start the eggs in hot water: By starting the eggs steaming on a rack over boiling water makes the egg white protein fuse and stick together, preventing them from clinging onto the shell membrane. This is why the egg shell slips right off!
Less overall cooking time: Since you are steaming, you don’t need as much water in a large pot of water for boiling eggs. And the water for steaming is only a couple inches and it’s just enough water to come up under the steamer rack and boils in minutes saving time.
Steam, dont boil: Steaming doesnt lower the temperature of the water as the eggs rest on the rack and begin to cook, and they steam evenly all at the same time.
Peel immediately after steaming: Fill a large bowl with ice water. Chill the eggs for 15 minutes in the icy cold water. This shock assists to get the shell ready to come loose. Gently tap each one on a board, till it cracks, and then comes right off. All your eggs will peel in just a couple minutes.
Peeling eggs fast: The best part of this cooking process is you can peel a great number of eggs very fast, each will have a smooth surface.
Why do hard-boiled eggs get a green ring?
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Tips For Peeling Hard Boiled Eggs
The internet is full of tips for making hard boiled eggs easy to peel. But I will be honest, Ive tried them all and I havent found consistent results with any method. Sometimes even eggs within the same batch of hard boiled eggs will vary from impossible to peel to peeling effortlessly. That being said, Im going to list all of the tips and tricks Ive heard, if case you want to try them to see if any of them bring you success.
- Old eggs peel easier than fresh eggs
- Add cold eggs to boiling water instead of bringing them to a boil together
- Tap the egg on a solid surface, then gently roll to crack the shell on all sides before peeling
- Peel eggs under running water
- After removing part of the shell, slide a spoon between the shell and egg white to separate them
- Place the eggs in a covered container and gently shake to crack the shells until they fall off
- Add baking soda to the water
Have you had success with any of these methods? Share which one works best for you in the comments below.
Benefits Of Steaming Eggs
Why steam-cook eggs rather than boil traditionally? We have a couple reasons:
- Easier peeling. Honestly, this is the only reason we need. Many suggest this works because you’re adding eggs directly to the steaming hot temperature instead of putting them in a pan with cold water that slowly comes to a boil. When the steam penetrates the shell to cook the egg, it causes the whites to quickly pull away from the inner membrane that’s so hard to peel. When you start by submerging eggs in cold water, that gives the membrane time to adhere to the egg.
- Test Kitchen Tip: It also helps to use eggs that are 7 to 10 days old. As eggs age, the air pocket in the shell grows, making it easier to remove the shell after “boiling.” To know how old your eggs are, look at the packing date. The packing date of eggs is stamped on the carton. It’s a three-digit code near the sell-by date where each day of the year is numbered 001-365. So, 001 is January first, 166 is June 15th, and 365 is December 31st.
Give it a try and see if steamed eggs become your favorite way, too, to hard-cook eggs. Then add them to fun sandwich recipes, interesting salads, potato salad, and whatever else you can dream up.
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