Although an egg only has 75 calories, it contains 7 grams of high-quality protein, 5 grams of fat, 1.6 grams of saturated fat, iron, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids. The egg contains disease-fighting nutrients such as lutein and zeaxanthin. Interestingly, eggs are the easiest to prepare. This can be the best quick meal option for people who are on the go or short of time for meal preparation.
However, the most common issue with boiling eggs is that they are easily overcooked, resulting in a dark green color around the yolk and a slightly sulphuric taste, and if you’ve ever made a large batch of them, you know the mechanics are a pain in the neck. Finding a large pot, bringing water to a boil, carefully placing the eggs to form a solid, and then waiting for them to cook is just one step too far.
There are several methods that you can follow to make perfect and quick hard-boiled eggs that are easy to peel and have a creamy yellow yolk every time.
1. The Quickest Method
This method is a time saver which perfectly goes when you are on the go and need to save a lot of cooking time. You’ll be needing salt and a saucepan. Simply follow the steps below:
- Remove the egg from the refrigerator and place it in a saucepan with enough water to completely cover it.
- To the water, add about 1/2 teaspoon of salt. It will hasten the boiling of the water.
- Over medium-high heat, bring the water to a boil then turn off the stove.
- Allow the eggs to soak in hot water for at least 5 minutes. If you want a harder egg yolk, soak it in water for up to 10 minutes.
- Take the egg out of the water and enjoy it. If you don’t want to eat the egg right away, keep it chilled in an airtight container.
2. The Easiest Method
Can you cook a hard-boiled egg without water? The answer is a strong Yes! You may find this unbelievable, but Reader’s Digest (rd.com) shared this simple trick. Here are a few steps:
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Arrange your room temperature eggs in a cupcake pan, filling each hole with one egg. A silicone muffin tray can be a good option.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Take it out with a slotted spoon and set it to cool in an ice bath.
- Drain and shell your egg to enjoy.
3. Air-Fryer Method
- Pre-heat the air-fryer to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Arrange the eggs on the container provided in your air-fryer or use a grilling rack.
- Cook for 12-17 minutes. This varies due to air-fryer wattage.
- Remove from the fryer and set in an ice-water bath.
- Drain and peel.
4. Instant Pot Method
- 1 cup COLD water in the inner pot of the pressure cooker, liquid is always needed for the pressure cooker to be able to reach pressure.
- Place eggs in the egg rack or carefully on top of the rack that came with the Instant Pot.
- Close the pressure cooker.
- After 5 minutes, use a wooden spoon or kitchen towel to knock the vent knob to the vent position to release any remaining pressure in the Instant Pot.
- Remove the eggs from the pressure cooker with care and place them in an ice bath.
- After 5 minutes in an ice bath, remove the eggs from the ice bath.
- Remove the shells and enjoy your perfect hard-boiled eggs.
5. The Usual Method
Cover the eggs in a saucepan with water:
Place a single layer of cold, large eggs from the refrigerator in a saucepot. Fill with cold water about a quarter of the way. Place the eggs in the bottom of the saucepan in a single layer. Add more water until the eggs are submerged by at least an inch or two. The more eggs you have in the pan, the more water you should have over them. Six eggs should be covered by at least an inch, seven to twelve eggs by two inches.
Add Vinegar and Salt:
If an egg cracks while cooking, adding a teaspoon of vinegar to the water may help keep the egg whites from running out. Some people believe that adding 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the water helps prevent cracking and hasten the boiling of the water. It also makes peeling the eggs easier.
Bring to a rolling boil:
Turn the heat to high and leave the pan uncovered to prevent the egg from cracking, heat it over high until the water comes to a rolling boil.
Remove from the heat, cover with a lid, and set aside:
After 10-12 minutes, depending on how cooked you like your hard-boiled eggs, they should be perfectly cooked. However, depending on your altitude, the shape of the pan, the size of the eggs, and the water-to-egg ratio, it may take a few minutes longer.
If you like your eggs soft, you can cook them for a few minutes less. Stick with it once you’ve found a time that works for you based on your preferences, the types of eggs you buy, your pots, stove, and cooking environment. This method also makes it very difficult to overcook eggs. You can leave the eggs covered for up to 15-18 minutes without them overcooking.
And if you’re cooking a large batch of eggs, check for doneness after 10 minutes by removing one with a spoon, running it under cold water, and cutting it open. If it’s not done enough for you, cook the other eggs for another minute or two.
Strain and run under cold water:
Run cold water over the eggs until they are cool to the touch after straining the hot water from the pan. This will prevent the eggs from overcooking and make them easier to peel. Alternatively, if you’re cooking a large batch of eggs, transfer them to a large bowl of ice water with a slotted spoon. Allow them to sit for a few minutes, or until completely cool.
Peel or store for later:
Hard-boiled eggs are easiest to peel when they are wet. Unpeeled hard-boiled eggs are best stored in a covered container in the refrigerator and must be consumed within five days while peeled eggs must be eaten within a day or two. Eggs can emit odors in the fridge, which is why they should be covered.
In summary, there are numerous ways to quickly cook a hard-boiled egg. All you need to do is familiarize these and choose what suits you best. Undeniably eggs are super healthy food especially when you serve them with vegetables and spices. In fact, there are a bunch of ideas for quick and easy appetizers that use this superfood. Hard-boiled egg filled with tomato and parmesan, hard-boiled egg Roquefort and scallion dip, and deviled eggs are just a few.