Eggs are IN! According to the United States Department of Agriculture, each American eats almost 280 eggs over the course of a year – more than 93 billion total! What’s the ap-peel? (See what I did there?) It’s not hard(boiled) to figure out: eggs are versatile, still relatively low-cost and high in nutritional value. What’s not to love?

While eggs can be prepared and enjoyed in countless ways, the familiar hard-boiled egg is one of the most popular, eaten right out of the shell or as a ingredient in tasty dishes. Is there a secret to making the perfect hard-boiled egg? Several, actually – and a surprising number of methods for getting there. So let’s crack the hard-boiled egg code!

Egg-spert Tips: How to Cook Hard-Boiled Eggs

Hard Boil Eggs the Old-Fashioned Way

Boiled is in the name of these eggs, and it’s the method most familiar to most of us. Here’s a quick rundown of the basic steps:

1. Place the eggs in a single layer in a pot and cover them with cold water up to an inch above the eggs.
2. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat, then cover and remove from heat. Let the eggs continue to cook in the pan for about 10-12 minutes.
3. Transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water for 5-10 minutes.
4. Peel and enjoy!

Hard Boil Eggs with Steam

Some find that steaming eggs instead of boiling them makes them creamier and easier to peel. If you’d like to try that method:

1. Add about an inch of water to a pot with a steamer basket or insert and bring the water to a boil over high heat.
2. Carefully place room temperature eggs into the steamer basket or insert, avoiding crowding them to prevent cracking.
3. Cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to medium.
4. Allow the eggs to steam for 10-12 minutes, based on the size of the eggs and how well done you prefer them. (This may require a little experimentation.)
5. Remove the eggs to a bowl of ice water as with the boiling method above.

Hard Boil Eggs in a Multi-Cooker

You can also make hard-boiled eggs in your automatic pressure cooker:

1. Add 1 cup of water to the pressure cooker.
2. Place a trivet on the bottom and arrange the eggs on top of the trivet.
3. Close the lid and set the vent to “sealing.”
4. Cook at high pressure for 5 minutes.
5. Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then use a quick release.
6. Open the lid and transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water using tongs; let stand 5 minutes.

Hard Boil Eggs in the Oven

While it takes a little longer, your oven is a good choice when you need to make a lot of hard-boiled eggs:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place eggs in a muffin tin or lay them directly on the racks. Cook for 30 minutes.
2. Remove eggs from the oven and place in ice water to stop the cooking process.

Hard Boil Eggs on the Grill

Summertime is grilling season, and you can even use that method to cook up your hard-boiled eggs for the potato salad:

1. Heat the grill to about 350°F.
2. Place room temperature eggs directly on the grill and close the lid.
3. Allow to cook for 15 minutes.
4. Remove from the grill and place in ice water for 10 minutes.

More Egg-celent Tips for Making Hard-Boiled Eggs

Do We Like Green Eggs? No, Ma’am!

Hard-boiled egg yolks can turn green due to a chemical process that occurs between the egg white and yolk during cooking. It’s harmless, but apart from Dr Seuss, nobody loves green eggs, with or without ham. To help prevent the gross greenies, avoid letting eggs boil too long, and immediately plunge them into ice water when you want them to stop cooking.

Perfecting the Peel: How to Peel Hard-boiled eggs?

Everybody loves a smooth, glossy, peeled hard-boiled eggs. Eggs with chunks out of the whites with bits of yolk poking out? Nobody wants to see THAT on a deviled egg tray. Here are some ways to peel hard-boiled eggs that might make the job easier:

• Some suggest adding a bit of vinegar or baking soda to the water the eggs are boiled in.
• Use eggs that are slightly less fresh.
• Tap the egg gently on a hard surface, such as a countertop, then roll it gently to crack the shell all over.
• Start peeling from the larger end of the egg where the air pocket is located.
• Peel the shell off under running water.

How to store hard-boiled eggs?

Hard-boiled eggs keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. Allow them to cool completely before refrigerating to avoid bacterial growth. They are best stored in their shells in a sealed container or plastic bag to keep from absorbing other food odors. While freezing whole hard-boiled eggs isn’t recommended (the whites become rubbery), hard-boiled egg yolks can be frozen for future use in recipes.

Eggs-traordinary Hard-Boiled Egg Recipes

Try these easy, delicious ways to enjoy hard-boiled eggs: