How Long Do You Cook Hard-Boiled Eggs (And Why)?

Exact answer: 9 mins

Boiled eggs are a cheap and tasty way to get high-quality protein as well as a range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants into your diet Eggs are as dynamic as they are nutritious, and many home cooks deem understanding how to boil them to be a necessary skill. If either you prefer a hard-boil or a soft, gloopy yolk, the key to mastering the art of egg boiling is timing. 

When it arrives at boiling eggs, the ideal cooking time is determined mainly by your tastes and preferences and the purpose for which you intend to use them. A cooked properly, hard-boiled egg, for example, is best suited as an on-the-go snack or in egg salad. A boiled egg with a smooth, jammy yolk, on the other hand, is an ideal way to top a piece of toast, crispy salad, or bucket of freshly made ramen.

How Long How Long Do You Cook Hard-Boiled Eggs? 

Regardless of your desired outcome, begin by filling a large pot with enough water to completely cover the eggs. There is no limit to the number of eggs that can be boiled at the same time, as long as each one is completely submerged in water while cooking.

Bring the water to a full boil, then lower the temperature to keep it just simmering. Place your eggs carefully into the water and turn up the heat to bring the water back to a slow, gentle simmer.

Consider making sure the water doesn’t rise to the surface too much, as this will reduce the likelihood of the shells cracking.

To determine how long to boil your eggs, use the following formula:

Please keep in mind that these cooking times are for standard, large eggs. Smaller ones will cook faster, while larger ones will require more time.

Transfer the eggs to an ice bath immediately after cooking to stop the cooking process. Although an overcooked egg is not harmful to consume, it may have an unappealing rubbery and tough texture.

Why Does It Take This Long to Cook Hard Boiled Eggs? 

Water boils at a lower temperature at higher altitudes than it does at sea level due to changes in atmospheric pressure. This implies that boiling eggs at different altitudes may necessitate a longer cooking time.

A basic rule of thumb is that if you reside at or above 3,000 feet (915 meters), raise the cooking process by about 1 minute for each additional 1,000 feet (305 meters) in elevation.

If you reside at an altitude of 5,000 feet (1,525 meters) and really want to make a soft-boiled egg, boost the boiling time from 7 to 9 minutes.

Large eggs should be boiled for about 7 minutes for a soft yolk. Cook them for up to 13 minutes for a traditional hard-boil. Keep in mind that smaller eggs cook faster and that at higher altitudes, due to changes in atmospheric pressure, you may have to cook for longer.

If boiling isn’t your favored way of cooking, you can achieve the same result by baking, steaming, or pressure cooking whole eggs.

Conclusion 

A perfectly cooked egg is essential in every recipe. When eggs are cooked for an extended period of time, they can become tough and spongy, and they simply do not taste great. Your egg will still be fine to consume for the most part, but some specialists advise against eating an overcooked egg with a green layer around the yolk. Cover the eggs with 1 inch of cold water in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, then cover and turn off the heat. Cook the eggs, covered, for 9 to 12 minutes, depending on the recipe. Set an egg on the counter and give it a quick spin if you’re wondering how to tell if it’s hard-boiled. Tap your finger on it once it starts spinning to stop it. Cooked eggs spin easily and quickly and come to a stop quickly.

References 

1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2008.00776.x
2. http://acta.bibl.u-szeged.hu/11799/1/engineering_2009_083-089.pdf