How to Boil Eggs

Yumna Jawad

Updated Apr 24, 2026

5 from 105 votes

Simple method for how to boil eggs with exact timing for soft, medium, and hard. Plus the ice bath step that makes them actually easy to peel.

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Prep Time 1 minute
Servings 1 serving
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Hard boiled eggs on a plate after cutting in half at varying cook temps.
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How I Make hard boiled eggs!

Boiled eggs are probably the thing I make most often during the week. I almost always have hard-boiled eggs ready to eat in the fridge. The part that actually matters when learning how to boil eggs is the cooking time. Soft, medium, and hard-boiled eggs can all be cooked in the same pot of boiling water; they just get pulled out at different times.

The other thing that makes a real difference is using an ice bath to rapid cool the eggs. It’s the part most people skip when they’re figuring out how to boil eggs. It makes “perfect” boiled eggs, and they’re a lot easier to peel. (See my tips on how to peel boiled eggs) Skip it, and I end up fighting the shell. I use hard-boiled eggs in salads and for meal prep, soft-boiled on grain bowls or toast, and medium is what I almost always default to. The yolk is still a little creamy in the middle and barely set, which I like.

Happy Cooking!
– Yumna

How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs

Step 1: Place the eggs in a saucepan and pour enough cold water over the eggs to completely submerge them.
Eggs in pot after boiling.
Step 2: In the uncovered pan bring the water to a rolling boil. Take the pan off the heat and cover. Allow the eggs to cook in the covered pan to the desired doneness. See specific times below in the FAQ box.
Eggs in ice bath.
Step 3: While the eggs are cooking, prepare a bowl with ice and water. When the eggs reach the desired cooking time, transfer the cooked eggs with a slotted spoon to the ice water to cool completely before peeling.
Hand tapping egg on cutting board.
Step 4: Tap the completely cooled egg against a flat surface.
Hand rolling egg on cutting board.
Step 5: Roll the egg to crack all over.
Peeling egg shell from egg.
Step 6: Peel the shell off. Rinse the egg under cold water if any tiny pieces of shell remain.
Three halves of boiled eggs laid out.

How to Boil Eggs Recipe

Author: Yumna Jawad
5 from 105 votes
Learn how to boil eggs perfectly every time with this easy tutorial. Covers soft, medium, and hard-boiled timing and the ice bath trick for easy peeling.
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Prep Time1 minute
Cook Time4 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Servings1 serving

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Ingredients
  

  • 2 eggs or more

Instructions

  • Place the eggs in a saucepan. Pour enough cool water over the eggs until fully submerged.
  • Bring the water to a rolling boil uncovered. Turn off the heat, cover the pan and allow the eggs to cook according to the desired doneness: 4 minutes for SOFT boiled; 6 minutes for MEDIUM boiled; 12 minutes for HARD boiled.
  • Prepare a bowl with ice and water. When the eggs reach the desired cooking time, transfer the cooked eggs with a slotted spoon to the ice water to cool completely before peeling.
  • Tap the eggs against a flat surface, roll and then peel the shell. Rinse the eggs under cold water if you need to remove any leftover pieces of the shell.

Equipment

Notes

My Top Tip: Use eggs that have been in the fridge for at least a week. Very fresh eggs are harder to peel, no matter what you do. The ones that have been sitting in your fridge for several days will release the shell much more cleanly.
Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They will last about 3 days in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 126kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 327mg, Sodium: 125mg, Potassium: 121mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 475IU, Calcium: 49mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Did You Make This Recipe?
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Tutorial Tips

  1. Don’t overcrowd the eggs in the pot. They should fit comfortable in the pot so they can move around freely as the water boils. I usually keep them at a single layer.
  2. Start peeling at the large end. For an easy start to peeling, begin at the fatter end of the egg because there is an air pocket located there between the white and the shell. It should pop open easily.
  3. Add vinegar to the water. Putting a splash of vinegar in the boiling water works on the shells and make them easier to peel.
  4. Add a teaspoon of salt to the water. It may help prevent cracking and make it easier to peel the eggs.

More Ways to make Hard Boiled Eggs

Three egg halves cooked at 4 minutes, 6 minutes and 12 minutes

Recipes to Make with Boiled Eggs

FAQs

Why do my hard-boiled eggs have a green ring around the yolk?

That ring – of a million Easter eggs – means your egg was overcooked.

How long should I cook my eggs for?

Soft-boiled eggs: For soft, runny yolks, you want to make sure to remove the eggs at 4 minutes.
Medium-boiled yolks: Often described as “jammy”, this is where my preference is, right around 6-7 minutes.
Hard-boiled eggs: The range for hard-boiled yolks is anywhere from 8 to 12 minutes.

Hard boiled eggs on a piece of toast

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5 from 105 votes (104 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Susanne Hodges says:

    I like my eggs hot or at least warm. Doesn’t putting them in ice water make them cold?

    Reply
    1. Yumna says:

      No, you can just put them in the water long enough to stop the cooking and make them safe to handle. If you peel them after a few minutes in the water they will still be somewhat warm.

      Reply
  2. MHF says:

    Worked perfectly. Thanks for the clear instructions!

    Reply
    1. Yumna Jawad says:

      Thank you so much! I am glad you found this recipe easy to follow.

      Reply
  3. Leah says:

    So glad you wrote this post!! I’ve been cooking for over eighteen years and am ashamed to say that getting the peel off the eggs is something I still haven’t mastered!! And I’ve always been too proud to look this up lol😉 This post just popped up as I’m scrolling through your site and I will definitely give your suggestions a try!!😊😊

    Reply
    1. Andreas says:

      Hi, do you begin with cold eggs, straight out of the fridge, or do you wait until they’re at room-temperature?
      Thanks!

      Reply
      1. Yumna J. says:

        I use cold eggs out of the fridge. The cool water helps bring the to room temperature pretty quickly.

        Reply