How Long To Boil A Hard Boiled Egg?

If you were to ask me if there was one food I couldn’t live without, it would be eggs! It’s a quick and easy healthy, high protein option that my kids actually willingly eat.

Hard-boiled eggs make an excellent breakfast protein, or even an afternoon snack. It’s also the healthiest way to cook eggs, but don’t tell my family that!

In this post, I’m going to share with you three ways I’ve learned to boil an egg, to include the famous hard-boiled egg to the underestimated soft and medium boiled eggs!

Read on if you’d like to learn more!

So, How Long Does it Take to Hard Boil an Egg?

For the longest time, I referred to a hard-boiled egg as just an egg that had been boiled! I used the phrase “hard-boiled egg” interchangeably with soft and medium boiled eggs, whether the yolk was fully cooked or slightly runny. Turns out, this is wrong! And how long you boil the egg DOES matter.

Here are the appropriate boiling times for boiling eggs based on your yolk preference!

Hard Boiled

The most common way to boil an egg is by boiling it so the yolk is not runny. The egg is cooked all the way through. For a hard-boiled egg, I let the egg boil for 8 full minutes. Then, I turn the heat down to low and cover for an additional 10 minutes.

Soft Boiled

If you’re like me and you like your yolk runny, you can soft boil it! In this case, after you add the egg to boiling water, immediately reduce the heat to low. Cover for 5 minutes.

Medium Boiled

For somewhere in between a runny yolk and fully cooked yolk, you can medium boil your egg. To me, it’s a gel like consistency, instead of runny. After adding the egg to boiling water, reduce the heat to low and leave covered for 8 minutes.

How to Hard Boil an Egg: Step by Step

Here is my step-by guide on boiling the perfect egg every time!

Just pick how you like your yolk and follow those exact instructions. It’s that easy!

Soft Boiled Eggs (Runny Yolk)

Step 1: Bring water to a boil. Add salt if needed. I find that just sprinkling a bit of salt in the pot can help speed up the boiling of water. Fill the pot with enough water to completely submerge the egg(s), leaving about an inch between the top of the egg and the water. But don’t add the eggs yet!

Step 2: Boiling Time. Once the water has started boiling, you can add your egg(s).

Step 3: Reduce heat. After you’ve added the eggs, reduce the heat to low. You don’t want to leave the eggs in boiling water. They will cook in the hot water. Cover the pot and let it sit for an additional 5 minutes.

Step 4: Remove from heat and water. Place the egg(s) in a bowl of cool water for approximately one minute.

Step 5: Peel and enjoy! And be careful! The yolk will be running. Use a spoon if needed.

Medium Boiled Eggs (Gel like yolk, chewy)

Step 1: Bring water to a boil. Add salt if needed. I find that just sprinkling a bit of salt in the pot can help speed up the boiling of water. Fill the pot with enough water to completely submerge the egg(s), leaving about an inch between the top of the egg and the water. But don’t add the eggs yet!

Step 2: Boiling Time. Once the water has started boiling, you can add your egg(s).

Step 4: Reduce heat. After you’ve added the eggs, reduce the heat to low. You don’t want to leave the eggs in boiling water. They will cook in the hot water. Cover the pot and let it sit for an additional 8 minutes.

Step 5: Remove from heat and water. Place the egg(s) in a bowl of cool water for approximately one minute.

Step 6: Peel and enjoy! Contents of the egg will be hot, so be careful!

Hard Boiled Eggs (Fully Cooked Yolk, Not runny at all)

Step 1: Place eggs in a pot. For hard boiled eggs, I place all my eggs in the pot first, Then, I fill with water, submerging the eggs leaving an inch at the top.

Step 2: Bring water to a boil. Add salt if needed. I find that just sprinkling a bit of salt in the pot can help speed up the boiling of water.

Step 3: Boiling Time. Once the water has started boiling, continue boiling for 8 minutes. Leave the pot uncovered.

Step 4: Reduce heat. After 8 minutes, reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it sit for an additional 10 to 12 minutes.

Step 5: Remove from heat and water. Place the egg(s) in a bowl of cool water for approximately one minute.

Step 6: Peel and enjoy!

Tips for Boiling the Perfect Egg Every Time

• Place the egg in cool water before peeling. Ever have issues peeling a freshly boiled egg? It’s like the shell sticks to the egg white. Don’t skip the step on placing the egg in cool water after cooking! It’s simple, but effective. This makes peeling the eggs so much easier, the shell just comes right off!
• Pay attention to the instructions for each type of boiled egg. Over or underboiling your egg will affect how well it has cooked. Example, if you like your eggs cooked all the through, don’t follow the boiling times listed for a soft-boiled egg.

You Have Hard Boiled Eggs, Now What?

Hard-boiled eggs are so versatile; you can use them in so many ways:

• As a snack
• In Salads
• Addition to a sandwich or wrap
• Avocado bowl

and much more!

Wrapping Up

Boiling eggs can be an easy and pleasurably experience, but it’s important to remember that the boiling time does affect how the egg will turn out. Just follow the instructions I have listed above, and you’ll end up with the perfect egg to your preference every time!

So, how are you going to boil your next egg? Let us know in the comments!