How long should you boil eggs? It depends on how you like the yolks—soft, jammy, medium, or fully set. This easy guide includes exact cook times for every level of doneness, plus my favorite tips for easy-peel eggs that turn out just right every time.
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Quick Answer: How Long to Boil Eggs?
Lower cold eggs into boiling water and cook for 6 to 7 minutes for soft-boiled eggs, 8 to 9 minutes for medium-boiled eggs, or 10 to 12 minutes for hard-boiled eggs. Transfer the eggs to an ice bath for 10 minutes to stop the cooking and make them easier to peel.
How to Boil Eggs Video
Boiled eggs are one of those simple kitchen basics that are easy to overcook or undercook. Whether you’re making soft-boiled eggs for breakfast, hard-boiled eggs for Egg Salad, or a batch of Deviled Eggs for Easter, my stovetop method makes it easy to cook eggs exactly how you like them. You’ll love how easy they are to peel, too.
Helpful Reader Review
“This detailed guide for how to cook boiled eggs is so helpful! I can never get my boiled eggs cooked right, with this post I can now make perfect boiled eggs every time!” – Valentina ★★★★★
How I Tested This Method
I tested several ways to boil eggs, including starting them in cold water and lowering cold eggs directly into boiling water. The most consistent results came from lowering cold eggs into boiling water, then transferring the hot eggs straight into an ice bath.
That quick temperature change helps the egg pull away from the shell membrane, which makes the eggs easier to peel. It also makes the timing more reliable, since the eggs start cooking right away instead of warming up gradually in the water.
Tips for Perfect Boiled Eggs
- Use a 3-quart saucepan – This size works well for 8 large eggs. Add about 5 to 6 cups of water, or enough so the eggs will be covered by 1 inch once added.
- Lower eggs gently – Use a slotted spoon or skimmer to carefully lower cold eggs into the boiling water so they don’t crack.
- Keep a gentle boil – After adding the eggs, adjust the heat to maintain a steady boil, not a hard, rolling boil.
- Set the timer right away – Start timing as soon as the eggs go into the boiling water.
- Use an ice bath – Chill the eggs for 10 minutes to stop the cooking and help the shells release.
How to Boil Eggs
- Boil the water – Fill a 3-quart saucepan with enough water to cover 8 large eggs by about 1 inch, about 5 to 6 cups. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Add the eggs – Carefully lower cold eggs into the boiling water using a slotted spoon or skimmer. Reduce the heat to keep them at a steady boil.
- Cook to your desired doneness – Once the eggs are in the water, start the timer and cook uncovered according to the timing chart below. While the eggs are cooking, prepare the ice bath.
- Transfer to an ice bath – Move the eggs (a spider strainer or slotted spoon is handy) to a bowl of ice water right away and let them chill for 10 minutes before peeling or storing.
Boiled Egg Doneness Chart
Use this chart for large eggs added to boiling water:
- 6 min – Runny yolk, soft set whites
- 7 min – Jammy yolk, set whites
- 8 min – Moist, softly set yolk
- 10 min – Tender hard-boiled egg
- 12 min – Firm hard-boiled egg
For the best texture, don’t cook eggs for less than 6 minutes or the whites may be underdone. I don’t recommend boiling longer than 12 minutes, since the yolks can overcook and develop a greenish ring.
Best Eggs for Boiling
Egg size and freshness can affect how long eggs take to cook and how easily they peel. Here’s what to know before you start:
- Egg Freshness – Older store-bought eggs are easier to peel. For farm-fresh eggs (from backyard chickens) my instant pot boiled eggs method makes them easier to peel.
- Size Matters – We use Large Grade AA eggs. Large eggs (2 ounces each) are the standard size in most recipes so we stick with those. Medium eggs will cook faster, and Extra Large or Jumbo eggs will take a little longer.
Should You Add Salt or Vinegar to Boiled Eggs?
Salt and vinegar are optional. Vinegar may help if an egg cracks, and salt can help reduce how much egg white leaks into the water. I don’t rely on either for easy peeling—the hot-water start and ice bath make the biggest difference.
How to Peel Boiled Eggs Easily
Crack the egg firmly at the wide end where the air pocket is, then peel from that end to get under the membrane. Peeling under cool running water can also help loosen the shell.
If you’re peeling a whole batch for Deviled Eggs, try my Easy Peel Eggs method for peeling several eggs quickly at once.
How to Store Boiled Eggs
Boiled eggs should be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking. Keep them unpeeled when possible to prevent drying out and odor absorption. If peeled, store them in an airtight container.
- Hard-boiled eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Soft-boiled eggs are best enjoyed right away, but leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Once you try this boiling-water method, it just might become your go-to way to boil eggs for breakfast, snacks, salads, and Easter eggs.
How to Boil Eggs
Ingredients
- 8 large eggs, (can use 6-12 eggs), cold from the fridge
- 5-8 cups water, or enough to cover the eggs by 1 inch
Instructions
- Fill a large saucepan with enough water that it will be about 1" above the surface of the eggs. With the lid off, bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Gently lower cold eggs into the boiling water (a spider strainer or slotted spoon is helpful), taking care not to crack them.
- Reduce the heat to keep the water at a gentle boil – not aggressively boiling, which can cause cracks. As soon as the eggs are in the water, set a timer for your desired doneness: 7 minutes for soft-boiled or 10 minutes for hard-boiled (see timing chart below).
- Prepare your ice water bath, and as soon as the timer is done, transfer the eggs to an ice bath right away and let them sit for 10 minutes before peeling or storing*.
Notes
- Boil 6 min: Runny yolks with soft-set whites
- Boil 7 min: Soft-boiled, jammy center, set whites
- Boil 8 min: Medium-boiled, soft-set yolk, set whites
- Boil 10 min: Tender hard-boiled egg, firm whites
- Boil 12 min: Fully hard-boiled eggs with firm, dry yolk
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Recipes with Boiled Eggs
Boiled eggs are perfect for quick breakfasts, snacks, salads, and appetizers. Here are some of my favorite ways to use hard-boiled eggs:
- Chicken Cobb Salad
- Boiled Egg Chocolate Pudding
- Guacamole Stuffed Eggs
- Chicken Avocado Salad
- Easter Egg Chicks
- Salmon Cobb Salad
- Potato Salad
- Greek Cobb Salad
- Creamy Potato Salad
- Deviled Egg Chicks
This did not work for me. I did 10 minutes and the yolks were not cooked enough to make deviled eggs. What could have made the difference difference?
Hi Janet, did you possibly use extra large eggs? Also, did your water boil the entire ten minutes? I=
I can’t cook verywell, but with your recipe, I feel like a pro.
I’m so happy you loved it!
Hi, do you use medium boiled eggs for deviled eggs? Or which one should I use? How long should the eggs cook for for that? Thank you!
Hi Kat, I do hard boiled eggs for deviled eggs since the dry egg yolks are much easier to mash up into the right consistency.
Should you soak in water in the fridge because that is what I normally do. They are so hard to peel, and the texture is not appealing. I saw that somewhere when I was little and have just continued to do. Or should I remove from the ice bath once they’ve cooled and then store in the refrigerator? I appreciate your feedback!
Hi Francie! I do not store them in water. Yes- once they’ve cooled, you can keep them in the refrigerator. I’d you’d like to store them peeled, you can peel and store them in an airtight container on top of a damp paper towel to keep them from drying out.
Referring to the boiled egg post, I believe it is inaccurate. My experience has been if you boil eggs for only two minutes, the whites will be very runny. To get hard whites and runny yolks requires about 6 min. For hard boiled eggs (hard whites and yolks), it takes at least 10 min, I usually do 12.
Hi Pete, if you bring the eggs to a boil in the pot rather than adding them to hot water, the timings are accurate.
Perfect every time! Thank you, Natasha! I trust all you recipes! 🙂
first time ive ever made easy to peel hard boiled eggs!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
You can also do it this way . When the water starts to boils put the cover on and turn the heat off . Set timer for 17 minutes for hard bailed eggs and take out and use the ice bath and you have perfect hard boiled eggs.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Just a comment about adding salt to the water. A little salt – a 1/2 teaspoon or so – will prevent the egg white from spewing out into the water, in case a shell is cracked. That is something I learned in a Foods & Nutrition class in college several years ago.
Best instructions for boiled eggs I’ve found and used ever!
Always boiled them to long and wound up with the green ring around the yolk of the eggs.
Will definitely be saving this post for future use!
I’m glad it was helpful, Christine! Thank you.
Hi Natasha
I learned that you need to boil the water first, and then add the eggs to the boiling water. I have done it this way three times so far. The eggs have peeled much easier this way every time.
Great to hear that, Kelly!
This is my second time using this recipe for boiled eggs. The shell did not peel easy for me and I ended up wasting a lot of egg whites.
They peel perfectly for us every time we make this. Feel free to check the comments section at the bottom for more tips.
Kelly I do the same thing with my boiled eggs! Putting them in boiling water seizes the membrane to the shell and the ice after boiling keeps in attached to the shell instead of the egg.
Hi Brenda. Great to hear that someone else does this! That makes sense. Thanks!
Thank you for this recipe. It never came to my mind to search for boiling egg instructions and to be honest this recipe came up when I looked for Easter recipes! I always guessed about timing of boiling egg and it always ended up overcooking! The pictures with timing are very helpful! I never thought 2 min would be enough for soft egg! I just made and true! Now , I can enjoy my egg at home!
Hi Varash! you’re very welcome! I’m glad it’s helpful. 🙂
Question for you Natasha – what is your recommendation for boiling at 4,400 ft? Standard recommendations for any additional time for cooking at this altitude, or do you have anything specific. It always seems to take longer…and I find 12 min for large the best to get the ‘dry’ center.
Hi Debbie, I don’t have anything specific and I have to personally try it to give some suggestions. I hope that will work just fine and that you’ll enjoy it!
I have always added salt to the water when boiling eggs. The reason is that if an egg should crack while cooking it reduces the amount of egg white that leaks out. My son in law was steaming the eggs and he found that all of the eggs peeled very easily every time. Love your recipes
Thank you! So glad you love my recipes. 🙂
From my son: This is for large eggs. Get a pot of water boiling and add a steamer basket of screen mesh. Put in the desired amount of eggs while the water is boiling, put the lid on, and keep boiling for 13 minutes plus 15 seconds. Use an ice bath to prevent overcooking. The eggs are perfectly cooked and the shell is very easy to peel.
My perfect eggs are the same boiling procedure but I turn off heat and cover for 15 minutes. Then cool and peel no green yolk anywhere
Don’t boil your eggs for only 6 minutes it doesn’t work waste of eggs don’t try!
Perfect!
I crack the eggshells with a spoon before placing in the ice water. Seems easier to peel.