Eggs are an integral part of many cuisines and an essential protein source for a large part of the world. From baking, frying, scrambling, and more, it’s safe to say that there are countless ways to use an egg. Did you know that there are even multiple ways you can boil an egg?
Let’s get you settled once and for all and discover three ways to boil an egg and 30 (yes 30!) ways to use them!
HOW TO BOIL AN EGG
Method 1 - Bring to a boil, then remove and set aside
Place the raw eggs in the bottom of an empty saucepan.
Fill the pan with cold water, till it is about one inch over the egg.
Place the pan over a burner on high and bring it to a rapid boil.
Once the water is boiling, put a lid on the pan and take it off the heat.
Set a timer for your desired consistency. The rule of thumb is: 4 minutes for a runny yolk and 13 minutes for a firm consistency. Be sure not to lift the lid!
Once the timer has gone off and the eggs have reached the desired consistency, remove them from the hot water with tongs and place them in a bowl of ice water for about 10 minutes (this will stop them from cooking!).
Gently tap against a hard surface to peel off the skin. Rinse under water to remove any excess shell and, voila! You have a perfectly boiled egg.
Method 2: Bring to a boil, and cook
Place eggs in the bottom of an empty pot.
Fill the pot with cold water, until it is an inch or two above the eggs.
Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil over high heat.
Once the water reaches a rolling boil, set your timer for your desired consistency. This is the fastest method so it will take less time for your eggs to cook.
If you desire soft-boiled, jammy eggs, cook for 2-3 minutes.
Medium-boiled eggs should cook for 5-6 minutes.
Hard boiled eggs should cook for 7-8 minutes.
After cooking time, transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water and let sit for 2-3 minutes. Then crack and peel the shell. Run under cold water to remove any excess shell.
Method 3: Add when boiling
Bring eggs to room temperature. You can do this by leaving them out of the fridge for an hour or by placing them in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes. Don’t skip this step! If the eggs are not at room temperature they will crack.
Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to boil over high heat. Once the eggs have reached room temperature and the water is boiling, gently place the eggs in the pot. Reduce heat to medium-low and let the water come down to a simmer.
Simmer your eggs for the following times to reach your desired consistency (be sure to simmer, not boil!):
Soft-boiled: 3-4 minutes
Medium-boiled: 3-5 minutes
Hard-boiled: 12-15 minutes
After cooking time, place the eggs in a bowl of ice water. Roll the eggs on the counter to crack the shell and then peel under running cool water.
Now that you know how to cook them properly, let’s discover 30 different ways to use hard boiled eggs!
Eat the egg just like it is with a little salt! This makes the perfect fast, protein filled snack.
Use your leftover boiled eggs to make the perfect Egg Salad Sandwich. For different variations on just the standard Egg Salad, consider adding dill, lemon juice or even mashed up white beans!
Devilled eggs! Delicious, easy, and perfect for your next party. For a simple Devilled egg, just slice your egg in half, remove the yolk, then add a touch of mayonnaise and mustard into the yolk and mix. Voila, it's really that easy.
Add quartered eggs into your Potato Salad - yum!
Stuffed Tomatoes! Grate your hard boiled eggs, then stuff them inside a hallowed out tomato. To your egg, add some mayo, dijon mustard and green onions to make a quick egg salad stuffing.
Slice your eggs and place them on top of a piece of bread for breakfast. You can eat it plain or dress it up with seasonings and sauces!
Sliced your eggs and place them on top of a Caesar Salad. An easy way to add more protein to your lunch! Add salmon and avocado for a modern twist!
Add them to a traditional Basque Country dish. Bacalao en Salsa Verde is a beautiful dish made with cod, clams, boiled eggs, peas, asparagus, and parsley, all swimming in a gorgeous salsa verde sauce. Learn how to make it in our Sunday in San Sebastian class!
Add your boiled eggs to a Chicken Cobb Salad for another quick and healthy lunch. Crispy bacon, cream eggs, and a warm vinaigrette… what’s not to love!
Add sliced hard-boiled eggs to a flatbread. Top with dill and a vinaigrette and you have a quick, yet delicious meal.
Add them to tuna sandwiches - a quick way to take your tuna salad up a notch.
Not a fan of dill? Create a flatbread with hard-boiled eggs, feta cheese, and herbs for a delicious variation. (We find jammy eggs work best to pair with the creamy consistency of feta!)
Looking for a way to dress up your asparagus? Top Roasted Asparagus with chopped hard boiled egg for a delightful side dish.
To make a quick appetizer, broil crostini till they're nice and crispy, then top with hard boiled egg and a slice of prosciutto - deliziosa!
Half the eggs and add them to a charcuterie board with cheese, cured meats and olives - great for a fast dinner!
Give your boiled eggs a Peruvian twist as you make a traditional Chicken Juane! Chicken, hard-boiled eggs, olive, and rice are simmered in warm spices like turmeric and cumin until you have a mouth watering dish. Wrapped like a present in plantain leaves, this dish is not to be missed. Learn how to make Chicken Juane in our San Juan Party class!
Remove the shell from the eggs then add to leftover beet juice to pickle them! They can then be added to a multitude of dishes for some extra protein and tang.
Make a Salad Nicoise! This savory, tangy salad is filled with boiled eggs, olives, tuna, anchovies (don’t worry they’re optional), tomatoes, green beans, and more!
Try your hand at a traditional Apulian Easter dish named Benedetto - a recipe straight from Chef Carlotta!
Try traditional Chinese Soy Sauce Braised eggs. Easy, quick, and filled with umami, this is a great snack or meal.
Love Avocado toast? Try adding sliced hard-boiled eggs on top for some extra protein on your favorite breakfast.
Combine hard-boiled eggs, peas, pimentos, celery, and shredded cheese to make a delicious pea salad!
Create the comforting gastropub staple, Scotch Eggs. Boiled eggs wrapped in sausage meat then breaded and fried - it’s a classic for a reason!
Make Gribiche. This cold egg sauce is common in French cuisine and is made by emulsifying the yolks of hard-boiled eggs with mustard and oil. It also includes julienned egg whites and pickled cucumbers, tarragon, parsley, chervil, and capers. Try it as a dipping sauce or tossed with your favorite veggies!
As a quick substitute to devilled eggs, create jammy eggs with paprika aioli! They’re the perfect fast, fancy, and delicious hors d'oeuvres.
Add hard-boiled eggs and veggies to your ramen to create a fantastic, protein filled dinner!
Pair your boiled eggs with a curried peanut dip for a delicious desk lunch. Add chicken, sweet potatoes, and other leftovers for a well-rounded meal.
Add your boiled eggs to porridge for a filling breakfast. Looking to turn up the spice? Add kimchi for a spicy twist!
Create Soft Boiled Eggs and Soldiers! This popular British breakfast involves cutting toast into thin strips and dipping it into jammy, soft-boiled eggs. It’s a great breakfast for kids or adults!
And last but not least, you can make a traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing perfect for the holidays. That’s right, traditional cornbread dressing should always have bits of boiled egg in it to add to the creamy texture. If this isn’t already a tradition in your family, try adding it to the Thanksgiving table! Looking for more Southern cooking tips? Learn the art of Cajun and Creole cooking with Chef Gason, live from New Orleans!
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