Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs

Perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs. While you do not taste the vinegar or salt, they both pull the skin from the eggshell so it peels easily without tearing or sticking. I have been making them this way for years. Family members call them “Ken’s Eggs.”

How to Boil Eggs

You’ll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let’s go over the basics first:

How Long to Boil Eggs

Six whole eggs should be perfectly hard boiled after about 14 minutes in gently boiling water with vinegar and salt.

How Long Does It Take to Hard Boil Eggs?

From the beginning of the recipe to the end, it will take about 40 minutes to make hard-boiled eggs: You’ll need to bring the water to a gentle boil, boil the eggs for 14 minutes, and cool the boiled eggs for about 15 minutes.

How to Hard Boil Eggs

Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you hard boil eggs at home:

Bring the salt, vinegar, and water to a boil.
Gently boil the eggs for about 14 minutes.
Transfer the eggs to ice water.
Once cooled, peel the eggs.

How to Make Hard-Boiled Eggs Easy to Peel

The vinegar in the water makes the eggs easier to peel. Here’s why: The vinegar’s acid not only dissolves some of the calcium carbonate in the shell, it also helps the whites set faster.

Running the hard-boiled eggs under cold running water as you’re peeling, meanwhile, helps the shell separate from the membrane.

How Long Do Hard-Boiled Eggs Last?

To store unpeeled hard-boiled eggs: Store the eggs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
To store peeled hard-boiled eggs: Place the peeled eggs in a bowl, then fill the bowl with just enough cold water to cover the eggs. Store, uncovered, in the fridge for two to three days. Replace the water every day to keep it fresh.
¼ cup distilled white vinegar
6 cups water
8 large eggs

Ingredients

1 tablespoon salt
¼ cup distilled white vinegar
6 cups water
8 large eggs

Directions

Step 1

Gather all ingredients.

Step 2

Combine salt, vinegar, and water in a large pot, and bring to a boil over high heat.

Step 3

Add eggs one at a time, being careful not to crack them. Reduce the heat to a gentle boil, and cook for 14 minutes.

Step 4

Once eggs have cooked, remove them from the hot water, and place into a container of ice water or cold, running water. Cool completely, about 15 minutes. Store in the refrigerator up to 1 week.