Hard-boiled eggs, with Zero SmartPoints on the WW Freestyle Program, can be a Weight Watcher's best friend, perfect for a tasty, healthy breakfast, lunch or snack.
Hard Boiled Eggs
I like to have a bowl of them ready and waiting in the fridge when hunger strikes.
Hard boiled eggs seem so simple and they are, but there are a few things you need to know about how to hard boil an egg if you want them to turn out perfectly (without that unattractive green ring) every time.
First, there are several approaches for how to hard boil an egg and they all work, with varying degrees of success.
I'm always on the lookout for the best recipe or cooking technique, which is:
- As streamlined as possible
- Tastes great
- Delivers consistent results
The biggest issue is exactly how long do you cook hard boiled eggs so they are fully cooked yet don't have that ugly gray/green ring around the yolk?
After a bit of research I've finally found the recipe for perfect hard boiled eggs that works best for me and think it will work well for you too.
The Perfect Recipe for Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
Decide how many eggs you want to cook and then choose a pan that allows them to lay in one layer on the bottom of the pan.
Place the eggs in the pan and then fill the pan with enough water to cover them by 1 inch. Place the pan over high heat and bring to a boil. Once the water is really bubbling and steaming, turn off the heat and cover the pan. Let them sit in the hot water for 12 minutes to finish cooking. (Set a timer so you don't forget.)
After 12 minutes, pour off the hot water by tipping the pan into the sink. Then run cold water over the eggs for several seconds. When they are cool enough to handle transfer them to a bowl and place it in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat them or use them in your favorite recipe.
Rachael Ray Ray shows you how in this helpful video...
Peeling Hard Boiled Eggs
Very fresh eggs can be difficult to peel because they stick steadfastly to the shell. Eggs that are a little older and less fresh are easier to peel so it is best to buy your eggs ahead and let them sit in the refrigerator for a week or more before hard boiling them, especially when making deviled eggs, where appearance counts.
To peel hard boiled eggs, when the eggs are cool enough to handle, tap against the counter or sink to crack the shell all over and then gently peel it off, beginning at the end with the air pocket. I find that it is sometimes easier to peel the shell when I do it under running water.
*Here's a great video showing an easy way to "peel" hard boiled eggs:
But does it work in everyday real life for those of us who are not as successful and amazing as Tim? Well, it didn't for me.
I used the teaspoon of baking soda, cooked and cooled the eggs and removed the ends of the shells. Then I huffed and puffed as hard as I could and nothing! So, it's back to traditional peeling for me.
And just for science, I timed how long it took. I was able to peel 6 eggs in less than 5 minutes, a worthwhile investment of time if you ask me 🙂
How Long Can Your Keep Hard Boiled Eggs?
Hard boiled egg storage is really pretty easy. They keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. I place them in a bowl lined with a paper towel set in the refrigerator.
Hard Boiled Eggs
How to Enjoy Hard Boiled Eggs?
Hard boiled eggs, are a great high protein snack any time of day. Just peel, sprinkle with salt, and enjoy. You also can use them to make deviled eggs, egg salad, or add them to homemade potato salad.
Sources: Learning to Cook with Marion Cunningham, The New Basics Cookbook, The New Best Recipe: All-New Edition from the Editors of Cooks Illustrated.
Need a Bunch of Hard Boiled Eggs?
Here's a unique tip for making lots of hard boiled eggs at once from one of my favorite sites, TipNut.
Learn how easy it is to make InstantPot Boiled Eggs...
Great Ways to Use Hard Boiled Eggs...
- Deviled Egg Recipes
- Egg Salad Recipe
- Old Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe
- Ina Garten's Egg Salad Tartines (Open Face Sandwiches)
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
Subscribe to Get: Top 10 Reader Favorite Recipes
The Top 10 Most Popular Recipes (PDF) on Simple Nourished Living + Weekly Support Emails with Tips & Easy Healthy Recipes Not Found Anywhere Else!
sangeeta khanna
this is very useful for me ...have always been juggling with peeling boiled eggs n the gray ring around it is so ugly..thanks for sharing.
Martha
Thanks Sangeeta,
I am hoping to share cooking tips that are useful and help home cooks gain confidence in the kitchen.
Barb
Oh my goodness!! Peeling hard boiled eggs has been one of the most frustrating things I do in the kitchen. I did it yesterday and out of a dozen eggs, about 7 came out decent enough for devilled eggs. The rest are missing about half of their whites. I will definitely be trying the jar method.
Thank you!!