How to hard boil eggs in a saucepan on the stovetop.

Cooking hard boiled eggs on the stovetop is the most traditional way to cook them. There are many different variations of stovetop instructions but we love this method. Grab a saucepan or a stockpot and some large eggs or extra large eggs and let’s get started making some stovetop hard boiled eggs.

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SERVING SUGGESTIONS

If you don’t want to eat plain hard boiled eggs as a snack or breakfast, consider any of these delicious options.

Cobb Salad – Fill a salad bowl with chopped up romaine lettuce. Add bacon crumbles, sliced hard-boiled eggs, crumbled blue cheese (or your favorite cheese), avocado, tomatoes and any other toppings you like. Toss with your favorite dressing.
Deviled Eggs – Try these skinny deviled eggs.
Egg Salad Sandwiches – See how amazing this sandwich is on a croissant!

OTHER WAYS TO HARD BOIL EGGS

Whether you’re cooking hard-boiled eggs for easter or just because you love them, here are our favorite additional methods for cooking the perfect hard boiled eggs. Scroll to the bottom for our instructions for the perfect hard boiled eggs in a saucepan or pot on the stovetop.

HARD BOIL EGGS IN THE OVEN

Try a batch of eggs in the oven to see how easy this egg recipe is!

AIR FRYER HARD BOILED EGGS

Using the air fryer is one of the easiest ways to cook an egg. No hot water needed so if you, or someone you know, has trouble lifting heavy pots (sauce pans) or has tremors in their hands, this might be the best way to go!

INSTANT POT HARD BOILED EGGS

Cooking eggs in the electric pressure cooker (Instant Pot) is easy as well.

SLOW COOKER HARD BOILED EGGS

Cook your eggs overnight in your crock pot (slow cooker) while you sleep! Wake up to perfect hard boiled eggs.

Hard boiled eggs sprinkled with salt and pepper.

STORAGE TIPS

Refrigerate: You can store hard boiled eggs in a refrigerator (fridge) for up to 7 days. Once they’re removed from the refrigerator, they should be eaten within 2 hours.

Freeze: It is not recommended to freeze hard boiled eggs.

RELATED RECIPES

Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

Cooking hard boiled eggs in an instant pot is easy and quick!

See Recipe

Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs

Use your air fryer to make easy, foolproof hard boiled eggs.

See Recipe

Oven Hard Boiled Eggs

It's easy to cook the perfect hard boiled egg in the oven.

See Recipe

oven cooked hard boiled eggs in a muffin tin

Crock Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

This fix and forget method of cooking crock pot hard boiled eggs is great for cooking overnight.

See Recipe

bowl of brown eggs in front of a crock pot

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

(note to writer) choose popular frequently asked questions or things you think people would want to know.

How do I soft boil an egg?

If you want your egg yolks to be runny and your egg whites to be slightly soft (soft boiled egg) we recommend you use our cooking process and remove the eggs from the water after 6 minutes and immerse them in the cold water bath for soft boiled eggs. If you want a firmer egg white and a slightly runny yolk, try a 10 minute egg.

Can I keep a hard boiled egg if it cracks?

Yes! You can keep a hard boiled egg if it cracks. We do not recommend dying the egg if the shell is cracked, however.

Why do you put eggs in an ice water bath after you hard boil them?

Immersing your hard-boiled eggs in an ice bath (large bowl of ice water) has two benefits. First, it reduces the temperature of the egg, ending the cooking so your eggs don’t get overcooked. Second, it separates the egg white from the membrane, making them easier to peel.

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