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4.91 from 11 votes

Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs Every Time

How difficult can it be to boil an egg? The answer is not difficult at all if you don’t care what the egg looks like when it’s peeled. If, however, this matters to you, then the answer is not so straightforward. The reason is that peeling the eggs without the shells sticking and gouging the whites is often problematic. For Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs Every Time, steam them!
Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time14 minutes
Total Time16 minutes
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 As many eggs as you steam.
Calories: 62kcal

Ingredients

  • Large eggs straight from refrigerator
  • Steamer basket set in pan with lid

Instructions

Instant Pot Method

  • Add water to Instant Pot to the minimum liquid level. (See Tip 1)
  • Place steamer basket in Instant Pot and place eggs in steamer basket. (See Tip 2)
  • Program Instant Pot to 4 minutes on low pressure. Cover and close vent. Allow to depressurize normally for 10 minutes; use quick pressure release after 10 minutes if necessary.

Stovetop Method

  • Place steamer basket in pan. Add water to just below the bottom of steamer basket.
  • Place eggs in steamer basket; bring water to a boil over medium heat.
  • Cover pan; steam eggs 14 minutes. If using extra-large eggs, increase time to 16 minutes. (See Note 3)
  • Rinse eggs in cold water. (See Tip 4)
  • Peel or refrigerate unpeeled for later use.
  • Yield: As many eggs as are steamed. (See Tip 5)

Notes

  1. My Instant Pot is 6-quarts. It took 2 cups of water to reach the minimum liquid level.
  2. Make sure that the steamer rack is above the water level.
  3. It's important to keep the lid on the pan for the entire time that the eggs are steaming. Also, it's important to keep the pan over medium heat so that the water continues to boil and produce steam.
  4. The reason for rinsing the eggs in cold water is to stop the cooking. Plunging them in ice will serve the same purpose of stopping the cooking.
  5. If you're making a lot of eggs, it's a good idea to test one after the steaming has finished to ensure that it's properly cooked. I live in a location that is close to sea level. At sea level, water boils at 212° F. If you live in at a higher altitude water boils at a lower temperature than at sea level which impacts the heat of the steam and the cooking of the egg. 

Nutrition

Calories: 62kcal | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 163mg | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 60mg | Vitamin A: 240IU | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.8mg