When you have eggs, you have endless options.

With eggs, you have tons of weeknight meal ideas.

Quick to make, hard and soft boiled eggs are ideal for any meal.

Eggs are an excellent source of protein, with 2 eggs containing 13 grams of protein! And one of the easiest and tastiest ways to enjoy eggs is hard boiled. In fact, hard boiled eggs are the base for so many tasty options, like devilled eggs, egg salad sandwiches, sliced onto salads or part of a protein snack pack with veggies and crackers.

Of course, there are also soft boiled eggs which are equally versatile and easy to prepare. They are the perfect addition to a bowl of ramen, on top of rice or pasta, or a simple open-faced sandwich.

When you have eggs, you’ve got lots of options! Let’s Get Cracking.

In Just 12 Minutes, You Have Hard Boiled Eggs

To make the perfect hard boiled egg, start by gently placing your eggs in a single layer at the bottom of a saucepan, then cover them with cool water—just enough to cover the eggs by an inch. Place the pan over high heat and bring to a rolling boil. The moment the water bubbles to life, remove the pan from the heat, cover it with a lid, and let the eggs sit undisturbed in the warmth for 12 minutes. When time is up, drain the water and cool the eggs quickly in ice water to avoid further cooking.

The result? Delicious eggs to enjoy right away or keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, as long as they are stored in an airtight container.

The Perfect Soft Boiled Eggs

Start by bringing your water to a boil in a saucepan, then lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Using a slotted spoon, carefully lower the eggs into simmering water. Ensure the eggs are fully submerged in the water, cover the pan and let the eggs cook gently for 7 minutes (for large eggs) for a perfectly jammy egg. When done, remove the eggs and cool them quickly under cold running water or in a bowl of ice water until they are just cool to the touch. Peel the eggs and slice them in half—perfect to enjoy on toast with tomatoes, in ramen, or on a salad.

TIP

Whether you’re peeling hard or soft boiled eggs, for the easiest peeling, use eggs that are closest to the best before date. The less fresh the egg, the easier it is to peel.