This Easy to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs recipe simplifies life when making deviled eggs, egg salad or Easter eggs for coloring, even when using fresh eggs. Additionally, this method is easiest on the eggs, does not crack the shells and is the approach chef’s and restaurants use.

Hard Boiled Eggs sitting on yellow cloth napkins with shells on a few of the eggs.

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Steam Boiled Eggs cut in half and sitting on a small tan plate garnished with black pepper.

The easiest peeling hard boiled eggs is done by steaming. With this method there is no cracking and it allows several eggs to be cooked at once.

Why Steaming Works So Well for Easy Peel Hard Boiled Eggs

What makes peeling eggs so difficult is the stubborn membrane that lies just beneath the egg’s shell.

Contrary to popular belief, steaming eggs is the absolute best way to create hard boiled eggs that peel easily. This is because the shock of cold to hot and back to cold denatures the egg white proteins causing them to pull away from the stubborn membrane.

The secret is taking cold eggs directly from the refrigerator and placing them in the steaming basket of a pot of steaming water. Once steamed, transfer to an ice bath and let sit for 15 minutes before peeling.

2 Additional Cooking Methods Almost as Good as Steaming

Instant Pot Cooking is a runner up to steaming. This method creates beautiful hard boiled eggs that are easy to peel. The only reason this method falls just slightly below steaming is that it doesn’t create as much of a shock to the egg white. In other words, this method does denature the proteins in the egg whites (what makes eggs easy to peel), just not quite as well as steaming.
Gently placing eggs into boiling water in the third best way to make Easy Peel Hard Boiled Eggs. The challenge with this method is that the cold eggs lower the temperature of the boiling water. This decreases the shock value on the whites of the egg which makes peeling more challenging. Similarly to the Instant Pot, this method of making hard boiled eggs is a good method. It just does not create as easy to peel eggs as steaming.

Overhead photo of Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs cut in half and sprinkled with black pepper.

Ingredients and Equipment Needed

Stockpot with a lid or large frying pan with a lid.
Steaming Basket
Spider Strainer (as seen in video) or Tongs
Large Eggs
Water
Large Bowl to create ice bath.
Ice

How To Make Easy Peel Hard Boiled Eggs

Place a steaming basket into a stockpot that has a lid or a large frying pan that has a lid.
Add approximately 1 inch of water to the bottom of the pan.
Bring to a boil over high heat with lid attached.
Once boiling, add eggs and replace lid.
Set timer for desired doneness (see Steaming Times below).
Meanwhile, add ice and water to a large bowl.
Once eggs are done steaming immediately transfer to ice bath and let sit for 15 minutes before peeling.

Steaming Times for Large Eggs

Soft Boiled Eggs– Steam for 6-7 minutes.
Hard Boiled Eggs– Steam for 12-13 minutes.

Two Ways To Peel Hard Boiled Eggs

Countertop Peeling

Tap egg on the countertop gently to crack the shell.
Roll egg gently between your hand and the countertop. This will help to loosen the shell making for easier peeling.
Start peeling the egg of its shell. Often the large end is the easiest to start with because of the air pocket on that end. However, sometimes the smaller end is easiest to start the peeling process.
Run egg under cold water to remove any excess pieces of shell.

Container Peeling

Place eggs into a container with a tight fitting lid.
Add enough cold water that the eggs are halfway submerged in the water.
Secure lid onto container.
Shake the container vigorously in an up and down motion for approximately 40 seconds to 1 minute.
The shells should be cracked making for easy peeling.
Rinse eggs in cold water to remove any excess shell pieces.

High Altitude Hard Boiled Eggs

According to healthline.com you should add 1 additional minute of cooking time if you live at or above 3,000 feet. Additionally, add 1 minute for every 1,000 feet increase in elevation.

Best Way To Eat Hard Boiled Eggs

Slice and add to the top of Macaroni Salad.
Mixed into Red Potato Salad.
As a snack with salt and pepper.
Added to Smoked Salmon Sandwiches, Mediterranean Veggie Sandwiches and Avocado Chicken Salad.
Avocado Egg Salad

Frequently Asked Questions

Should only older eggs be used for easier peeling?

With this method fresh eggs may be used. They be a tad more challenging to peel but will still peel much easier than other methods.

What is the best way to store these eggs?

These hard boiled eggs can be stored in the shell or peeled in an air tight container in the refrigerator.

How long will Steamed Hard Boiled Eggs last for?

These hard boiled eggs will last for 5-7 days when stored properly in the refrigerator. However, for ideal freshness use within 3 days.