How To Boil Eggs For Deviled Eggs

The first step to any amazing deviled eggs recipe is cooking perfectly hard-boiled eggs. While boiling eggs may seem simple enough, there are a few tricks that ensure that more of the eggs are usable for deviled egg recipes, which call for whole, intact, hard boiled eggs. By following a few easy steps, we will teach you how to boil eggs for a deviled eggs recipe.

Step #1: Choose The Right Eggs

The color of the shells used for deviled eggs does not matter since the shells will be discarded and the size of the eggs depends on the cook’s preference for the presentation of the finished dish. In order to have easy peeling eggs, make sure the eggs you are using are about a week or two old, as they make the peeling process easier. However, if you must go and buy new eggs, choose ones that are closer to the expiration date. Definitely do not try to use very fresh eggs because the shells won’t come off then and this will ruin your deviled eggs. Eggs have a delicate membrane inside the shell that gets tough and rubbery as they age. Older eggs are less likely to crack when boiled and the tougher membrane makes them easier to peel. The eggs should be refrigerated while they age.

Step #2: Preparing The Eggs

The night before cooking or for about 8 hours, the eggs should be placed on their sides to rest. You can place the eggs on their sides in the carton; however, the lid will not close, so you may have to cut the carton’s lid off. Resting the eggs on their sides helps center the yolk so the cooked egg white is even all around. Never use eggs with cracked shells since boiling will widen the cracks and the egg white will ooze out during cooking. Always cook two or three extra eggs because some eggs may crack when cooked and the extras ensure enough usable eggs for the deviled eggs recipe. Extras can always be used in a salad or other recipe even if the shells are cracked.

Let the eggs sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before you start cooking/boiling. Allowing them to rest before cooking will reduce the amount of cracks by reducing a rapid temperature change after removing them from the refrigerator. As you can see, preparation of the eggs is critical to making deviled eggs.

Step #3: The Cooking Pot

A pot with a bottom that is wide enough for the eggs to lie in a single layer without touching or crowding is needed for boiling eggs. If all the eggs will not fit in one pot, it is better to use two pots so the eggs do not hit each other and crack their shells while cooking. The pot does not need to be deep since the water should be about one inch higher than the tops of the eggs.

When making deviled eggs, add about a teaspoon of salt to the water to raise the boiling point which allows extra cooking time and ensures the yolk has hardened. The type of pot you choose is up to you. Again, make sure to boil extra eggs in case any crack during the boiling process, do not peel properly, or end up with an off-centered yolk that can’t be used.

Step #4: How To Cook Hard Boiled Eggs

Cover the eggs with water and cook on high heat on an electric or gas stove/range until the water comes to a full boil. When water is at a full boil, large bubbles form and rise to the top of the water. Once the water boils, remove the pot from the heat, add about a tablespoon of white vinegar and cover the pot. Allow the eggs to sit in the pot, without heat, for 30 minutes to complete the cooking process.

While there are many delicious recipes for how to make deviled eggs, most do not give tips on how to get the best results when boiling eggs. These easy tips will help more of the boiled eggs become deviled eggs instead of ending up as egg salad. Go on to the next steps to learn how to peel, slice, and remove egg yolks.