So let’s start this off with a quick question:  When you make soft or hard boiled eggs, do you cook them in boiling water?   And are the shells a pain in the you know what to take off, with little pieces peeling off and even chunks of the egg staying attached to the shell?

If so, then this Public Service Announcement is for you:  Do not ever boil eggs directly in water again.

Why?  Because steam will make your life a lot easier!

Follow along below and I’ll show you how to do it…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• Pastured eggs
• Pot and colander
• Ice water bath

METHOD:

If you’re buying eggs at the grocery store, look for the words “pasture raised” and “organic” on the carton for the highest quality available (at the store).

The words “free-range” and “cage-free”, although sound nice, do not mean what we think they mean in labeling terms.

STEP 1:  You’ll need a colander or steaming basket (like this) and a big pot with at least an inch of clean water in it

STEP 2:  Add the colander to the pot and turn the heat to high

STEP 3:  When the water begins to boil, add your eggs

STEP 4:  Add the lid on top and cook for 7 to 10 minutes

See the picture at the bottom of what each yolk looks like at the different time intervals

LAST STEP:  Ice Bath

Have an ice bath ready to the side (just a bowl of clean water with ice cubes in it) and when the eggs are done, use some kitchen tongs to grab the eggs  and place them immediately in the ice bath to stop the cooking process.  Make sure the eggs are submerged and let them sit in the bath for at least a few minutes so they completely cool.

Here is the beauty of steaming eggs versus boiling directly in the water:  The shell comes right off with ease!

Just give it a gentle crack at each end and around the egg and the shell should come off whole or in a few big chunks… no more picking little bits off here and there with your fingernails and losing chunks of egg that’s still sticking to the shell.

Tell your friends and fam:  no more boiling!   Steam only!

Use this image above to gauge your cooking times.

For soft-boiled, go no longer than 7 minutes.  For hard boiled, go no longer than 10 minutes.

Have a question or comment about this post?  Let me know below in the comments!