1. How to Boil An Egg:
An Exact Process
Chad Schildt
2. Introduction
• Boiling eggs may seem to be a simple process,
one that nearly anyone can do.
• While it CAN be simple, it can easily be done
incorrectly, leaving overcooked, discolored egg
yolks.
• By following this simple, yet exact, process,
anyone can boil an egg and get perfectly
yellow hard-boiled eggs.
3. Step 1:
• Place the eggs in a pot
and cover the eggs with
COLD water. The water
should be no higher than
1-2 inches over the top of
the eggs.
4. Step 2:
• Place the pot on the stove
and turn the heat on
medium-high. Bring the
water to a rolling boil
(water is consistently
boiling, rather than just a
few bubbles). Then, cover
the pot.
5. Step 3:
• Remove the pot from the
heat and let it stand. Set a
timer for 12 minutes.
While waiting, do not
open the pot.
• (Let it sit covered for the
entire 12 minutes)
6. Step 4:
• Next, drain the water from
the pot and place the eggs
into a bowl of COLD water.
• This transfer will stop the
eggs from continuing to
cook, which often results in
overcooked, discolored eggs.
7. Step 5:
• Next, tap the eggs a few times
on a hard surface (like the
kitchen counter) to crack the
shell and then continue to roll
the egg to loosen the
remaining shell.
• Carefully peel away the bits of
shell, using the water in the
bowl to rinse away small
pieces.
8. Step 6:
• Now that the eggs
have been cooked and
peeled, they are ready
to eat or be used in any
dish you like.
• The resulting product
will have bright yellow
yolks.
• Enjoy!
9. Learner Activities:
Some Things to Think About
• Now that you have completed the
process, were you surprised by
the results?
• Were you aware, prior to this
tutorial, of the exact process of
how to boil an egg?
• Looking at your finished product
(the hard boiled egg), are you
pleased with the results? Do your
eggs have bright yellow centers?
10. Assessment of Learning
• Using a short quiz, I would have learners assess
their own learning.
• The quiz would include the following questions:
– Were you able to follow the process?
– Were you able to learn how to boil an egg by
following the step-by-step process?
– Were your resulting eggs easy to peel and did they
have bright yellow yolk centers?
• If learners were able to answer yes to each of the
questions, they were successful in meeting the
objectives of this tutorial.
11. References
• Real Simple. (2012). How To: Hard Boil an Egg.
Retrieved March 2, 2013 from
http://www.realsimple.com/food-
recipes/cooking-tips-
techniques/cooking/hard-boil-egg-
00000000002333/index.html
Editor's Notes
Boiling eggs may seem to be a simple process, one that nearly anyone can do.While it CAN be simple, it can easily be done incorrectly, leaving overcooked, discolored egg yolks. Many people do not realize that there is a true process to follow, assuming that you simply add water to a pot, put the eggs in, and cook them.By following this simple, yet exact, process, anyone can boil an egg and get perfectly yellow hard-boiled eggs.
For the first step, the eggs should be placed in a pot and covered with cold water. The water MUST be cold to prevent the eggs from splitting before cooking. The water should cover the eggs leaving about 1-2 inches of water above the tops of the eggs. (The eggs will rest on the bottom of the pot)
Next, place the pot on the stove and turn the heat on medium-high. Once the water comes to a rolling boil (consistent rolling bubbles rather than just a few bubbles), cover the pot.
Then, remove the pot from the heat and let it stand. Leave the pot covered and set a time for 12 minutes. Do not open the pot while the pot is resting.
Next, it is important to drain the water from the pot and place the cooked eggs in a bowl of cold water. The water should be cold, as this is what stops the cooking process and helps prevent the eggs from continuing to cook, causing overcooking and discoloration.
To peel the eggs, tap them a few times on a hard surface (such as a kitchen counter) to crack the shell, and then continue to roll the egg on the hard surface to finish breaking the remaining shell. Then, over the bowl, carefully peel away the bits of the shell, using the water in the bowl to rinse away any remaining pieces.
Finally, once the eggs are peeled, they are ready to be eaten or used in any desired dish. The resulting hard-boiled egg will have a nice, bright yellow center. Enjoy!
