How to Boil an Egg

To be honest? I have been avoiding this entry. Now I know that sounds silly. What’s the big deal about a hard-boiled egg after all? Well, if you are not planning on making deviled eggs for the Bridge Club, and if you are not embarrassed by slightly unsightly eggs, I can say with full confidence, “Let’s Proceed!”

Equipment you will need:

A saucepan (a high sided pan with a handle) and lid
A timer
A pushpin or something very like a pushpin (see photo above)

• Make a small hole in the large side of the egg (put the pin in about a 1/4 of an inch).
• Put however many eggs you want to cook in the pan with water to cover. Don’t crowd them; they need to have plenty of room and water.
• Place pan with eggs on the stove and bring to a boil (large bubbles).
• Turn off the heat, put the lid on and set your timer.

If you want a hard-boiled egg set your timer for 17 minutes
If you want a soft-boiled egg you can scoop it out of the water right away (use a slotted spoon)


Now what’s the big deal?

The hole at the base prevents the shell from cracking while cooking.

In order to peel your hard-boiled eggs, chilling them will make everything easier (use a bowl of ice water or refrigerate for a while). Peeling under cool water will help too. Eggs are funny things. Sometimes they peel easily (rap them on a hard surface- just enough to get started) and sometimes they don’t. When they don’t, they look a little, well, unsightly, but they still taste great and make a terrific food to take to work for lunch or a snack.

If you don’t overcook your egg, you will not get a green rim around the yoke (this is what you do not want your Bridge Club to see). No Bridge Club (or other fussy guests)? No worries. There is nothing wrong with a green-rimmed yolk. It’s perfectly edible.

Soft-boiled eggs can be peeled and smashed in a bowl with a hint of butter.

A little salt and pepper and you are good to go! Now what was I worried about?