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It's easy to get answers about health and nutrition! Just send your question by email to [email protected] and Dr. Harlan will respond to selected questions of general interest. Answers will be posted in the Ask Dr. Gourmet newsletter (sign up now!) and archived in the Ask Dr. Gourmet section of the website.

Please note that the Ask Dr. Gourmet feature is restricted to questions regarding food and nutrition. Due to the many questions we receive, not all questions may be answered. For more specific questions about your individual health, please contact your doctor. About Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy


 

Ask Dr. Gourmet

What is the best way to cook hard boiled eggs?

I am trying to prepare the best hard boiled eggs for friends. My procedure is to boil them for at least 10 minutes over a medium flame, then I let them sit and cool down so I can peel them. Now isn't that the best procedure to use?

Dr. Gourmet Says...

hard boiled eggs, one sliced in half

There are dozens of ways to boil an egg, and your email piqued my interest. I searched the internet and found many people who claim to have the perfect method. While many of them sound good, there are often multiple steps involving heating, reheating, ice water, and cool running water.

The method that I use is pretty simple and very similar to yours. Place the eggs in a pan and cover with cold water. The water should be at least two inches over the top of the eggs. Bring the water to a boil. Start your timer and boil the eggs for 3 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and let the eggs stand in the water for 12 minutes.

Run cold water into the pan until all the water is cold, then remove and shell the eggs (they will still be warm). Let them stand for 5 - 10 minutes before putting in the refrigerator.

Here are some great ways to use your hard-boiled eggs:
Thousand Island Dressing
Jalapeno Thousand Island Dressing
Healthy Deviled Eggs (more variations)
Egg Salad
Egg Salad with Olives
Curried Egg Salad
Egg Salad with Roasted Onion
Egg Salad with Avocado

Thanks for writing,

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet