I know it sounds hard to believe, but they’re ridiculously easy to screw up.

Think about the last hard-boiled egg you had.

Chances are it wasn’t perfect.

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Maybe it had a rubbery texture.

Maybe it broke open while it was cooking.

Maybe it smelled like sulfur.

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How do you avoid these pitfalls and end up with the perfect hard-boiled egg?

Here are the best ways to boil eggs perfectly.

Set the pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.

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Let the eggs stand until cool enough to handle before peeling.

This should give you a nice, firm yolk that will work perfectly foregg saladordeviled eggs.

3 Tips to Make Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs Every Time

1.

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If they crack open right away, the white seeps out of the shell and that spells disaster.

That’s why you never put your eggs into boiling water.

Both of these are harmless reactions to overcooking, but can easily be avoided.

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And just because your eggs are out of the hot water doesn’t mean they’re done cooking.

Pictured Recipe:Soy Sauce Eggs

3.

Fresh eggs are fine, but it’s a fact that older eggs are easier to peel.

If you don’t have time to wait, cracking the shell very slightlybeforeyou cook the egg may help.

The trick here is to crack the shell, but not the membrane inside.