By Emily Malloy

There always has been something elusive about cooking a hard-boiled egg. Upon cooking and ice bathing, one is never quite sure how much of the egg white will be lost during the process of peeling; notwithstanding the unforeseen amount time the harrowing process will take.

There have been countless claims by chefs throughout the years as to the best way to cooking a hard-boiled egg. I have tried them all: baking in the oven, a splash vinegar, even just plain old fashioned boiling.

Hard-boiled eggs are a staple in our house. With over a dozen chickens roaming our property, I have had ample opportunity to try all the various methods. Some have worked better than others, but few have been as revolutionary to my daily routine, nor as consistent, as steaming eggs. 

I'll admit, my level of skepticism was high, but I cannot describe the delight I have in peeling eggs that have been steamed. Absolutely effortless. 

An extremely straight-forward process, all that is needed for success consists of eggs, a metal vegetable steaming basket, a large sauce pot, an inch of water, and a bit of time. 

Steaming for 10 minutes will produce a dreamy soft-boiled egg. Steaming from 13-15 minutes will begin to range in a medium cooked yolk to a typical hard-boiled egg. The ice-bath stops the cooking process and ensures that the eggs will not overcook. 

The verdict? This is the only way I will "hard-boil" eggs. Making lunch is now a breeze with much more egg to enjoy. 

Steamed Hard-Boiled Eggs
Time: 20 minutes

Directions: 
1. In a large sauce pot with a lid, add water so that it covers about 1" on the bottom. Bring to a boil. 

2. While waiting for the water to boil, place the amount of desired eggs to cook in the steamer basket. Make sure that all the eggs remain on one level and don't stack. 

3. Turn off the heat to the stove, place the steamer basket into the sauce pot, place the lid on top. Heat the stovetop back to medium heat. Cook for 10 minutes for soft-boiled, 13 for medium, and 15 for hard-boiled eggs. 

4. While the eggs are cooking, prepare an ice bath: place ice cubes and a few cups of water into a large bowl, so that the eggs will be submerged. Once the eggs are finished cooking, place into the water for 10 minutes. Peel, eat, and enjoy!

Printable recipe can be found here!