Hard Boiled Eggs

Believe it or not, there is an art to cooking eggs in the shell. Find out how to cook them perfectly to your tastes without that gray-green tinge. Remember, hard-boiled eggs is a misnomer as they should not be boiled for any length of time.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 25 minutes

Here's How:

Place eggs in single layer in saucepan.

Cover with at least one inch of cold water over tops of shells.

Cover pot with lid and bring to a boil over medium heat.

As soon as the water comes to a full boil, remove from heat and let stand.

Large soft-cooked eggs: let stand in hot water 1 to 4 minutes, depending on your tastes.

Large hard-cooked eggs: let stand in hot water 15 to 17 minutes.

When cooked to desired level, drain off hot water.

Immediately cover with cold water and add a few ice cubes.

Soft-cooked eggs: let stand in cold water until cool enough to handle. Serve.

Hard-cooked eggs: let stand in cold water until completely cooled. Use as needed.

Tips:

Never boil eggs. It makes them rubbery.

Use older eggs. Fresh ones won't peel properly.

To keep eggs from cracking while cooking (before placing in water), pierce large end with a needle, which will also make them easier to peel.

What You Need:

· eggs

· saucepan