# Hard boiled egg time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [April 7, 2024, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-boiled-egg-time/999964 "2024-04-07T02:47:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-boiled-egg-time/999964/41 "2024-04-17T01:28:56Z")
Just boiled 5 eggs earlier. I used less time. I wonder if something was wrong with them, first time in my life the yolk tasted bad. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-boiled-egg-time/999964/42 "2024-04-17T02:50:21Z")
Or you’re so used to vastly overcooked green nasty yolks that a proper yellow one tastes “off” to you. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-boiled-egg-time/999964/43 "2024-04-17T02:58:12Z")
I start with cold water, bring the water to a full boil and then shut off heat allowing them to sit for about 15 minutes. Perfect yellows with no hint of green even on the surface and no runny yolks. Total boiling time maybe 30 seconds ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-boiled-egg-time/999964/44 "2024-04-17T02:59:17Z")
No. I’ve almost never had a green yolk. This one tasted bitter. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-boiled-egg-time/999964/45 "2024-04-17T03:01:58Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > Holding the boiling for 4-6 minutes is necessary, or the yolks will be very soft. 4 minutes means they have just set. Of course the time will vary a bit depending how big the eggs are. There is no need to hold boiling time for even one minute. Eggs should never get over about 170 degrees. Bring water to a boil, shut off flame and cover pan. Soak for at least 12 minutes ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-boiled-egg-time/999964/46 "2024-04-17T03:06:34Z")
So many convoluted ways to cook an egg. It is just heat and time. No need to make it complicated. Sort out the burner setting on your stove and the time and you will get it right every time without fail (I recommend an ice water bath after cooking). Whatever works for you is fine but reading these posts I think it can be a lot more simple and a lot faster but do whatever works for you. Green/grey egg yolks are an indication you overcooked the egg. It looks not great but it will not hurt you and tastes a bit off but if that is what you like then fine. Just do not serve them to anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-boiled-egg-time/999964/47 "2024-04-17T04:12:38Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Bring water to a boil, shut off flame and cover pan. Soak for at least 12 minutes Tried that, as it is the usual advice, but when water boils at 202, it cools down before the eggs have cooked all the way. This technique without the extended boil got me more of an overdone soft boiled egg than a hard boiled egg. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-boiled-egg-time/999964/48 "2024-04-17T15:34:50Z")
That’s weird. It shouldn’t taste any worse cooked less. It should only get, well, less cooked. For my cooking method, it’s 6 min for soft, 9 for medium (this is a beautiful zone for eggs, but not for every use), and then 12 for just hard boiled. My mom does 15-20 and her eggs are always gray around the edges, mealy, and sulfurous. I don’t know how a 20 minute boiled egg with ten more minutes in the hot water does not produce a gray-rimmed yolk, as I’ve gotten pissed at myself for not minding the time and taking it out at fifteen minutes to what I consider an overcooked egg. Like this: [![](https://www.rd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/GettyImages-480977551-e1682435480310.jpg?fit=700,700) ](https://www.rd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/GettyImages-480977551-e1682435480310.jpg?fit=700,700) When I see that, my heart sinks. When I see that at a restaurant, I wonder who in the hell taught the cooks how to cook. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-boiled-egg-time/999964.md?page=2)