Here’s our foolproof stovetop hard-boiled eggs recipe. The recipe assumes four eggs, but you can increase or decrease them as you see fit (as long as the eggs can sit in the saucepan in one layer).
4 or more large eggs
Water
Place the eggs in a single layer in a saucepan and cover with cold water by 1 to 2 inches. Heat over high heat until the water comes to a rolling boil.
Cover the saucepan with a lid, cook for 30 seconds, then remove from the heat and let stand for 12 minutes.
A minute or so before the eggs finish cooking, prepare a bowl of ice water.
Transfer the cooked eggs to the ice water using a slotted spoon and leave for 5 minutes (or longer).
Crack egg shells and carefully peel them away. If the shells are not easily peeling away from the eggs, place them back into the ice water and try again in 5 minutes.
**Cooking time can range from 10 to 14 minutes, depending on the size of your eggs, altitude, and how firm you want them to be. If you are cooking a large batch of eggs, it might be a good idea to “sacrifice” one egg and check doneness.