How To Hard Boil Eggs In The Oven

Next time you want to hard boil eggs, don't start a pot of water to boil. Instead, turn on the oven. Even though the name of these eggs suggests that they should be boiled, it's so much easier -- and some say better -- when baked.

While you could go through the challenge of poking a pin hole into each egg to get it perfectly hard boiled, wouldn't you rather use Alton Brown's much simpler method? Sure, it takes longer to make boiled eggs in the oven, a whole 30 minutes vs. the nine when boiled, but there are perks to this hands-off method. When baked, hard boiled eggs have a creamier texture. Some say that they're even easier to peel.

But the real appeal of baking eggs rather than boiling them is when you need to make a large amount -- like when feeding a big crowd. It's so much easier to cook two or three dozen on an oven rack than in a huge pot of boiling water.

Photo courtesty of Greetings From The Asylum

To make the eggs, simply bake them in a 325 degree oven for 30 minutes. You can place them directly on the rack or use a muffin tin, which makes it easy move them in and out of the oven in bulk. Once the 30 minutes have passed, remove the eggs from the oven (carefully, because they are hot) and plunge them in cold water for 10 minutes.

The shells may have brown spots where they were in contact with hot metal. Sometimes that discoloration fades away in the water plunge, but sometimes it will leave marks on the whites.

Hungry for eggs now? Check out these recipes.

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• Soft Scrambled Eggs

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• Fried Bologna And Egg On Challah Bread

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• Pork And Eggs Breakfast Sandwich

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/20715-pork-and-eggs-breakfast-sandwich" target="_blank">Pork and Eggs Breakfast Sandwich recipe</a> by Sherry K-Jazzy Gourmet by Food52</strong>

• The Green Madame

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• Avocado Y Huevos Caliente

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• Fried Eggs With Asparagus, Ramps And Oyster Sauce

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/11754-fried-eggs-with-asparagus-ramps-and-oyster-sauce" target="_blank">Fried Eggs with Asparagus, Ramps, and Oyster Sauce recipe</a> by thirschfeld via Food52</strong>

• Chickpea, Spinach And Chorizo Frittata

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/3540-chickpea-spinach-and-chorizo-fritatta" target="_blank">Chickpea, Spinach, and Chorizo Frittata recipe</a> by Hadyourtea? via Food52</strong>

• Tomato-y, Yogurt-y Shakshuka

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/20281-tomato-y-yogurt-y-shakshuka" target="_blank">Tomato-y, Yogurt-y Shakshuka recipe</a> by Nicholas via Food52</strong>

• Unda Bhurji

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/16754-buddy-s-unda-bhurji-spiced-up-scrambled-eggs" target="_blank">Unda Bhurji recipe</a> by PistachioDoughnut via Food52</strong>

• Eggs Benedict

  <strong>Get the<a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/eggs_benedict/" target="_hplink"> Eggs Benedict recipe</a> by Simply Recipes</strong>

• Migas

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/15870-migas" target="_blank">Migas recipe</a> by OB Cookie via Food52</strong>

• Chickpea, Tomato, And Roasted Red Pepper Skillet Breakfast

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/15046-chickpea-tomato-and-roasted-red-pepper-skillet-breakfast" target="_blank">Chickpea, Tomato, and Roasted Red Pepper Skillet Breakfast recipe</a> by sporkme via Food52</strong>

• Kimchi Omelet

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://steamykitchen.com/19118-kimchi-omelet-recipe.html" target="_hplink">Kimchi Omelet recipe</a> by Steamy Kitchen</strong>

• Grandma's Scrambled Eggs

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.foodiecrush.com/2012/03/scrambled-egg-recipe-brinner/" target="_hplink">Grandma's Scrambled Eggs recipe </a>by Foodie Crush</strong>

• Vegetable Eggs Benedict

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/618-vegetable-eggs-benedict" target="_blank">Vegetable Eggs Benedict recipe</a> by JackieK via Food52</strong>

• Quinoa Breakfast Hash

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/08/quinoa-breakfast-skillet/" target="_hplink">Quinoa Breakfast Hash recipe</a> by How Sweet It Is</strong>

• Egg Nests

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/egg_nests/" target="_hplink">Egg Nests recipe</a> by Simply Recipes</strong>

• Bacon, Egg And Toast Cups

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://steamykitchen.com/16983-bacon-egg-and-toast-cups.html" target="_hplink">Bacon, Egg and Toast Cups recipe</a> by Steamy Kitchen</strong>

• Bacon, Egg And Asparagus Breakfast Pizzas

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/05/bacon-egg-asparagus-personal-pizzas/" target="_hplink">Bacon, Egg And Asparagus Breakfast Pizzas recipe</a> by How Sweet It Is</strong>

• Salmon And Bagel Egg Benedict

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.foodiecrush.com/2012/05/salmon-and-bagel-egg-benedict-for-mothers-day-brunch/" target="_hplink">Salmon and Bagel Egg Benedict recipe</a> by Foodie Crush</strong>

• Tuscan Scrambled Eggs

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/tuscan_scrambled_eggs/" target="_hplink">Tuscan Scrambled Eggs recipe</a> by Simply Recipes</strong>

• Roasted Tomato And Zucchini Frittata

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.foodiecrush.com/2012/09/roasted-tomato-and-zucchini-frittata-recipe/" target="_hplink">Roasted Tomato and Zucchini Frittata recipe</a> by Foodie Crush</strong>

• Fontina And Spinach Baked Eggs

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/12/fontina-and-spinach-baked-eggs-with-garlic-brown-butter-breadcrumbs/" target="_hplink">Fontina and Spinach Baked Eggs recipe</a> by How Sweet It Is</strong>

• Brussels Sprouts Breakfast Hash

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/10/brussels-sprouts-breakfast-hash-for-dinner/" target="_hplink">Brussels Sprouts Breakfast Hash recipe</a> by How Sweet It Is</strong>

• Huevos Rancheros

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• Zucchini And Feta Frittata

  To add a peppery note and some lush color to this beautiful frittata, top it with a handful of arugula. <strong>Get the Recipe for <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/zucchini-and-feta-frittat_n_1057101.html" target="_hplink">Zucchini and Feta Frittata</a> </strong>

• Shrimp Omelette

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• Honey Roasted Potatoes With Fried Eggs And Bacon

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• Bacon, Cheddar And Scallion Strata

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• Bacon, Tomato And Cheddar Breakfast Bake With Egg

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• Fried Egg Chilaquiles

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• Eggs Baked In Roasted Tomato Sauce

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• Huevos Rancheros

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• Grilled Escarole And Fried Egg On Grilled Bread

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• Quinoa Cakes With Mushrooms, Bacon And Sunnyside Fried Eggs

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• Moroccan Baked Eggs With Red Peppers And Spinach

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• Lox, Eggs And Onions Quiche

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• Artichoke-Scrambled Eggs Benedict

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• Zucchini Breakfast Casserole

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Comments

[c-tom]

12:27 AM on 03/31/2013

Use older eggs - they peel easier. I add some vinegar to the water but don't know if it helps or not. I don't punch holes in them - it doesn't matter to me if they have a lttle scallop at one end.

And doesn't the oven use more energy?

[loco48]

08:23 AM on 03/31/2013

It is 9 minutes on a burner or 30 minutes at 350 in the oven. Sure it uses 3 times the energy to get the same result.

[MeMyselfI]

08:35 PM on 03/30/2013

Put in the pot of cold water
bring to a boil
take off heat and cover for 12-14 min
put in ice bath
done.

[Zannahp]

07:38 PM on 03/30/2013

I just tried this to see if it actually works- not like I had hoped! Yes, the eggs did bake in the oven but most came out with a cracked shell and spotty as well.

I won't be using these eggs to dye for tomorrow's Easter egg hunt. If you are just baking eggs to eat and don't care about the appearance than this idea works well.

I will stick to boiling my "boiled eggs".

[Jangocat]

05:34 PM on 03/30/2013

I don't know, tripling the time and having to individually pick several dozen eggs off the rack doesn't seem easier. It is a good alternative for elderly people that have lost the strength to lift a large pot of water though.

[t jw]

05:07 PM on 03/30/2013

A quick lesson on a perfectly “boiled” egg that is not necessarily boiled.
Always use the pinhole and just poke them in the carton the way they’re packed. (Prevents cracking)
Have a pot of full roll boiling water large enough to accompany the amount to be cooked.
Use a bamboo stainless steel strainer to submerge the eggs, the important part is they all go in at once.
Bring to a boil again about a minute shut off heat and cover.
Let the eggs sit for fifteen minutes and remove from heat.
A good hard-boiled egg should have none of that green surface around the yellow yoke (sulfur I believe)
As far as peeling goes, I’m surprised that I’ve never seen or heard one person in my years speak of this method including Jacques Pepin in which I believe this previously mentioned method is his way.
Peeling the egg gently crack the shell all the way around and place into the palm of your hand
Put your other hand over the egg cupping it and start to roll the egg in a circular motion while applying gentle pressure to the egg this method will lift the membrane off of the egg entirely every time and the more you do it the more you’ll wonder why you never thought about this way in the first place. (Crack liberally and roll the egg between your hands when the shell is sticking to the egg)

[rndyrger]

04:28 PM on 03/30/2013

Yea, but what if they incubate while they're in there and one gets a bunch of chicks when one opens the oven door.

[Kimbrena Dawn Cravens]

02:31 PM on 03/30/2013

I like to boil a lot of eggs at a time for our family of 6. We like deviled eggs, we snack on boiled eggs, and I like egg salad, etc. Usually it takes a while for a huge pot of water containing at LEAST 18 eggs to boil. So for those of you who think it's stupid to run the oven to cook 4-6 eggs, you're probably right. But this way is MUCH easier when you're cooking more than a small amount of eggs.

[nalpocnad]

05:54 PM on 03/30/2013

Question....eggs room temp or straight out of the fridge.

[Kimbrena Dawn Cravens]

07:31 PM on 03/30/2013

I did mine out of the refrigerator. The first time I did from room temperature and they were majorly overcooked (I think I also cooked them at 350.) This time I baked them at 325 for half an hour and they were *just* done. A little less cooked, and they would have probably been considered soft-boiled. So I would say either from the fridge at 350 or from room temperature at 325.

[Jrg Frei]

02:11 PM on 03/30/2013

if you can't boil eggs the conventional way......stay out of the kitchen.

[MorganAndrews75]

02:07 PM on 03/30/2013

I guess I must be lazy. Because throwing them in some water and boiling them seems less energy consuming.

[BadKitty]

01:55 PM on 03/30/2013

Perfectly cooked, easy to peel, hard boiled eggs.

Place eggs in pot. Cover with COLD water. Place on stovetop, set heat to high and bring to a boil. When water reaches boiling point remove pot from heat source. Cover. Let stand for 20 minutes. Drain and refill pot with cold water. Viola. The shell peels beautifully from the eggs and the eggs are simply perfect.

[breakingpoint]

01:55 PM on 03/30/2013

babies in the ovens

[somepeoplecallmethestig]

01:53 PM on 03/30/2013

Is this for people who cant figure out how to boil water?

[Secure214]

01:30 PM on 03/30/2013

Yup, it works. I tried it this week. I used my mini toaster oven instead of the full-fized one and it still worked fine.

They tasted exactly the same as boiled eggs to me.

[lisalawless]

01:24 PM on 03/30/2013

My husband and I found a better way to cook boiled eggs in the oven. 1) You do not have to poke holes. 2) Using a wire or metal pan will only leave burn marks and dry spots in the eggs.

Instead, pre-heat the oven to 325, use a silicone muffin pan placing one egg in each cup. Bake for 30 min. and cool in a bowel of cold water. They are perfect every time. For more cool cooking tips, see Pinterest as there are tons there-

http://pinterest.com/holisticwisdom/cooking-tips/

[AJOHMSS]

01:35 PM on 03/30/2013

A muffin pan?
I would never have thought of that.
Excellent idea.

[Tom Sicilia]

01:38 PM on 03/30/2013

this seems like agood alternative, but i may try a bowl of water instead. it would be less painful.

[lisalawless]

01:46 PM on 03/30/2013

LOL I just caught that typo. Yes a bowl is best. :-)

[IfIonlyknew]

01:21 PM on 03/30/2013

What about deep frying them??

[playsindirt]

01:23 PM on 03/30/2013

If you ever get the chance - do them in a smoker. They are ridiculously good smoked. Sounds gross but they're yummy.