How To Make Hard Boiled Eggs For A Crowd

Whether you’re planning to fix enough Deviled Eggs to feed everyone at the company picnic, or you just want to host the biggest Easter Egg Hunt in the neighborhood this year, you can save time if you know how to make hard boiled eggs for a crowd.

But first, you need to forget everything you know about making hard boiled eggs.

You see, the secret is that you don’t boil them at all — you make them in your oven! Using an oven means you can make hard boiled eggs for a crowd all at once, without having to boil then chill and then boil and chill more.

Oh, and since this method is perfectly timed you’ll never get that nasty gray ring around the yolk that comes from overcooking.

That gray ring is so gross!

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How To Make Hard Boiled Eggs For A Crowd

The Oven Method

If you’re worried about messing up your oven, you can use a muffin pan to hold the eggs. Since I watch the timer, I’ve never had an egg explode so I don’t bother with the pan, I just place the eggs directly on my oven racks so they’re not touching.

Step 1 Start with a cold oven then arrange the eggs on your oven racks, shut the door, and turn the temperature to 325°F. Immediately start a 30-minute timer. While the eggs cook, prepare an ice bath in the sink or a large bowl.

Step 2 The eggs are very hot when they’re done, so if you don’t use the muffin pan you’ll want to remove them from the oven using tongs or silicone gloves then plunge them into ice water immediately they’re done to stop their cooking.

The Instant Pot Method

If you have an Instant Pot (and I’m so crazy about mine that I think everyone should own one!) you’re in luck: this thing makes the best hard eggs and they peel SO EASILY!

Step 1 All you need to do is add your eggs to the Instant Pot by arranging them on top of the trivet rack. Stack them up to the “max fill” line if you like — you can make anywhere from 1 to 3 dozen eggs, depending on your Instant Pot size. Add 1 1/2 cups of water, put on the lid, then set it manually to high pressure for 2 minutes.

Step 2 Once the machine beeps, let it naturally release pressure for 15 minutes then carefully open the valve to make sure the pressure has fully dropped. Open the lid and transfer the eggs to an ice bath. They’re ready to peel in minutes, though with this method the peels practically slip off on their own!

Tips

• Making these for an Easter Egg Hunt? Check out these how to naturally dye Easter Eggs using kitchen ingredients.

• Once the hunt is over, here are some great great recipes using hard boiled eggs.

• Don’t toss the shells until you’ve checked out these awesome ways to use eggshells around the house!

Note: This entry first appeared on Dec. 7, 2011.