Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs without the Green Ring

The best Easter eggs start with the perfect hard-boiled egg.  But, how does an egg get to be perfectly boiled without that green ring around the outside and that smell of, well, rotten egg?

The first thing that you need to do is start with some really fresh eggs.  Always check the outside of the carton for the expiration date.

Carefully place the eggs in the bottom of a large stockpot and cover with about an inch of cold water.  A finger is a great measuring tool for this.  Just put a finger on the egg.  The water should just cover the top section of your finger.

Place the pot on the stove over medium-high heat and cover leaving the lid slightly open.

Keep an ear and an eye on those eggs.  As soon as you hear the eggs starting to move uncover the pot.  You should see some medium bubbles rising from underneath the eggs.  When this happens, turn off the heat, cover the pot tightly this time and let it sit right where it is for exactly 11 minutes.

When the time is up, carefully pour out the hot water and rinse the eggs well with cold water.  Allow them to sit until they are cooled completely.

Now they are ready to be dyed.  Rice dying is all the rage and so easy.

Put some uncooked rice in a container, add 6 – 10 drops of food coloring, cover and shake well until the rice is well colored.  Uncover, put in your cooled hard-boiled egg, re-cover and gently shake to get the coloring on the egg.

Wallah!  Speckled eggs!

Speckled eggs with no stinky green rings.  Now to make some egg salad! 😛

Easter Eggs

Perfectly Cooked Hard-boiled Eggs

• Author: Cathy Speronis

Ingredients

• 1 dozen large eggs
• 6-quart pot with tight fitting lid
• cold water

Instructions

1. Carefully place uncooked eggs in the bottom of the pot.
2. Cover with an inch of cold water.
3. Place over medium-high heat and partially cover the pot with the lid.
4. Listen for the eggs to start moving. As soon as you see medium sized bubbles rising from underneath the eggs, turn off the heat and cover the pot tightly this time.
5. Set a timer for 11 minutes.
6. When time is up, carefully pour off the hot water and rinse the eggs well under cold water to stop the cooking.
7. Allow to cool completely before dying.