Go steam-powered and cook a classic snack in a whole new way—Steamed Hard-Boiled Eggs provide the protein and yumminess without getting your hands wet!
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I have a confession to make: I’ve been steaming my eggs for years. Such a long time begs the question: why haven’t I brought the recipe to the site before now? I can’t really answer that. Maybe it’s because I always thought of it as my little secret. Who would have thought to steam eggs? But it’s such a life hack!
Steaming means no green around the yolk when you boil them for too long. Steaming means an easier time removing the shell. Steaming means less cooking time, so you can get on with your day (and you get to eat steamed eggs).
Sure, you can Soft-Boil Your Eggs In The Microwave, you can even Hard-Boil Them In The Microwave, but for total convenience and ease, there’s only one way for me to do up my eggs.
Are Steamed Hard-Boiled Eggs Healthy?
Yep, hard-boiled eggs are healthy. They contain protein and vitamins B12 and D. They fill you up and take next to no time to prepare, making them a great snack. What’s more, boiling eggs at a high temperature can result in loss of nutrients (especially water-soluble vitamins), so steaming is the way to go. They are also suitable for low-carb, keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, whole30, and paleo diets (pretty much ALL the diets!) so you can enjoy them regardless of your dietary restrictions (except vegans, that is).
Steaming Guidelines
| Doneness Level | Steaming Time |
|---|---|
| Soft-Boiled (runny yolk) | 5-6 minutes |
| Medium-Soft (partially set yolk) | 7-9 minutes |
| Medium (creamy yolk) | 11-13 minutes |
| Hard-Boiled (fully set yolk) | 14-16 minutes |
INGREDIENTS
- 3 large eggs
- pinch of salt and pepper
- chopped chives (for garnish)
INSTRUCTIONS
Steam
Place a steamer insert inside a large pot with water and bring to a boil over HIGH heat. Add the eggs to the steamer basket, cover, and cook for about 14 minutes for hard-boiled eggs. See the above chart for different cooking times.
Cool
While the eggs are being steamed, prepare a large bowl filled with ice cubes and water. Once the eggs are done, transfer them to the ice-water bath. Allow them to cool for at least 10 minutes before peeling.
Peel
Gently tap the eggs all over to crack the shell. Remove the shell with your fingers.
Garnish
Cut the steamed eggs in half and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped chives.
DEVOUR!
Tips & Tricks to Making Perfect Steamed Hard-Boiled Eggs
- If you’re having difficulty peeling, I find brushing the side of my thumb against the broken shell effectively removes its pieces and gets under that skin that separates the egg white from the shell.
- You can also remove the shells while running them under a stream of water; the water will wash away little bits of stubborn shell.
- If you don’t want to “shock” the eggs with the ice bath, remove them from the steam a few minutes earlier than usual. The eggs will continue to cook and eventually achieve the desired consistency.
- I “divide and conquer” my boiling water to cut down on time. I put a small amount in the pot on the stove and another small amount in my kettle, which I then add to the pot upon reaching boiling point.
- Take the size of your eggs into account when calculating boiling time.
- Don’t overload your basket; the eggs will shift while boiling and could crack each other.
FAQs
The steam is able to penetrate the shell and get between it and the egg white.
Sure. Heck, I’ve used a rice cooker at times, as well as the traditional steamer basket that came with my pots and pans. As for air frying, here’s a recipe.
No, it’s not necessary, as the steam can escape through the shell. But this does bring me to the next question…
Some people do pierce the wide end of the eggs to let steam out and reduce the risk of eggs cracking during the steaming process. As I mention earlier, don’t overcrowd the basket or they can bump and crack each other. Last tip: Let the eggs hit room temperature (or, if you’re the impatient type, run them under warm water) before boiling them. Some point to the sudden change in temperature as the cause of the cracking.
You can. The acidity in the vinegar is supposed to loosen the bond between the egg’s membrane and the egg white, making it easier to peel.
Recipes that involve hard-boiled eggs
Now that you have a collection of hard-boiled eggs, what do you do with them? First, you can pickle them. Or you can “devil” them with a twist in the form of Greek yogurt. To glam up your snack, try this recipe for Salt & Pepita Hard-Boiled Eggs. For a dish where the egg is no longer the star but still an important member of the team, try my Coconut Slow-Cooker Curry with Pumpkin & Eggs.
how to store steamed hard-boiled eggs
Once your eggs have cooled completely, you can store them unpeeled in the fridge for up to a week. It’s important though that you don’t peel them first or their shelf life will be drastically reduced. Peeled eggs should be stored in the “body” of the fridge (i.e., not the door). To cut down on condensation, perhaps put a paper towel in the container with the eggs.
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- pinch of salt and pepper
- chives chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Place a steamer insert inside a large pot with water and bring to a boil over HIGH heat. Add the eggs to the steamer basket, cover, and cook for about 14 minutes for hard-boiled eggs.
- While the eggs are being steamed, prepare a large bowl filled with ice cubes and water. Once the eggs are done, transfer them to the ice-water bath. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before peeling.
- Gently tap the eggs all over to crack the shell. Remove the shell with your fingers.
- Cut the steamed eggs in half and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped chives.
Tips & Notes:
- I “divide and conquer” my boiling water to cut down on time. I put a small amount in the pot on the stove and another small amount in my kettle, which I then add to the pot upon reaching boiling point.
- Take the size of your eggs into account when calculating boiling time.
- Don’t overload your basket; the eggs will shift while boiling and could crack each other.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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