How to Boil Perfect Eggs — Without the Green Ring, Ever peeled a boiled egg only to find a green-gray ring around the yolk? Don’t worry — it’s not spoilage, just a harmless reaction between iron and sulfur that happens when eggs are overcooked.
Luckily, a few simple tweaks can fix that for good.
The No-Fail Boiling Method: Start Cold: Place eggs in a pot and cover with cold water, about 1–2 inches above. Heat Gently: Bring to a rolling boil over medium heat, then immediately turn off the heat.
Let Sit: Cover and leave the eggs in the hot water: 9 minutes for soft yolks 11–12 minutes for firm yolks Cool Fast: Transfer eggs to an ice bath for at least 5 minutes to stop cooking and make peeling easier.