Can You Reboil Eggs? (2024)

Say it with us: no more under-boiled eggs again!

By

Sarra Sedghi

Can You Reboil Eggs? (1)

Sarra Sedghi has more than 10 years of experience as a food writer. She covers cooking, restaurants, and food culture, as well as travel, design, and lifestyle.

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Published on March 31, 2022

Can You Reboil Eggs? (2)

Boiling an egg is one of the first skills most cooks learn in the kitchen. The simple method can sustain you with a protein-rich breakfast or snack, a base for festive deviled eggs, or, if you're still old school, pretty pastel Easter eggs ready for a springtime hunt.

Boiled eggs are utilitarian enough to get you through times when you're short on cash, but with a little dressing up or a shorter cooking time, they can easily wrest their place at the center of attention at brunch.

However, one minor error or slip in attention can easily screw up boiled eggs, and an under-boiled egg is something all cooks have experienced at least once. Next time you botch a boiled egg, don't despair. Read on to learn the best way to finish cooking under-boiled eggs.

Can You Reboil an Egg?

Do you have a strong suspicion that you undercooked your boiled eggs, or did a crack tell you the batch wasn't quite done?

As long as an egg's shell hasn't been cracked, it's perfectly fine to put it back in hot water and continue cooking it.

But if you've ever tried to salvage an egg that cracked in the pot, you know exactly why trying to re-boil a compromised egg is a lost cause.

How to Boil Eggs Perfectly Every Time

How to Reboil an Egg

The best way to salvage an under-boiled egg is to get it back into hot water. You can either reboil them directly on the stove, or put them in a bowl that can handle boiling water and pour hot water over the eggs.

Note: Do not cook boiled or partially boiled eggs in the microwave; this will cause them to explode.

The Stove Method

  1. Add cold water and eggs to a pot. Bring water to a boil.
  2. Once water is boiling, remove pot from eye, and cook eggs until they reach your desired doneness (at least another 3 to 5 minutes, longer if the yolk was very runny).
  3. Drain the hot water, rinse eggs with cold water, and enjoy.

The Bowl Method

  1. Transfer eggs to a bowl or contain that can handle boiling water.
  2. Boil water on the stove or using a kettle. Slowly pour water in the bowl until the eggs are submerged.
  3. Cover the bowl with a lid and let sit until the water is cool.
  4. Remove eggs from water and check for doneness.

I Found a New Method for Scrambling Eggs and It's the Only One I'll Use From Now On

How to Tell if a Boiled Egg Is Done

Are you having doubts about your egg's doneness? Fortunately, you don't necessarily have to crack a boiled egg open to determine whether it's cooked enough. Just give the egg a quick spin over a flat surface:

  • If your egg spins quickly, without any hiccups, it's done and has an entirely solid mass.
  • If the egg wobbles or only spins for a short time, it means it's having trouble balancing because it still has liquid inside.
  • Put wobbly eggs back in the pot for a minute and repeat until they reach your desired doneness.

Tips for a Better Boiled Egg

  • If you prefer to start with cold water, don't start the timer the second your eggs enter the pot — this method may prevent cracking, but you need to account for the time your eggs are sitting in water that's just not hot enough. Instead, wait for the water to boil before starting your countdown.
  • If you like to boil the water first, add your eggs to the pot as carefully as possible. An egg that's haphazardly dropped has a higher chance of cracking and leaking its contents into the water.
  • Use a pot that's big enough. If your egg is not completely submerged in boiling water, then it won't cook evenly. Be sure to use a pot that has enough volume to cook your egg from all sides.

Related:

  • 18 Ways to Cook With Hard Boiled Eggs
  • How To Tell If Your Eggs Are Bad
  • Easy Tips and Tricks to Make the Perfect Deviled Eggs

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Can You Reboil Eggs? (2024)

FAQs

Can You Reboil Eggs? ›

Can You Reboil an Egg? Do you have a strong suspicion that you undercooked your boiled eggs, or did a crack tell you the batch wasn't quite done? As long as an egg's shell hasn't been cracked, it's perfectly fine to put it back in hot water and continue cooking it.

Can you boil eggs in multiple layers? ›

You don't want to pile them on top of each other. Keeping them in one layer, reduces the risk of cracking the shells when they come to a boil.

How to fix soft boiled eggs? ›

Soft boiled eggs in the shell will last in the refrigerator for about two days. To reheat the refrigerated soft boiled eggs, just repeat the initial cooing process with half the time. Bring about an inch of water to a boil in a small saucepot, add the egg, and let steam for 3 minutes instead of six.

Can you over boil boiled eggs? ›

Overcooked hard boiled eggs have an unappealing greenish ring around the yolks. We want our yolks to come out sunshine-yellow, so transfer the eggs to an ice bath to stop the cooking process as soon as they come out of the pot. This step is also crucial for making hard boiled eggs that are easy to peel.

Can you reboil eggs if they aren't cooked enough? ›

The best way to salvage an under-boiled egg is to get it back into hot water. You can either reboil them directly on the stove, or put them in a bowl that can handle boiling water and pour hot water over the eggs. Note: Do not cook boiled or partially boiled eggs in the microwave; this will cause them to explode.

Can you mess up boiling eggs? ›

If you keep the heat turned up too high or too long when you cook an egg, the proteins in the egg white form more and more bonds, squeezing some of the water out of the protein network and making the egg white rubbery.

Can you reheat boiled eggs? ›

If you make a large batch of hard boiled eggs, you may be wondering how to reheat them later. The best method for reheating hard boiled eggs is to pour boiling water over them and allow them to sit, covered, for 10 minutes. You can then enjoy them plain or make delicious deviled eggs or scrumptious egg salad.

Can soft boiled eggs be saved? ›

Store unpeeled, soft-boiled eggs in the refrigerator, where they will keep for two days. You can reheat them with a quick trip into simmering water on the stove—just cook in a single layer if you have multiple eggs.

Can you reuse boiled egg water? ›

Basically: After you boil a bunch of eggs in their shells, the water left over is more calcium-rich than ever, and not a bad option to repurpose for watering your houseplants. You want to make sure that you let the water return to room temperature before you add it to your plants' soil.

Is 20 minutes too long to boil eggs? ›

For one to four eggs, bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and turn the heat down to its lowest setting for 12-14 minutes. For five to eight eggs, cook for 15 to 18 minutes. For nine to one dozen eggs, cook for 20 minutes. After cooking, transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water.

What happens if you boil eggs for 30 minutes? ›

Generally, boiling an egg for 30 minutes is excessive and may result in overcooking, making the egg's texture rubbery and less palatable. However, from a food safety perspective, if the egg was properly stored before boiling and cooked thoroughly, it should be safe to eat. Just be mindful of the taste and texture.

Can you reboil hard boiled eggs after refrigeration? ›

In terms of food safety, as long as the egg would have been safe to eat as it is (that is, it still is in its unbroken shell, has been cooled rapidly after cooking and then refrigerated), it is safe to recook.

What to do if you eat a bad boiled egg? ›

Contact your doctor immediately if you develop the following symptoms: High fever (102 F) Diarrhea that worsens or does not improve within 2 days. Vomiting beyond 2 days.

Can you freeze boiled eggs? ›

If the eggs have already been peeled, keep them moist by covering them on bottom and top with a damp paper towel before placing them in the container. Another storage option for hard-boiled eggs is to freeze them and keep the cooked yolks. If you freeze the entire egg, the whites will become tough and inedible.

How do you refresh boiled eggs? ›

Instead of spending your morning cleaning your kitchen, try this one, foolproof, non-explosive trick. Place your hard boiled eggs in a heat proof bowl, pour boiling water until the egg is entirely submerged, then cover. Wait ten minutes before removing, crack, peel, and eat.

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