The temperature at which water boils declines as elevation rises, so a longer time is required to prepare hard-cooked eggs at higher altitudes. Colorado cooks will need to do their own testing with hard-cooked eggs to obtain the desired results, but a good place to start is to use the following method adapted from the American Egg Board.
You can also learn more about a variety of high altitude cooking adjustments in CSU Extension’s High Elevation Food Preparation Guide.
The following method for preparing hard-boiled eggs has been modified for cooks living above 5,000 feet:
Place eggs in cold water and bring the pot to a boil. Decrease cooking temp to medium-low and cook eggs for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and run eggs under cold water. The higher you go in the mountains, add 1 minute of cooking time for every 1000 feet.
Boiled eggs are an inexpensive and delicious way to add high-quality protein and a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to your diet (1).
You can boil a soft yolk large egg for 7 minutes. For a classic hard-boil, cook them for up to 13 minutes. Smaller eggs cook faster and they may need to cook longer at higher altitudes.
If you don’t like waiting for a pot of water to boil but still want to enjoy a hard-boiled egg, you’re in luck. Steaming whole eggs is a great way to achieve the same taste and quality of a boiled egg using much less water.
For a soft, runny yolk, bake for about 22 minutes, and for a firm hard boil, bake for 30 minutes. Submerge the eggs in an ice bath promptly after baking to stop the cooking process.
First, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Then, place one whole egg into each cup of a muffin pan.
High Elevation Hard-Cooked Eggs
For easier peeling, use eggs that are 7-10 days old.
Step 1: Place eggs in saucepan large enough to hold them in single layer. Add cold water to cover eggs by 1 inch. Cover pan and heat on HIGH just to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Step 2: Remove pan from burner. Let eggs stand, covered, 15 minutes large eggs/20 minutes extra-large eggs.
Step 3: Drain immediately, peel, and serve warm, or cool completely under cold running water or in bowl of iced water, then refrigerate.
The Best Way to Hard-Cook Eggs (and Peel Them) | Today’s Special
FAQ
Do eggs take longer to boil at altitude?
How do you cook eggs at high altitude?
How long to boil 4 eggs on high?
How do you cook hard boiled eggs at high altitude?
Cooked eggs should be easy to peel. For hard-cooked eggs at high altitude, The Food Lab recommends strongly that you use a thermometer while using their method. They start with 2 quarts of water brought to a boil in a large pan. Carefully lower the 1-6 eggs into the boiling water and cook for 30 seconds.
How long do hard boiled eggs last when refrigerated?
Hard-boiled eggs can be preserved up to 7 days in the refrigerator. Keeping them with the shell will help to protect the egg from bacteria, and can help prevent them from absorbing odors from other foods in your refrigerator.
How does high altitude affect boiled eggs?
High altitude affects more than just baking, it affects the rate at which water boils, thus impacting how eggs turn out when boiled. My family loves hard-boiled eggs and I wanted to experiment with the best way to get perfect eggs at high altitudes, without the green hue around the yolk.
Does it take longer to cook eggs at high altitudes?
Yes, it can take longer to cook eggs at high altitudes, especially those cooked in boiling water such as poached and hard-cooked eggs. Because water boils at a lower temperature at high altitudes, hard-cooked eggs will take longer to prepare. It will most likely take longer to hard cook eggs at high altitudes than at sea level.