Devilled eggs

How to make devilled eggs

My rules are simple – don’t overcook the eggs. And don’t use too much mayo!

Oh, also, a nifty trick for how to boil eggs with nicely centred yolks for the smartest looking devilled eggs on the block!

1. centred egg yolks

For devilled eggs, you want a boiled egg with a yolk that is centred within the egg white as much as possible. This not only looks attractive but if the yolk is too off-centre, the egg white wall on one or more sides can be thin and break.

The trick for centred egg yolks is to stir the water regularly as the eggs are boiling. The centrifugal force when the eggs roll and spin helps keep the yolks centre as the whites set. We tested it and it works consistently 95% of the time, whereas without it’s kind of pot-luck where the yolks end up!

How to boil eggs with centred yolks for devilled eggs

If you read the steps and wonder – why fridge cold eggs, why boil water first? Answers are over here -> How to boil eggs.

1. Boil 10 minutes – Bring 12 cm / 5″ water to a boil in a large pot. Once it comes to a full boil, lower fridge cold eggs in gently using a spider or slotted spoon. Start the timer and boil for 10 minutes.

   ⚠️ Lower heat a touch, if needed, so the eggs are not being jostled around so much they crack (but not too much, else they won’t cook!). Make sure the pot is roomy – you need the space for the swirling step.
   💡We need hard boiled eggs for devilled eggs. If they are soft boiled, the whites are a little too fragile to pick up.

2. STIR every minute – Using the handle of a wooden spoon, stir the eggs every minute 5 or 6 times. Stir around the edge of the pot at a decent pace to get the water moving, then retract and watch the eggs swirl around in the water. This is what makes the yolks cook so they are centred.

3. Sink of water – Transfer the eggs into a sink filled with cold tap water using a spider or slotted spoon. Leave for 5 minutes until cool enough to handle, then peel.

4. Peeling eggs – Crack the base of the egg (weakest point) then peel under water (it’s easier).

A note on fresh eggs

Fresh eggs (ie within 2 days of being laid, which is not any store bought egg!) will not require swirling as the whites are tight enough that the yolks stay nicely centred when boiled. Ironically though, fresh eggs are harder to peel neatly. 🙂