Can You Really Make Hard-Boiled Eggs in the Oven—and Should You?
Updated: Jan. 11, 2024
The stovetop may not be the only way to cook your favorite type of eggs! Here’s what you need to know about making hard-boiled eggs in the oven.
It’s eggs-traordinary how many different ways you can make an egg. For starters, there are poached eggs, fried eggs, steamed eggs and shirred eggs. There’s even more than one way to make scrambled eggs, including everyday fluffy scrambled eggs, in-a-hurry microwave scrambled eggs and the most special eggs of them all: Dolly Parton’s scrambled eggs. And even though they have the word boiled in their name, do you know there are multiple ways to make a hard-boiled egg, including a few that don’t even involve a stovetop? That’s right—some people make hard-boiled eggs in the oven. But is it a good idea? We decided to investigate.
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Can you make hard-boiled eggs in the oven?
Yes, it is possible to make hard-boiled eggs in the oven! Though they’re not “boiled,” per se, the oven does the same job that boiling water does: cook eggs, still in their shells, all the way through. You’re basically just heating the eggs past 158 degrees (the temperature at which its proteins begin to set) by surrounding them with hot air instead of boiling water.
Is it a good idea to make hard-boiled eggs this way?
It certainly can be. Oven-baking your eggs makes them less likely to overcook, which can cause the eggs to have a green ring around the yolk and a stronger sulfur smell. If you’ve got a lot of things going on in your kitchen and can’t risk missing your cue to take the eggs out of the pot (or you’re just notoriously bad with kitchen timers), making hard-boiled eggs in the oven may be the way to go.
But the best reason to consider using your oven for hard-cooked eggs? You can easily cook large quantities of eggs at once, which is a lifesaver when you need to make deviled eggs, pickled eggs or egg salad. And since they’re not banging up against one another in vigorously boiling water, your eggs are unlikely to crack before they’re cooked.
Do eggs hard-boiled in the oven taste any different?
The taste of hard-boiled eggs made in the oven is pretty much identical to the taste of eggs made on the stovetop. However, you may notice a slight difference in the texture of the whites. Oven-baked egg whites may have a more delicate texture, like a hard-set custard, while egg whites cooked in boiling water may have a slightly firmer texture. The yolk should be the same in both cases.
How long does it take to hard-boil eggs in the oven?
Depending on how long it takes water to boil on your stove, making hard-boiled eggs the old-fashioned way, on the stovetop, usually takes between 12 and 20 minutes. On the flip side, it takes 30 minutes to cook hard-boiled eggs in the oven, and that doesn’t include preheating time. Yep, it’s a little longer, but if you’re making a breakfast casserole or cooking bacon in the oven, throwing in some eggs to cook alongside them not only saves energy but also saves you from washing an extra pot. Plus, there are the benefits we mentioned earlier.
How to hard-boil eggs in the oven
Unlike learning how to peel hard-boiled eggs, which can be eggs-hausting (some eggshells can be so stubborn!), learning how to make hard-boiled eggs in the oven is easy! Here’s how to do it.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Place eggs in a baking dish, on a rimmed baking sheet or in the divots of a muffin tin. Don’t worry if the eggs roll around or touch one another.
- Bake the eggs for 30 minutes.
- Remove the eggs from the oven, and immediately plunge them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. If you baked your eggs in a baking or casserole dish, simply grab the sides with potholders and dump the eggs into the water. If they were cooked on a baking sheet or in a muffin tin, use tongs to move them to the water one-by-one. Eggshells are very good at retaining heat, so don’t touch them with your bare hands!
- Once the eggs are cool, you can peel them as usual.
Note that oven temperatures can vary, so if you’re not perfectly happy with the way your eggs came out, you may want to add or subtract a few minutes when you make your second batch. Sure, it takes some trial and error, but once you’ve figured out how to get your eggs exactly as you like them, you’ll be able to make them flawlessly again and again.
While you’re at it, also learn this viral TikTok hack for cutting hard-boiled eggs to get that perfect slice.
Are hard-boiled eggs made in the oven easier to peel?
Some people find that hard-boiled eggs made in the oven are indeed easier to peel. That’s because baking gives the egg whites a more consistent and delicate texture, making it easier for them to separate from the membrane that connects the whites to the shell. Older eggs may also be easier to peel, so you may want to start with those. Just make sure to keep egg expiration dates in mind.
How else can you cook eggs in the oven?
There are many ways to cook eggs in the oven once they’re removed from their shells. Here are some delicious (and easy) ideas:
- Make a frittata. Beat your eggs well, pour them into a dish with cooked vegetables, meats and/or cheese, and bake. These delicious frittata recipes can get you started.
- Bake eggs in a spicy tomato sauce. This is a North African and Middle Eastern dish called shakshuka, and it’s great for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
- Make a fancy pizza. Brush a pre-baked pizza crust with olive oil, sprinkle on some garlic powder, minced herbs and grated Parmesan, and crack some eggs on top. Bake in a 450-degree oven for 5 to 7 minutes until the whites are set and the yolks remain runny.
Now that you know how to hard-boil eggs in the oven and so much more, find out how to crack an egg the right way.
