What is the best way to hard boil eggs?

Ingredients:

* Fresh eggs at room temperature

* Water

* A pinch of salt (optional)

Equipment:

* A saucepan

* A slotted spoon

* A bowl of ice water

Instructions:

1. Prepare the saucepan: Fill a saucepan with enough water to cover the eggs. Add a pinch of salt to the water, if desired. (Salt is optional, but it helps to prevent the shells from cracking.)

2. Add the eggs: Place the eggs gently into the saucepan. Make sure that the eggs are fully submerged in water. If necessary, add a little more water to cover the eggs completely.

3. Bring the water to a boil: Bring the water to a rapid boil over high heat. Once the water starts boiling, reduce the heat to medium-high.

4. Maintain a gentle boil: Let the eggs boil gently for 10-12 minutes, depending on the size of the eggs and your desired level of doneness. For smaller eggs, boil for 10 minutes. For larger eggs, boil for 12 minutes.

5. Cool the eggs: Immediately after boiling, transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water. This will help to stop the cooking process and prevent the eggs from overcooking. Let the eggs cool in the ice water for at least 5 minutes, or until they have cooled completely.

6. Peel and enjoy: Once the eggs have cooled completely, peel and enjoy them. Hard boiled eggs are great on their own, as a topping for salads, or as a part of various recipes.

Tips:

* To make peeling the eggs easier, crack the shells gently before placing them in the ice water.

* You can also add a little baking soda to the boiling water to help prevent the shells from cracking.

* If you don't have an ice water bath, you can also cool the eggs by running them under cold water from the tap.

* Hard boiled eggs will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.