Why do hard boiled eggs smell like sulfur?

Hard-boiled eggs smell like sulfur due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S). This gas is produced when the sulfur-containing amino acids, methionine and cysteine, break down during cooking. The higher the temperature and the longer the cooking time, the more H2S gas is produced.

When hard-boiled eggs are cooked, the heat causes the proteins in the egg white to denature and coagulate. This process also releases hydrogen sulfide gas. The gas can then react with other compounds in the egg, such as iron, to produce a variety of unpleasant odors.

The smell of sulfur from hard-boiled eggs is usually not harmful, but it can be unpleasant. There are a few things that can be done to reduce the smell, such as:

* Cooking the eggs at a lower temperature

* Cooking the eggs for a shorter amount of time

* Adding a small amount of baking soda to the cooking water

* Rinsing the eggs in cold water after cooking