This Common Appliance Makes Hard Boiled Eggs Surprisingly Easy

Do you ever get the feeling that boiling eggs in water is more like an impromptu science experiment than breakfast prep? You stand over a pot, hoping to avoid the dread of cracked shells, runny yolks, or any other mess incurred from hard-boiled eggs gone wrong. What if we told you that your kitchen holds a secret weapon for making perfect hard-boiled eggs? The appliance you already use for crispy fries can also help you execute delicious "boiled" eggs with zero fuss.

It's true, your air fryer can hard-boil eggs. An air fryer circulates hot air around your food to cook it evenly, without the oil mess of a traditional fryer. Using it to make hard-boiled eggs is incredibly simple. Set the air fryer's temperature to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, pop your eggs into the basket, and let them cook for around 15 minutes. It's streamlined, hassle-free, and shockingly reliable. The science is also pretty straightforward. When cooking, a whole egg firms at approximately 156 degrees Fahrenheit. The air fryer's consistent, low airflow gently heats the eggs. 

If you prefer soft-boiled or medium-boiled eggs, an air fryer is still the right appliance for the job. Keep the air fryer at a low temperature and just shorten the cook time. For soft-boiled eggs (gooey yolk), cook for about 9 minutes. For jammy/medium eggs, cook for 12 to 13 minutes. If your model only goes as low as 300 degrees, you may want to trim 1 to 2 minutes off the total time. Once cooked, cool your boiled eggs in an ice water bath before peeling. 

Don't let your egg-cooking adventures end with basic hard-boiled eggs. There are other egg styles that your air fryer can cook to tasty perfection. For scrambled eggs, whisk up your eggs (you can use milk or cream), and pour them into an oven-safe pan that will fit into your air fryer basket. Air fry the mixture at 300 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring halfway through. In under 10 minutes, you'll have fluffy scrambled eggs. 

Omelets are also a breeze in the air fryer. Start with a greased, heat-proof pan or dish (to hold the omelet's shape), and pour in your whisked eggs, fillings of your choice, and some grated cheese. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes and voilà! Breakfast is served. You can get a bit more adventurous by making omelet-inspired egg cups. Portioning the egg mixture into air fryer-safe ramekins gives egg cups their petite, uniform shape. Cook the egg cups at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 18 to 20 minutes, and they'll come out like soft muffins. Poached air fryer eggs are also possible, but monitoring the temperature is key. It doesn't end there. Fried eggs, breakfast frittatas, or even French toast can be prepared air fryer-style for a delicious breakfast (or lunch, or dinner) with minimal cleanup and maximum delight.

Wrapping up with two useful tips — older eggs are easier to peel because they lose moisture and carbon dioxide over time. This creates an air pocket and raises albumen pH, which helps the shells to come off easily. And that chilling ice bath? It shocks the egg, stops cooking, and prevents that green-gray halo around the yolk.