Deviled Eggs Recipe | Hard-Boiled Egg Facts & Techniques

When life gives you Hard-Boiled Eggs, making a delicious batch of Deviled Eggs wins every time. Making a high-quality deviled egg recipe starts with the perfect hard-boiled egg. 

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Why Are Deviled Eggs Called Deviled Eggs?

Sounds kinda odd, doesn't it? Rest assured, it has nothing to do with the devil, yet they are called deviled eggs in part due to the ingredients used to season them.

The Etymology of the Term Deviled Egg

The term "deviled" in relation to food can be traced back to the 18th century. At that time, food that was highly seasoned or spicy was said to be "deviled."

In the 19th century, the term came to be used specifically in relation to eggs that were filled with a mixture of spices and other ingredients.

Elevation & Cooking Time of Hard-Boiled Eggs

The temperature at which water boils is not 212 degrees for every location around the world. For every 500 feet above sea level, water will boil faster. This changes how long your eggs should cook by 1 to 3 minutes on average.

🥚 Facts About Hard-Boiled Eggs

• Always start with cold water - If you add them straight into hot water, the exterior of the will be overcooked and rubbery.
• Tip: Shorter cooking time of 4-5 minutes will result in a soft-boiled egg.
• Do not overfill the pot with eggs. If you add a bunch that is cold, this will increase the cooking time due to the fact the water will take longer to come to a boil. If you must add a bunch of eggs at once, make sure they are at room temperature.
• When in doubt, cook the eggs for less time versus longer.

How Can You Tell When A Hard-Boiled Egg Is Overcooked? 🤔

Overcooked boiled eggs will have a green hue around the outside of the egg yolk. They will also have a harder texture and become grainy. When you cut into the egg, you will see a green hue between the yolk and the white.

It's time to start over, as there is no way to fix an overcooked, hard-boiled egg.

Are Eggs Good For You?

Eggs are one of Mother Nature's healthiest creations on the entire planet. The level of nutrients reflects that of a daily multivitamin, yet much better for you. For decades, the conversation has been around whether eggs are good for you.

The leading argument has been based on the amount of cholesterol. Find the answer in our post and settle the question once and for all. Are Eggs Good For You Or Not?

Deviled Eggs Recipe

Ingredients

• Mayonnaise
• Dijon Mustard
• Shallots
• Gherkins Pickles
• White Sugar
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Chives
• Sea Salt
• White Pepper
• Paprika

Instructions

The cooking of the eggs is the key to great deviled eggs. Egg Cookery is a huge area of debate.

The Hard-Boiled Eggs

At the grocery store buy extra-large eggs. The reason is the yolks are larger and yield a larger amount to fill the deviled eggs.

The Eggs

• 12 Hard-Boiled Eggs 🥚

1. Add the eggs to a large pot; do not stack them on top of each other.
2. Add only cold water to cover the eggs. Add enough water that the tops of the eggs are well below the waterline. Cover the egg tops by 2 inches.
3. Heat the water on high heat. The faster you can get the water to boil, the better. If you heat the water slowly, the eggs could end up overcooked.
4. Once the water reaches a rapid boil, turn off the heat.
5. Cover the pot with a lid or plate and start your timer.
6. At sea level, set the timer for 12 minutes, exactly.
7. Once the timer goes off, remove the eggs immediately and place them into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This is called shocking the eggs.
8. The ice water will make peeling easier.

Recipe Experimenting

I love making deviled egg recipes because the sky is the limit on creativity. Tip for creating new recipe combination ideas. First, create the recipe base follow the recipe below on the recipe card. Take a small amount into a side bowl and let the experiment begin.

I have a shortlist below in the Faqs section on substitute ingredients ideas to try.

Combine the ingredients in the list below in a large mixing bowl. Start with the egg yolks and the mayonnaise and cream them together with a small pinch of sea salt. Then, add the remaining deviled egg recipe ingredients to the bowl.

Tip: Mince the shallot into very small pieces.

Classic Deviled Eggs Yolk Filling Base

• ⅓ cup Mayonnaise  - Use more if it looks like it's needed
• 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon Mustard
• 3 teaspoons Shallots / minced
• 3 Gherkins Pickles / Finely Chopped - sweet pickles work really well
• 2 teaspoons White Sugar  - Helps balance the ingredients
• ¾ teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Fresh Chives (optional) sliced thin - save some for garnish
• ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
• ¼ teaspoons White Pepper

Tip: Place the sliced half egg whites into the refrigerator while making the base. This will make filling the egg whites easier, with less chance of tearing or ripping.

After the deviled egg base is done, add it to a pastry bag with a star tip of your choosing. The star tip will create a beautiful design pattern when you fill the deviled eggs.

If you do not have a pastry bag, you can use a plastic zip-lock bag. Cut out a corner, slide the star tip into the bag, and secure. This method works but is a bit messier.

Recipes To Try

• Macadamia Nut Butter & Parmesan Deviled Eggs
• Perfect Poached Eggs | How-to Video
• Make Hard-Boiled Eggs "Without" Using Water
• How To Cook Omelet In A Water Bath / Sous Vide Omelet
• How To Make Egg Clouds | The Culinary Creation That Broke The Internet
• Keto Scotch Eggs Recipe | Gluten-free | Keto Diet