Hard-boiled eggs are key components of the Easter & Passover holidays, as well as the essential medium for the beloved deviled egg. Now, you wouldn't be wrong in thinking that cooking a hard-boiled egg is easy. BUT, peeling a hard-boiled egg (so that it looks good) can be quite a challenge, let me tell you! After trying a number of cooking methods, I am here to say that the only method which yields reliably smooth and perfectly-cooked hard-boiled eggs is steaming.
How to prepare easy-to-peel perfect hard-boiled eggs?
First, make sure you have a steaming basket. If you don't own one, buy one -- they are not expensive, they are collapsible (so don't take up much space), they are useful for steaming lots of things, and available anywhere that sells kitchen stuff, including supermarkets.
Place steaming basket in a pot that has a top
Fill pot with water up to the bottom/ just below the bottom of the base of the steaming basket
Bring water to boil (I do this with the top on -- it is faster and I'm pretty impatient by nature)
Gently place eggs in steaming basket -- I usually do one layer, but it has worked with more than that, too (remember, I'm impatient by nature)
Set stove to medium-high heat and cover
Cook (steam) for 15 minutes
While eggs are steaming, fill a bowl with ice water and take out a strainer or colander which fits in the bowl to create a cold water bath. (If you don't have a strainer, don't worry about it.)
Remove eggs, place in cold water bath, and let sit until eggs are cool to the touch. You might need/ want to add more ice or cold water after about 5-10 minutes. I usually let the eggs sit for about 15 minutes, but if you don't mind them a little warm, you can take them out after 5-10 minutes. If you want, you can have eggs sit in the bowl of cold water without the strainer, but I like being able to replace the water to keep it cold, which is easier if the eggs are in one.
Store eggs in fridge until ready to peel. To peel, give the eggs a thwack on the bottom (where there is an air sac) and gently peel the shell off from there.
Rocket science this isn't, but it has REALLY made my life far less stressful when I really need a beautiful hard-boiled egg. I hope you'll give this technique a try (if this isn't your go-to method already), and enjoy!