The Most Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs (No Needles Involved)

From David Tanis' A Platter of Figs and Other Recipes. Let me just say that as a college student one of the edible discoveries that left me the most jubilant was that of hard-boiled eggs. Simple, convenient, nutritious, versatile, inexpensive, cute, and even aesthetically pleasing in a niçoise salad - what more could I ask for? So it was a good day when I came across a recipe that actually showed me HOW to boil the perfect egg. I tried it and...I've been hooked ever since. I boil eggs every 3 days (3 at a time), and they have become a staple in my hectic student life.

• Ready In: 38 mins
• Serves: 3
• Yields: 6 hard-boiled eggs

Ingredients

• 6  large eggs
• 1  bowl warm water
• 1  bowl of ice-cold water

Directions

1. About 30 minutes before you wish to eat your eggs, place the eggs in the warm water bath. Leave them in there for about 30 minutes or so, or until the eggs are room temperature or a bit warmer. (This step is critical so that the eggs don't crack when you submerge them in the boiling water).
2. Now, fill a medium bowl with cold water and add a handful of ice cubes (alternatively, you can place cold water in a bowl and put it in the fridge or even freezer - it'll only be in there for 10 minutes, anyway.).
3. Bring a medium pan of water to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Lower the eggs into the water -- I use my handy wire egg sieve for this maneuver -- and simmer for exactly 8 minutes (7 and a half for golden yellow yolkeyness, and 9 if you don't want a soft center in your yolk).
4. When the timer goes off, lift the eggs out of the water with a slotted spoon (again, I use my wire egg sieve) and put them in the bowl of ice water; this will halt the cooking.
5. When the eggs are cold -- this will take just a couple of minutes -- tap them gently on the counter to crack their shell all around, and return to the bowl a few more minutes: the water will infiltrate the eggs beneath the shell and make them easier to peel. (Also, when peeling the eggs, notice that there is a thin skin between the white and the shell; once found and ruptured, that skin provides good leverage to peel off the shell.).
6. Keep the eggs in the fridge and eat within a day or two.