Contrary to popular belief, it is better to bring the water to a boil before putting the eggs in. There’s actually a very good reason for this: Sticking.
When you have a hard-boiled egg and you try to remove the shell, have you noticed that it’ll sometimes be stuck to the egg like glue? No matter what technique you use, it seems, you inevitably wind up having to chip the shell off a little piece at a time, being careful not to tear the egg off along with it.
That’s what happens when you put the eggs in cold water.
Now, try bringing the water to a boil, first, then placing the eggs in. Once the eggs are in the water, return to a boil, then put a lid on and turn off the heat. After around 10 minutes or so, remove the eggs and place them in an ice bath for several minutes until they’ve cooled.
When you’re ready to remove the shell, if you did it right, you’ll find that it just slips right off the egg! It really does make all the difference.
Of course, there is one drawback: Placing the eggs in the boiling water without breaking them or burning yourself can be challenging if you don’t have the right tools. Personally, I put them in a small metal rice strainer, which I then carefully lower into the boiling water with a handle. Then when they’re done, I just lift the strainer back out and put it in the ice bath. No muss, no fuss, and no sticky shells.