Mom’s Pickled Eggs
Mom’s Pickled Eggs is an easy recipe for making traditional pickled eggs. Tangy, salty with a bit of spice make these eggs an old-fashioned snack that is sure to please.
This pickled egg recipe is a treasured family recipe from my husband’s Mom. Hard boiled eggs marinated in a homemade pickling brine of vinegar, pickling spice, ground mustard, salt and pepper. There is no sugar added to this pickled egg recipe, making it a perfect, healthy snack. You will want to keep a jar of these protein-packed and low-calorie eggs in the refrigerator at all times!
Years ago picked eggs were often found in big glass jars in the pub. They were popular bar food items and tasted great with a pint of beer. I think they make a delicious appetizer to add to a charcuterie board or even make into tangy deviled eggs or egg salad sandwiches. Don’t let your leftover Easter Eggs go to waste, make some pickled eggs with them!
Ingredients
- Eggs – fresh eggs tend to be difficult to peel, so choose eggs that are at least a week or two old. You want your hard boiled eggs to look perfectly peeled.
- Vinegar – plain white vinegar.
- Pickling spice – found in the spice section of your grocery store. It is usually a combination of mustard seed, bay leaves, coriander, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and chili peppers.
- Ground mustard – use only ground mustard, do not substitute for any other kind of mustard.
- Water
- Salt and pepper
How to make perfect hard boiled eggs.
- Place the eggs in a single layer in a large saucepan.
- Cover the eggs completely with water. The water should be about an inch higher than the eggs.
- Bring to a boil, then turn the stove heat off.
- Cover the pot with the lid and let stand for 11-12 minutes.
- Drain and immediately run cold water over the eggs.
- Peel using the side of of your thumb.
My recipes for Egg Salad Stuffed Pea Pods and Crab Stuffed Snow Peas include hard boiled eggs. Give these appetizer recipes a try as well.
Instructions
Prepare the pickle brine. Combine the vinegar, water, salt, pepper, ground mustard and pickling spice in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes.
Place the peeled hard boiled eggs into a clean glass jar.
Pour the hot pickling liquid over the eggs. Make sure the eggs are completely covered with brine.
Seal the jar with a lid and refrigerate. You can eat the eggs after 2-3 days, but I find letting them marinate in the brine for 5-7 days really enhances the flavor.
Storage
This pickled egg recipe is not canned and therefore must be kept refrigerated. They will keep sealed in a jar and stored in the fridge for 1-2 months.
Variations
My family thinks this classic pickled egg recipe is the best, but here are some tasty options.
- Add fresh sliced regular onions, red onions, or, some fresh garlic cloves.
- If you like a little heat add fresh sliced jalapeño peppers.
- A few fresh dill sprigs with enhance the pickle favor.
- To make pretty pink Beet Pickled Eggs, simply substitute the water with canned beet juice. You can even add several beets with the hard boiled eggs for a tasty option.
Recipes that use hard boiled eggs
Hard boiled eggs make a perfect snack, added to a simple salad or tasty appetizer.
This post was originally published March 2, 2014. Occasionally I update with fresh tips, content, and photos. Current update March 27, 2023.
Mom’s Pickled Eggs
Ingredients
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 2 tablespoons pickling spice
- 1 dozen hard boiled eggs
Instructions
- Prepare the hard boiled eggs, peel and set aside.
- Make the pickle brine by combining the vinegar, water, salt, pepper, ground mustard and pickling spice in a medium saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes.
- Place the peeled hard boiled eggs into a clean glass jar.
- Pour the hot pickling liquid over the eggs. Make sure the eggs are completely covered with brine.
- Seal the jar with a lid and refrigerate. You can eat the eggs after 2-3 days, but I find letting them marinated in the brine for 5-7 days really enhances the flavor.
Video
Nutrition
is regular vinegar white or apple cider?
Use regular white vinegar Colleen
White Vinegar
I love Pickled eggs
They are a snack I love as well!
Hi Lauren. Making pickled eggs for first time using your recipe. Looking forward to tasting results in a week. I m in a me to diet and think this a GREAT alternative to just hard boiled eggs. Like that there is no sugar in recipe. I am anxious to see if my grandkids like them. Thanks for sharing.
Yes Shelby those old family recipes always bring back fond memories and great food.
I would use apple cider vinegar, and add garlic and dill just for a little change and extra boost in healthy benefits.
Hi Lori, that is the great thing about any recipe, adding your own twist on it.
How do you make perfect boiled eggs so they peel easy every time and so they are medium boiled and not over boiled and dry?
I use boil mine for about 5 minutes, but I always think its best to throw an extra egg in for testing.
We use a pressure cooker for our eggs. Set for 6 minutes for a dozen eggs and the eggshells practically fall off the egg every time.
Great tip JoAnn, thanks
Go to Zarky’s in Hamilton and buy the boiled, peeled eggs for just a little more than the cost of the eggs themselves. Saves lots of time and grief.
Roger
I place my eggs in a pan of water to cover by 1 inch, bring to a boil, cover turn off the gas and let sit for 12 -15 minutes. I then drain the cooking water and place the eggs in a bowl filled with ice water, lots of ice, and let them cool. When your able to handle them they should peel with ease. Sometimes you will get one of those “impossible’ to peel ones that will give you problems.
Thanks for the helpful hint.
I HAVE A LITTLE EGG PUNCHER,PUNCHES HOLE IN BIG END,KEEPS SHELL FROM BREAKING.I HAVE USED IT FOR THIRTY YEARS
I use the exact same method with one exception. I let the eggs sit out for a few hours allowing them to come up to room temperature before starting the boiling process. Using cold eggs right out of the fridge seems to result in parts of the egg whites sticking to the egg shells during the peeling process ruining that perfect result.
Great Post, Nice recipe
These look absolutely delicious! I think you’re right, I won’t ever have to buy from the store again! I’ve been wanting to transition from buying pickled goods at the store to making them all myself. I think this is a good start!
Everyone I have made these pickled eggs for loves them, so I hope you do as well!
Hi I was wondering about the salt in this recipe. Is it regular table salt or pickling salt? Thanks
Hi Jessica, regular or Kosher salt.
Thank you! I was wondering because I’ve never done this before lol. I can’t wait to try this out. My man and his grandfather love pickled eggs.
I hope they like them, my man loves them!
I bet they will. Thank you :). So these only stay in the refrigerator? How long after being made can they be eaten? Be stored?
Jessica, they must be stored in the refrigerator. I find they taste best after 3 or 4 days.
IVE NEVER USED THE DRY MUSTARD BEFORE,IM LOOKIN FORWARD TO THE DIFFERANT TASTE
Has anyone tried these – seems that they are going to be very, very tart with no sugar at all. Only vinegar and pickling spice
I tried them, not much taste except for vinegar, I will stick to the pickled eggs that I make with red beets.
Pickled eggs never last long at my house. We eat them for breakfast snacks in salad and for egg salad. I also pickle them with my pickled beats and onions recipe. It makes the eggs a bit sweeter
They don’t last long at our house either Kathy
Steam your eggs for 12 minutes in your rice cooker. Even fresh eggs will peel like a dream
Hey Mat, great tip thanks!
Can you add some jalapeños if you want them zesty? Or what kind of peppers would’ve you use?
I think jalapeños could be quite tasty adding to the pickled eggs. Red peppers might also be tasty. Some people even add onions
I do mine a little different but they last unopened for 16 months they unfortunately only last a couple of days once opened because they are eaten
Whats your recipe Phill?
Phil, what do you do differently? Need your recipe, please. Do you leave them in the refrigerator or are they sealed like for shelflike?
Sandra Cummings
lol
If you peel the eggs under running cold water they peel easily even tough to peel ones 😀
I make mine and put in gallon glass jar. Keep in refrigerator. The longer they sit, the better the flavor. 3/4 days -great flavor, however mine will keep several months as long as refrigerated and tastes awesome.
Agreed Stormy, it takes a few days to get great flavour throughout the egg. Gallon jar, oh yeah!
Add 1 tsp baking soda or a splash of vinegar to the boiling water to make the pealing easier.
Do you sterilize you jars or no?
Hi C, I always sterilize jars I use, not just when canning.
Can beet juice be used in place of the water in this recipe? I know it doesn’t affect taste but I always did like the color of the red / pink pickled eggs.
If you like pink eggs I see no problem with using the beet juice.
Where did you get the cute gallon glass jar?
Hi Marcy, I can’t remember. I saved it from something I had bought at the grocery store.
How long are these good for in the refridgerator?
I’ve kept mine in a sealed jar for up to a month.
What do you mean by regular vinegar? Apple cedar or white vinegar? Thanks!
Yes Connie, it is white vinegar.
Love this recipe! I put my pickling spice and dry mustard and a dash of dill and celery seed tied up in a small piece of cheese cloth. And let the bay leaf float.
DELISH!!!
Thank you Lynn, you can’t beat a great pickled egg for snacking on!
When u say dry mustard. Is that the seed or powder stuff in the spice section??
Aw, the powdered stuff in the spice section.
Is there a specific brand of pickling spice that you’d recommend?
Hi JT, I have used McCormick and like the mixture.
I bet these would be a great addition to green salads. Have you used them this way?
Never thought of that Barbara, I am going to try it!
How long do they last after the 4 days?
Pickled eggs should always be refrigerated and with keep in the fridge for a couple of months.
How long are the eggs good for?
Hi Joyce, pickled eggs should always be kept refrigerated and with keep for a couple of months.