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Nutrition experts suggest that perfect hard-boiled eggs usually require around 9 to 12 minutes of cooking depending on size. After boiling, cooling the eggs in ice water for several minutes helps preserve texture, color, and flavor while reducing the chance of green discoloration around the yolk.
While the green ring is mostly harmless, doctors warn that people should still pay attention to other signs that may indicate spoiled eggs. A strong unpleasant odor, slimy texture, unusual discoloration throughout the egg, or cracked shells with leakage may signal bacterial contamination or spoilage. In such cases, the eggs should not be consumed.