Deviled eggs are a classic picnic snack prone to an all-too-common problem: a greenish colored yolk and a sulfurous odor. What causes the problem and how do you make perfect deviled eggs every time? Here’s what we discovered:

Test Kitchen Discoveries

• Don’t boil the eggs. After countless tests, the test kitchen found it best to cover the eggs with an inch of water, bring to a boil, cover, and remove from the heat. After 10 minutes, drain the eggs and cool in ice water. The gentle heat perfectly cooks the eggs—not a chance of the green tinge or unpleasant smell.
• For the creamiest texture, force the yolks through a fine-mesh sieve before mixing with the filling ingredients.
• For an elegant appearance, pipe the filling into the egg white shells with an impromptu pastry bag prepared from a zipper-lock bag. Simply place the filling in the bag, squeeze it tightly into one corner of the bag, and snip 1/2 inch off that corner. The filling can also be stored this way, at the ready, for up to two days. Just don’t cut the bag until you’re ready to fill the eggs.

To center the yolks, turn the carton of eggs on its side in the refrigerator the day before you plan to cook the eggs.

CALORIES 83(40% from fat); FAT 3.7g (sat 1.2g,mono 1.5g,poly 0.6g); PROTEIN 8.8g; CHOLESTEROL 127mg; CALCIUM 23mg; SODIUM 295mg; FIBER 0.3g; IRON 0.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 3.2g

Vary this simple recipe by using other types of cheese, or by adding diced, cooked vegetables and fresh herbs.
POINTS® Value: 3
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Using the freshest eggs possible is the key to great poached eggs. This dish makes a savory breakfast or, when paired with a salad, a satisfying brunch. Cooks’ note:

The eggs in this recipe are not fully cooked, which may be of concern if salmonella is a problem in your area. You can substitute pasteurized eggs (in the shell) or cook eggs until yolks are set.

Chef’s Note: To make no-fail hard-cooked eggs, place the eggs in a small saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring the water to a boil, remove from the heat, cover and let sit for 10 to 12 minutes. (In the Black Forest, we traditionally add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar along with the water to help seal the eggs in case some crack during cooking.) Drain the eggs and set under cold running water to cool.