The only hard-boiled egg recipe you'll ever need

There are countless methods for making hard-boiled eggs, and as many opinions regarding which is the right one. The whole exercise can be frustrating, particularly for those of us who boil eggs only once or twice a year. Do I start the eggs in cold or hot water? How long do I boil them for? Should I shock them in ice water? And if so, when? And what about steaming eggs, or cooking them