How to boil eggs perfectly

Name: How to boil eggs perfectly
Total time: 5 min
Yield: Serves 1
Ingredients: 2 eggs; toasted to make soldiers (optional) bread

Published: May 18, 2023 at 1:10 PM

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Serves 1

Easy

Total time: 5 mins

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Learn how to boil an egg perfectly everytime, whether you want soft runny yolks for dunking soldiers, or a hard boiled egg to add to a salad.

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Alternatives

Complete the dish

Follow this guide for how to achieve perfectly boiled eggs, then also check out our scrambled eggs, eggs benedict, Scotch eggs and more egg recipes, plus watch our video on how to peel a hard boiled egg.

Tips for the perfect boiled eggs:

How long to boil an egg

The exact boiled egg time will depend on the consistency you are hoping to achieve. Whether you are after a soft, runny yolk, or a firmer egg to use in salads or as a sandwich filling, we suggest the following cooking times:

4 minutes: set white and runny yolk – just right for dipping into
5 minutes: liquid yolk – a little less oozy
6-8 minutes: softly set and sticky
10-11 minutes: classic hard-boiled egg

What temperature should the egg be at before boiling?

For best results, use eggs at room temperatures, rather than fridge cold. If the eggs are at room temperature, they are less likely to crack on reaching the boiling water rather due to the sharp temperature contrast.

Ingredients

2 eggs
toasted to make soldiers (optional) bread

Method

step 1

Put room temperature eggs in boiling water, bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 4 minutes for very soft, runny yolk, 5 for just-set white and creamy yolk, 6-7 for set white and just-set yolk, and 10 minutes for a hard boiled egg.

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