How to boil soft-boiled eggs

The skill of boiling soft-boiled eggs is an important culinary ability that every beginner housewife should definitely master. Eggs cook quite quickly, and they can be served at the table as a breakfast dish. This product is not only filling but also beneficial, as eggs contain protein and a wealth of essential vitamins. The finished product is served with soy sauce or a piece of white bread toasted in a toaster.

How long to boil soft-boiled eggs

Beginners often wonder: how many minutes should soft-boiled eggs be cooked? Cooking time is determined by what product you want to obtain in the end. It is necessary to adhere to the following rules:

• To keep the egg white very soft and the yolk raw, cook the product for 2 minutes after boiling.
• If you want to treat yourself to boiled eggs with firm whites and runny yolks, cook for 4 minutes.
• When boiling for 6 minutes, the whites become firm, and the yolk only slightly sets.
• For lovers of the classic product (firm whites and tender yolks), we recommend boiling the eggs for 8 minutes.

Eggs can be boiled using the hot method – immediately placing them in boiling water. If you plan to cook this way, you should consider that eggs cook to the desired consistency 1 minute longer than when placed in cold water.

How to boil soft-boiled eggs using the cold method

1. Preparing the eggs for boiling. To prevent the shell from cracking during heating, pierce it at the blunt end with a pin or button. It is important – do not make a deep or large hole; otherwise, the white will leak out into the pot of water.
2. Place washed eggs in a deep container, filling it with water so that the liquid completely covers them.
3. Put the pot with water on the stove, leaving it uncovered. Turn the burner to medium heat and maintain this until boiling.
4. When bubbles appear on the surface of the water, reduce the heat to the minimum and set a timer.
5. Cooking time is determined individually. If you want to get runny eggs, it is enough to cook them for a couple of minutes, but if you want firm whites and yolks, you will have to boil them for more than 5 minutes.
6. Drain the hot water from the pot, and replace it with cold water. Leave for half a minute. This procedure will help stop the cooking process; otherwise, the hot eggs will continue to cook. Their consistency will change.

How to boil soft-boiled eggs in hot water

This method is very rarely practiced by housewives. Many are afraid to place eggs in boiling water, fearing they will crack immediately. This is a misconception – if the product is warmed to room temperature, nothing will happen to it.

1. Fill a large pot with water (at least 7.5 cm from the bottom). Move the pot to the stove, bringing it to a boil over medium heat. Be sure to monitor so that the water simmers gently, without forming large bubbles on the surface.
2. Place room temperature eggs in a tablespoon and lower them into the boiling water. No more than 4 eggs should be placed in the pot.
3. Boil in boiling water until done. Timing is done using a timer – this assistant must be present in the kitchen.
4. Fish out the eggs from the water using a slotted spoon and transfer them to a container with ice water; hold for 30 seconds.

Serving at the table

Soft-boiled eggs are served at the table in a special stand. You can place the eggs in the holder any side up – it doesn't matter.

To reach the egg white, you must break the shell. A butter knife or a teaspoon is used for this purpose. Carefully break the shell at the top of the egg without crushing it into small pieces. Otherwise, shell fragments will get inside the egg.

We have offered two of the best ways to boil soft-boiled eggs. Following these methods will yield a perfect boiled egg - tasty, with a tender bright yellow yolk and elastic white. Such eggs can be served at a festive table as decoration.