How To Boil Perfect Eggs

Boiling eggs might seem like the simplest kitchen skill, but unless you know exactly how to cook them you’ve likely experienced the unpleasantness of a poorly boiled egg. When overcooked, boiled eggs take on that dark green colour around the yolk and that somewhat sulphuric taste which is not pleasant for anyone’s taste buds! So, whether you are looking for a runny yolk to dunk your toast in, or that perfectly hard yolk to add to your egg salad, the perfect boiled egg makes all of the difference. Here is a timing guide on how to boil perfect eggs.

Hard-boiled eggs are a staple in my meal prep routine; they are quick and easy to prepare and incredibly versatile in recipes. They are convenient to grab and go for breakfast, ideal for adding to salads, and a delicious afternoon snack.  When it comes to boiling eggs, be sure to buy the highest quality eggs you can find. Not only will they taste much better, but their colour will differ and higher-quality eggs have better nutritional value as compared to conventional eggs. If you are able to buy eggs from your local farmers market or a local farm this would be the very best option, alternatively opt for pastured, free-range or organic eggs whenever possible.

Boiled Egg Cooking Times

Whether you like them soft-boiled or hard-boiled, the art of a good-boiled egg is really in the cooking time. Here is a quick guide to cooking times on how to boil perfect eggs.

2 Minutes = The white isn’t fully set and the yolk is totally runny.

4 Minutes = The white is fully set and the yolk is thick and runny.

6 Minutes = The white is fully set and the yolk is mostly set but still a little runny in the middle.

8 Minutes = The white is fully set and the yolk is fully cooked but still tender in the middle.

10 Minutes = The white is fully set and the yolk is fully cooked but still dark yellow.

12 Minutes = The white is fully set and the yolk is fully cooked all the way through and light yellow in colour.

Boiling eggs is one of the first kitchen skills most people learn, and it turns out everyone learns a little differently. There are many different ways to boil eggs, and everyone has their own tips and tricks, this just happens to be my method.

How to Boil The Perfect Egg

Instructions:

1. Fill a saucepan with water 3/4 of the way up and bring to a boil.
2. Using a slotted spoon, drop your eggs into the pot gently being careful not to crack them.
3. Depending on how you like your eggs, leave them in for the desired time in the boiling water. (i.e. 4 minutes for soft-boiled, 6 minutes for medium-boiled or 10 minutes for hard-boiled)
4. Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process.
5. If you are serving them immediately, run them under cold water so the shells are easier to handle.
6. If you are keeping hard-boiled eggs for later use, place them in a bowl of cold water until they cool down and then store them in the fridge.
7. Boiled eggs can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days and used for breakfast, lunches or a quick snack.