How to Boil an Egg
posted by Andrea | 04/4/2011
I love eggs — LOVE them! I eat some type of egg for breakfast nearly every day and I’m still not sick of them.
Most of the time, I simply scramble them with ham and cheese or fry them and eat with toast. It’s a simple, really cheap breakfast that leaves me much more satisfied than a bowl of cereal.
However, sometimes I like to deviate from my “normal routine” and make a soft-boiled egg sandwich or just eat a couple hard-boiled eggs and fruit.
Seriously — I really LOVE eggs!
Even though I’ve made hard-boiled and soft-boiled eggs more times than I can count, it took me a while to get my cooking method down. I had many hard-boiled eggs that were too soft, and soft-boiled eggs that were too hard…or worse, totally under cooked.
But now, I finally have a fool-proof method that I use every time — and it continues to produce delicious hard and soft boiled eggs!
Soft-Boiled Eggs:
Add enough water to a deep saucepan to cover the eggs by 1 inch {then remove eggs} and bring water to a rolling boil.
With a spoon, slowly lower each egg into the boiling water.
Reduce heat to medium-low and gently simmer: 4 minutes for soft, 5 minutes for medium-soft.
Drain boiling water and immediately run eggs under cold water.
Peel off shell and eat as is or “smear” over toast.
Hard-Boiled Eggs:
Place eggs in a single layer in a deep saucepan and add enough COLD water to cover.
Add 1 t. salt.
Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium-low.
Cook at a gentle boil for 9 minutes.
Drain boiling water and immediately run eggs under cold water.
Peel off shell and eat as is or chop up for salads.
These are my tried-and-true egg boiling method.
Do you have another method you use — or any other egg cooking tips to share?
Filed under: From My Kitchen • Tips and Tools
The Lazy Wife
04/04/2011I don’t remember where I first got this method, but it makes the best hard boiled eggs I’ve ever tasted.
Place eggs in a pot and add cold water to cover by an inch. On high heat, bring to a rolling boil and then remove from heat. Let the pot sit for 15 minutes. Then drain and run under cold water.
I’ve always gotten perfect results, bright yellow centers and no green/gray around the edges.
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Niki Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
I use the same method and I just got through making deviled eggs for supper!
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JoDi
04/04/2011I’m an egg lover too, and I never get sick of them either even though I eat them almost every morning. I usually have mine over easy with shredded cheddar and bacon on top or as an omelet with sauteed organic baby spinach and a little sea salt. Sometimes I hard boil several eggs to keep in the fridge so I can make a quick egg salad for lunch. I’ll be trying your boiling method next time for sure! Thanks!
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jennifer
04/04/2011I also use The Lazy Wife’s method, it is the way my mom taught me to do them. I just made egg salad for lunch yesterday.
I have never had soft boiled eggs, but my son was asking to try them recently. I will have to try this method, thanks for sharing!
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Andrea Reply:
April 5th, 2011 at 9:59 am
OK, well it looks like I’m going to have to try “Lazy Wife’s” method too!
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Dawn Miller
06/04/2011I also LOVE eggs! and I also eat them most every day! I use the same method as The Lazy Wife, for hard boiled eggs, and have always had perfect results. No green around the yolks, ever. I am going to try your tip for soft boiled eggs. I haven’t come up with a tried and true for soft boiled eggs yet. Wish me luck.
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