To boil eggs, the cooking time depends on how you like the yolk:
- 5-6 minutes : Whites set with runny yolks, ideal for dipping (soft boiled)
- 7-8 minutes : Soft to softly set yolks, good for Scotch eggs or a jammy center
- 10 minutes : Classic hard-boiled eggs with fully set yolks but not dry
- 12-14 minutes : Fully hard-boiled with firm yolks, typical traditional hard-boiled eggs
Recommended method:
- Bring water to a boil first.
- Gently lower fridge-cold eggs into boiling water.
- Reduce heat to maintain a gentle boil.
- Start timing according to desired doneness.
- After cooking, transfer eggs to cold water or an ice-water bath to stop cooking and make peeling easier
This approach ensures consistent results regardless of stove or pot differences
. For large eggs, use the times above; add about 30 seconds to 1 minute for extra-large or jumbo eggs
. In summary:
Desired Doneness| Boiling Time (minutes)| Notes
---|---|---
Runny yolk| 5-6| Whites set, yolk runny
Soft boiled| 7-8| Jammy, slightly set yolk
Hard boiled (classic)| 10| Fully set yolk, mashable
Fully hard boiled| 12-14| Firm yolk, traditional hard-boiled
Use an ice bath immediately after boiling to halt cooking and ease peeling
. This method is widely recommended for perfectly boiled eggs every time
