How Long to Soft Boil An Egg?

Soft-boiled eggs are a delicacy in every season. There is something about firm egg whites and silky, creamy golden yolks that make our mouths water. But ending up with a hard boil egg when you are craving a soft, jammy yolk is the biggest letdown.

Luckily, we’ve cracked the code for the perfect soft-boiled egg. You need to boil your eggs for around 5 to 6 minutes, depending on whether or not you want fully set whites. That said, there’s more to making soft-boiled eggs than cooking time. This post shares a fool-proof method to yielding delicious, jammy yolks every time you boil an egg.

How Long to Soft Boil An Egg?

The time it takes for eggs to boil depends upon how runny you want the yolk. You have two options for a soft-boiled egg:

● Boil the egg for 5 minutes for the perfect runny yolk with soft, but not fully set, whites

● Boil the egg for 6 minutes for a jammy-liquid yolk, and fully set whites

Following these timings will ensure that your yolk doesn’t become hard and chalky and remains soft and gooey. We suggest keeping a few seconds’ margin depending on the size of your egg.

Should You Make Soft Boiled Eggs in Cold or Boiling Water?

Whether to use cold or boiling water is one of the biggest concerns for a person trying to make the perfect soft-boiled egg for breakfast. We tried both techniques and concluded that adding the egg to boiling water was the better option.

By starting with boiling water, you can accurately check the timings. Moreover, eggs cooked in boiling water are easier to peel. The only con to this technique is that the whites may sometimes overcook because the egg starts cooking from the outside in.

Remember – no two eggs boil the same! You can always try out both approaches and find what works best for your eggs, with some trial and error, of course.

How to Make the Perfect Soft-Boiled Eggs?

1- Add just an inch of water in a saucepan, place its lid on, and boil it over high flame.

2- Once the water starts bubbling, carefully add your room-temperature egg, and place the lid back on. Now let the egg boil for exactly six minutes.

3- Once the six minutes are up, take the egg out of the saucepan and submerge it in a bowl of iced water to stop the yolk from cooking further. The ice bath also prevents dark rings from forming around the egg yolks.

4- When the eggshell is cold enough to handle without burning your fingers, it’s time to peel it. Crack the shell on a hard surface and roll it while applying little pressure with your hand – the shells should slip off in large chunks. Remove the smaller chunks with your hands, rinse the egg, and enjoy the perfect soft-boiled egg!

Conclusion

Eggs are a great source of protein; research suggests that the yolks contain more than seven nutrients. While you’re at it getting every vitamin except Vitamin C from those golden liquids, why not do it the way you like? Use this guide on how long to soft boil an egg and get the perfect gooey yolk every time!