Soft Boiled Eggs
Soft-boiled eggs are a variety of whole boiled egg where the white is solid and the yolk is runny. They take about 7 minutes to prepare and are often served with buttered toast, perfect for dipping into the runny yolk.
Ingredients
- 2–3 large eggs, depending on appetite
- Salt (optional)
Method
- Bring a saucepan of water to a boil.
- Gently add the eggs, and boil for 4–6 minutes (4 minutes for runny yolk, 5 minutes for soft yolk).
- Remove the eggs from the water.
- Bring water to a boil in a saucepan.
- Gently add the eggs, and boil for 1 minute.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat, and allow eggs to stand in the hot water for 5 minutes.
- Remove the eggs from the water.
- Bring water to a rolling boil in a saucepan.
- Gently add the eggs, then immediately remove the pan from heat and cover it.
- Let the eggs sit for 8 minutes, then remove them.
- Bring about 1 inch of water to a rolling boil in a saucepan. You want just enough water to create steam but not evaporate completely.
- Gently add the eggs, then cover with a lid.
- Let boil/steam for 6–6½ minutes, depending on how runny you want the yolks.
- Immediately remove pot from heat, and drain the hot water.
Notes
- Adding a bit of salt to the cooking water can help to quickly set the whites if the egg leaks during cooking.
- Running the cooked eggs under cold water will help stop the cooking process.
- Some people use a pin to poke a small hole on the larger end of the egg before boiling it. It is believed that this helps give the egg a smooth, round bottom, and some say the pinhole makes it easier to peel.
- Soft-boiled eggs can be carefully peeled as an alternative serving method.
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Stovetop
- A slotted spoon
- A sharp pin or tack (optional)