How To Make Soft-Boiled Eggs
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Learn how to make perfect soft-boiled eggs — plus, the best ways to enjoy them!
Perfectly cooked soft-boiled eggs have a just-set white and a warm, jammy yolk. They are wonderful over salads (try them on my spinach salad with warm bacon dressing) and ramen, and they also make a lovely breakfast nestled in an egg cup with toast soldiers on the side. Unlike hard-boiled eggs, which are started in cold water and brought to a boil, soft-boiled eggs are dropped into boiling water and gently boiled until done. This method allows for precise timing to achieve a perfectly-set white and slightly runny yolk every time. For the most consistent results, I recommend using cold-from-the-fridge large eggs, which take exactly 6½ minutes minutes to cook. For smaller or larger eggs, the cooking time will need to be adjusted by a minute or so in either direction.
Table of Contents
Step-by-Step Instructions for Soft-Boiled Eggs
Bring a saucepan (large enough to hold the eggs in a single layer) of water to a boil over medium-high heat.
Using a slotted spoon, gently lower the cold eggs into the water one at a time.
Cook for exactly 6½ minutes, adjusting the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle boil.
Meanwhile, fill a bowl with cold water and some ice cubes. When the eggs are done cooking, transfer them to the water and chill until just slightly warm, about 2 minutes.
Use an egg shell cutter or sharp knife to remove the tops and serve in egg cups. (This egg cup and cutter set is similar to the one I have.) If you don’t egg cups but would like to serve the soft-boiled eggs this way, you can also use shot glasses. Alternatively, the eggs can be peeled and sliced in half.
To make toast soldiers, cut off the crust from thick-sliced bread, and toast until golden. Slather the toast with butter and use a serrated knife to cut into thin sticks (or “soldiers”).
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Soft-Boiled Eggs
Learn how to make perfect soft-boiled eggs — plus, the best ways to enjoy them!
Ingredients
- Large eggs, cold from the fridge
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a saucepan (large enough to hold the eggs in a single layer) of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Using a slotted spoon, gently lower cold-from-the-fridge eggs into the water one at a time (don't drop them in or they'll crack). Cook for exactly 6½ minutes, adjusting the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle boil.
- Meanwhile, fill a bowl large enough to hold the eggs with cold water and some ice cubes. When the eggs are done cooking, transfer them to the water and chill until just slightly warm, about 2 minutes.
- Use an egg shell cutter or sharp knife to remove the tops and serve in egg cups. (This egg cup and cutter set is similar to the one I have.) If you don't egg cups but would like to serve the soft-boiled eggs this way, you can also use shot glasses. Alternatively, the eggs can be peeled and sliced in half. Serve warm with salt and pepper.
- Tip: When peeling an egg, start at the wider end -- there's usually a small air pocket in there, which makes the egg shell easier to remove.
- Note: To make toast soldiers, cut off the crust from thick-sliced bread, and toast until golden. Slather the toast with butter and use a serrated knife to cut into thin sticks (or "soldiers").
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Serving size: 1 egg
- Calories: 61
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Sodium: 61 mg
- Cholesterol: 160 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Hi jenn, These eggs were absolutely perfect.no runny whites, just a lovely egg. Thanks so much for figuring this out.
Great recipe. Easy to follow and the eggs came out just like the pictures.
Many thanks.
Perfect! Delicious!
Excellent! I am a rookie and made these for my 17 yr old daughter at her request. PERFECT! She loved them! Thank you!
Thank you. This was my favorite lunch as a child, and I’ve never figured out how to get them just right. The size eggs I buy and the temp of my fridge required exactly one extra minute, but I love that I can set a timer and have perfect eggs every time!
I read a suggestion that one could cook an egg in about 1/4 inch of water, brought to a boil, covered, and cooked (steamed?) for six minutes. I do this for a breakfast soft-boiled egg. If I want hardboiled eggs for salads or sandwiches, I leave them in the hot water for about ten minutes and then chill them in cold water. They peel easily and can live in the fridge for several days before using.
This is what I love about this blog – helpful hints and instructions on how to perfect something as simple as a boiled egg. My husband noticed the improved taste and texture when I made boiled eggs following these instructions. Thank you!
Wonderfully helpful recipe as always. How long do soft-boiled eggs keep in the fridge?
Glad you liked it! These will last in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Hi, Jenn.
I love your how-to tips as much as your recipes! Question on the soft-boiled eggs – what size eggs did you use? Does the cook time vary based on the egg size? Thanks.
Hi Susan, I use large eggs – and yes the size of the eggs would make a slight difference. I’ll note that in the instructions – thank you!
Finally – perfectly soft boiled an egg!!!
Thank you