Showdown Academy - How to Boil an Egg

how to boil an egg

It sounds very simple, but a perfect, runny yolk can be lost very quickly, so timing a perfect boiled egg is important.

How long to boil the egg depends on how hard you want them to be, but it’s always best to start with eggs at room temperature.

The longer you cook them, the harder the eggs will be.

Use an Egg Timer to get the timing perfect every time!

HOW LONG TO BOIL AN EGG

BOILED FOR 5 MINUTES

The egg has a set white and runny yolk – just right for dipping into!

BOILED FOR 6 MINUTES

The egg has a set white and runny less yolk – good for dipping into, but not as runny.

BOILED FOR 7 MINUTES

The egg is almost set, but may be slightly runny still. Good for salads.

BOILED FOR 8 MINUTES

The egg will be set, but still soft. If you are making scotch eggs, this is perfect timing.

BOILED FOR 10 MINUTES

The classic hard-boiled egg – it can still be mashed, but not dry and chalky in texture.

1. Don't forget to let the eggs come to room temperature

This is the most often missed part of boiling eggs. But this step makes sure the eggs aren't undercooked, or cooked unevenly.

2. Start with boiling water

Boil a kettle, and pour the water in a sauce pan. You need enough to cover the eggs, not too much that the pan will overflow.

3. Gently add the eggs to the pan

The easiest thing to use is a spoon to lower the eggs in! Don't drop them in, they might crack, or splash boiling water. Be careful!

4. Gently simmer the pan

Put the pan on a medium heat to gently simmer the water. Don't boil too hard, or the eggs might crack. Follow the time above with a timer!

5. Put the eggs in cold water

Once the eggs have been boiling for the right time, take them out gently and carefully with and put them into cold water to stop the cooking process.

6. Tap the eggs and peel!

To peel the eggs, gently tap the eggs all over to break the shell. This will make it easy to peel! Once peeled, rinse it under cold water to get rid of any extra shell.

Eggs and Soldiers

If you are making eggs and soldiers (Dippy eggs and toast), skip steps 5 and 6.

Instead, put the hot egg into an egg cup and tap the top to break the lid!

Cooking time: Boil for 5 minutes and take the eggs out of the water.