How to Boil Eggs Perfectly (Every Time)
533 Comments
Updated Nov 19, 2024
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Learn how to boil eggs (both soft boiled and hard boiled) so they turn out perfectly every time. My approach is super easy and allows you to cook a variety of eggs for the entire family – all in one pot together!
Why You’ll Love This Method For Boiled Eggs
When it comes to boiling eggs there’s no shortage of tutorials online. And guess what? They’re all pretty similar (i.e. add eggs to a pot of cold water, bring it to a boil, turn off the heat and cook the eggs until they’re hard boiled). But I find that there’s one big flaw with this method – the type of pot you use.
Aluminum, stainless steel and cast iron are well known for their different rates of bringing water to a boil and retaining heat. That means if your eggs are sitting in a pot of cold water in a cast iron pot and it takes two minutes longer to reach a boil than an aluminum pot (not to mention the water will cool at a much slower rate once removed from the heat), you’ve now inadvertently cooked your eggs a few minutes longer.
That may not be the end of the world for hard-boiled eggs, but it does increase the likelihood of a green tinge around your yolk and a more rubbery white. No thank you! On the other hand, soft-boiled eggs require a more precise cook time. That’s why most tutorials have you cooking them in hot water. So that begs the question – why cook them two different ways?
How to Boil Eggs in Hot Water
Given the reasoning above, I see no reason to cook hard-boiled eggs differently from soft-boiled eggs. Plus, the hot water method, which I’ve used my entire life (thanks mom), is pretty darn foolproof.
Just bring a pot of water to a boil with enough water to cover the eggs by about an inch. By boiling the water first, it also doesn’t matter which type of pot you use as the eggs only hit the water once it’s boiling: 212°F (100°C).
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and use a skimmer to gently place the eggs in the water. By reducing the heat to low, you’ll prevent the eggs from bouncing around and cracking. Then, immediately turn the heat back up to a boil.
As soon as the eggs are in the water set a timer. And cook the eggs according to how soft or hard you’d like them.
How long to boil eggs
- 6 minutes: A liquidy yolk and soft white. This is perfect for eggs served in an egg cup.
- 6 1/2 minutes: A soft, jammy yolk. This is my favorite for eggs on toast or soft boiled eggs on a salad.
- 8 minutes: A medium yolk that’s slightly soft but firm enough to hold its own.
- 10 minutes: The early stages of a hard boiled egg, with just a smidge of softness in the middle.
- 12 minutes: A hard boiled egg with a lighter yolk.
- 14 minutes: Your traditional hard boiled egg with the lightest yolk and a firm white, but not overcooked.
Place the eggs in an ice-water bath. Once the eggs have reached your desired time, immediately place them in an ice water bath to stop them from cooking and maintain your perfect texture.
Peel the eggs. Tap them gently on the bottom thicker end first, as it’s easier to get under the membrane when you start peeling from the bottom. Then continue to peel the shell off.
How do you make eggs easier to peel? The million-dollar question! There are many theories on how to make hard-boiled eggs easier to peel such as using eggs that are at least 10 days old, adding baking soda or vinegar to the water, and placing the eggs in an ice water bath. After trying all those methods, the only thing that works time and again for me is placing the eggs in an ice-water bath!
Tips To Prevent Cracking
Your eggs shouldn’t crack when placing them in the hot water. If they do, here’s a few extra tips to ensure that won’t happen.
- Allow the eggs to warm up. As you’re waiting for water to boil, don’t forget to take the eggs out of the fridge to let them sit on the counter. This will allow them to come to room temperature.
- Reduce the heat to low. This is important. Reduce the heat to low while slowly placing the eggs in the hot water. The water should not be boiling or bubbling. Otherwise, the eggs will bounce around and likely crack.
- Don’t crowd the pot. You want to make sure your eggs have enough room in the pot, so that they’re not stacking or touching. Plus, a crowded pot can start to alter the cook time.
- Buy a different brand. Sometimes different brands have different thickness of shells. If you’ve done all of the above, switching brands might be the clincher.
How Long Can You Store Boiled Eggs
Whether you’re making hard-boiled eggs or soft-boiled eggs, this is how long you can store them in the fridge:
- Hard Boiled Eggs: up to 1 week
- Soft Boiled Eggs: up to 3 days
In the shell or peeled? You can store boiled eggs either in their shell or peeled. But if you want maximum freshness and the longest storage time possible in the fridge, store them in their shell.
Helpful Tip: It should also be noted that eggs should never be stored in the refrigerator door, due to frequent temperature changes. Always store your eggs in the main part of the fridge.
Favorite Recipes With Boiled Eggs
There’s so much you can make once you’ve mastered boiling eggs. Here are a few of my favorite recipes:
Let me know in the comments below what your favorite cook time is for boiled eggs! I’m quite partial to a 6 1/2-minute jammy egg.
How to Boil Eggs Perfectly
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 1 to 6 large eggs
Instructions
- Bring a medium-sized pot of water to a boil. Ensure there's enough water in the pot to cover the eggs by about an inch. While you're waiting for the water to boil, remove the eggs from the fridge (set them on the counter).
- Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low (so that there's no bubbles) and use skimmer to gently and slowly add the eggs to the water. Then, turn the heat back up to a boil.
- Set a timer and cook the eggs for 6 to 7 minutes for soft-boiled eggs and 12 to 14 minutes for hard-boiled eggs. See the cooking time notes above. While the eggs are cooking, prepare an ice-water bath.
- Once the eggs have cooked to your preferred time, use the skimmer to remove the eggs and immediately submerge them in the ice-water bath to stop their cooking.
- Peel the eggs, starting with the bottom end first as it's easier to get under the membrane.
Lisa’s Tips
- I love this skimmer as it can easily add and remove multiple eggs at the same time.
- If you’re looking for new egg cups to serve soft boiled eggs, these egg cups are cute!
- I recommend not cooking more than 6 eggs at a time, as a crowded pot can start to alter the cook time.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally posted March 2018, but updated to include new information and photos.
I can *finally* make the perfect soft-boiled egg. Every. Single. Time. 6 1/2 minutes = perfection! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Awesome! I’m so happy to hear that! :)
I hope you can tell me/us when you start the timer. It took almost 5 minutes for the water to start to boil after I taken the pot off of the stove to carefully place 12 eggs into the pot. That 5 makes a big difference!
I didnt start the timer until the water started to boil again and, of course, my 6.5 minute eggs came out hard boiled — so i assume I should have started the time right after I put the eggs into the pot — even if the water was just simmering. Also I had the cover on the pot– would that alone have made them cook quicker? Hope you can clarify.
I LOVE your advice about how to peel the eggs and I LOVE your video and your style
and apologize for being so clueless about this.
Ellen.
Hi Ellen – yes, you’ll start the timer after the eggs are in the water. And no, the lid should not have affected the cook time. So happy you love my videos and no apologies necessary! :) x
First three eggs…fine, crack crack. Wish it worked for me but as soon as the Shell barely hit the water they cracked
Were the eggs room temperature? And did you make sure to not have the water boiling at the time you dropped them in (sometimes even slight jostling can crack them)?
should i peel the eggs before boiling them?
No, you peel the eggs after boiling. If you peel before boiling you’d essentially have poached eggs. ;)
Yes… perfectly boiled eggs and so easy to peel! I’ve been trying different tips, tricks, and recipes and this is the one that works! Great explanations and information here. Thank you!!
Yay! So happy they finally worked out for you! :)
I thought this was really nicely written and photographed and the instructions work.
Thank you Sara! I’m happy you found the post and information helpful. :)
My 6 minute eggs…perfection!!!
Glad you found your perfect cook time! :)
Its interesting to know how to boil eggs, but what if we will boil the eggs in salt water?
There’s really no benefit to doing that so it’s not necessary. :)
They will cook faster – salt water boils at a higher temperature…
Excellent results!! Thanks for the instructions, photos, & videos!!!
You’re more than welcome! Glad you found it helpful. :)
Made soft-boiled eggs for the first time in my life with this recipe, they came out flawless!! Thanks!
Yay! So happy to hear they turned out perfect!! :)
Thank you for placing the 1/2 egg to show the middle alongside its corresponding time. I find the names confusing, so this pictorial really helped me with making MY perfect egg.
Wonderful! Glad the photo provided a helpful visual for you Christine. :)
I love me some 6 minute soft boiled eggs!
And if it hasn’t been mentioned here before I will add a super easy way to make fresh eggs peelable.
I live near a farm so this has been a problem since the eggs are super fresh, like same day fresh.
Just place your eggs in a vegetable steeamer and steam them instead! Works like a charm every time and you get the exact same “boiled egg” effect.
6 minute eggs are the best! And thanks for the tip! :)
I just wanted to say thank you for sharing this. I have never been able to get boiled eggs right in my life, so rarely made them or anything with them as an ingredient. I tried this and they came out perfectly! I am so excited to now know how to get them right. Thank you soooo much!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that Melissa! I see a lot of egg recipes in your future now. ;) x
I love “3 minute” soft boiled eggs. I never could get the timing right for what I wanted. Your 6 minute eggs are perfect! Thank you!
Happy you found your perfect time now Joann! Enjoy! :)
love it
Thank you!
Just tried your 10 minute guide and it worked a charm! First time in my life that I successfully boiled and peeled eggs! (I’m 50 years old!) This guide definitely works. Thanks guys!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that! And it’s never too late to learn some awesome kitchen tips. :)
There are so many “hacks” for perfect boiled eggs, but I’ve never been able to get them just right until now. Thanks! Boiling the water first is revolutionary lol. They come out perfect every time!! 7 minutes is just right for my husband and me. Love that jammy yolk…yumm!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that Brooke. There’s nothing like making the absolute perfect eggs. Congrats! :) x
Seems like I am the only one who failed with this recipe. I followed to the tee and cooked the eggs for 6 and half minutes. But when I cracked the egg, the white was still watery. Then I added another 2 minutes and they were still watery.
Not sure what went wrong.
May I know when you cook the eggs, do you cover the pot?
I don’t cover the pot. Were your eggs extra large? But that still sounds strange that after 8 minutes they’d be watery. Was the water boiling the whole time?
I tried this recipe it’s amazing and very eeezy.also my family members like
Thanks for recipe
Glad you enjoyed it!
This recipe makes fail-proof eggs! For hard boiled eggs! As well as soft boiled eggs! All made in the same pot!
For the soft boiled eggs I boil for 5 minutes, then let the eggs sit on my plate while I make toast. By the time I butter my toast, and cut the tops off the eggs – the white is firm and cooked nicely. The yolks are the best part! Perfectly runny, soft boiled yolk for buttered toast!
I’ve always cooked my eggs too little or too long. No more with this recipe! Even hubby complimented me on the perfect boiled egg.
Yay! I’m so thrilled to hear that Susan! And it sounds like you’ve got the perfect morning workflow ironed out. Well done! :) x
I tried this recipe it’s amazing and very eeezy.also my family members like
Thanks for recipe
This works EVERY TIME!!! Thank you for sharing this xo
Yay! So happy to hear that Meredith! :) x
I never comment on recipes, but this is the first time in 31 years that I’ve made perfect soft boiled eggs! THANK YOU.
Woot! So wonderful to hear Juli. The perfect soft boiled egg is a beautiful thing! Enjoy! :) x
Perfect! This answered all my questions and left no doubt how I should proceed to make soft boiled eggs.
Wonderful! Glad you found the post helpful Terry. :)
How long do you soak the eggs in ice water after cooking?
Just until they’re fully cooled.
Very informative and to the point!
Thanks so much Christe!
I thought this tutorial was excellent. It’s short, articulate, and informative.
Thanks you! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post and video. :)
Thank you for your egg cooking tips…want to share a bit of hard boiled humor….. we are celebrating our 53rd anniversary soon and I’ve boiled my fair ahare of eggs of course. But when it comes to.peeling, I fill an empty pickle jar about 1/4 full of water and drop in a freshly boiled egg. Shake it about 8 to 10 times then remove it and the shell easily falls away.
I made a label for this jar … it reads
“Futuristic Egg Peeler.”
And, I.love it!
Ha – that’s awesome Kathy! Sometimes it’s the easiest things that serve the greatest purpose. ;) Love it!
Perfection. I agree on 6.5 min for the soft boiled egg. I don’t like any soft whites and that was perfect. Ready for my Brunch party!
Yes, 6.5 minute eggs are the best! And definitely fab for a brunch party. Enjoy Diane! :) x
Loved this recipe for boiling eggs.. both soft and hard. I don’t eat soft boiled— but my husband does. He loved it! Great way to cook both at once. I did crack one putting them in. I ate it hard boiled and it was still great!
Yes, it’s the best method for cooking eggs to satisfy everyone (with different cook times). Glad you both got the eggs you loved! :) x
Spot on killer! Very clear and concise guidance. I’ve seen so many vids on how to boil eggs properly, yours is as good as it gets. Thanks for posting!
Thanks so much! I’m happy you enjoyed the video and guidance. :)
I made a soft boiled egg it was great Iam getting cemo and that’s the only egg I can eat
Happy you made and enjoyed your soft boiled egg! :)
AWESOME and EASY!
I sure think so. ;) Glad you enjoyed it as well Patricia!
The best method of cooking eggs to perfection, thank you for great tip!
You’re welcome Marta! Hopefully you’ve been able to find your perfect egg cook time! :) x
Really helpful!! I’m making scotch eggs and soft boiled eggs for the first time. Can’t wait to see if my 6 and a half minute eggs do well. Do you increase the time for jumbo eggs?
Glad you found it helpful Molly! I usually buy large eggs, but you may want to increase the time just a smidge for jumbo eggs. :)
how will i know if i get a reply, i dont seldom come to this website, can i be e-mailed-instead, i just wanted to share my thought about egg,s, ——- that im addicted to-them, soft/hard/scrambbled/ up/down, just as long as its an egg, lol, opps, deviled, its endless, thank,s, im russ
Do you start timing as soon as the eggs hit the water, or as soon as you’ve brought the pot back up to a rolling boil?
As soon as they hit the water, as the water is already at boiling temperature then. :)
Ok! I was curious because I turn it down to simmering, and then the eggs also bring the temp down once I put them in, so it takes a couple minutes to come back up to a bouncing rolling boil.
Totally understand. But as long as you don’t crowd the pot, it shouldn’t really affect the outcome. :)
Wonderfully rational logical instructive way to cook eggs. Wish more cooks would do this.
My once a year foray into cooking for my wife and wanted it to come out right (part of a Cobb salad).
Thanks Jorg! I do my best to approach things logically. ;) Hope your eggs and the salad turn out fabulous!
what glass mixing bowls do you have? whats the brand?
Mine are these from Crate and Barrel:http://bit.ly/2F98RI6 But these ones on Amazon are similar are well: https://amzn.to/2HINZwK
I used your recipe for hard boiled eggs and they turned out beautiful and not one problem peeling them. Thanks.
Wonderful! Isn’t it lovely when they all peel perfectly? :) Thanks Karen!
This was a good read. Thanks for pre-answering questions so I don’t have to Google.
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed the post…and happy to save you a little time. ;)
Oh my gosh…mine came out PERFECT! You have no idea how excited I am to have this method ? thank you so much!!!
Yay!! That makes me so happy to hear Ashley! :) x
Great video, short simple and easy to understand.
Good idea to show all the different lengths of time.
Glad you found the post and video helpful! And yes, it’s much easier to compare and figure out your favorite cook time when you can see them all lined up next to each other. :)
Hi Lisa, Thanks for the soft boiled egg tutorial! I had never thought about different pans and heat, although I boil my water in the electric kettle because I find it faster. We never keep our eggs in the fridge either, there are even notes on lots of egg boxes not to! But that may be a UK thing. I think this would make more of a difference to the time it takes them to cook. I never cook my hard boiled for longer than 10 minutes and 5 is above right for the soft and runny version. Soft boiled eggs are a household favourite for Sunday tea!
Hi Carol – glad you enjoyed it! And yes, eggs in the UK are different to the US in terms of refrigeration and it has to do with salmonella. This article explains it: http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-heres-why-we-need-to-refrigerate-eggs-20140714-story.html Soft boiled eggs and Sunday tea sound like a lovely combo! :)
I think my option is 8 minutes cooking! :D I love how you explained the basics, because we are sometimes too much into some recipes and complication, but forget what it’s all about. Love it!
Thanks Hannah! And an 8-minute egg is delish for sure. :)
This is so helpful! The 12 minute version looks perfect to me.
Yes, 12-minutes is a very tasty hard boiled egg. Glad you found it helpful! :)
This is so handy, it can be so hard to get it perfect every single time!
Exactly. And by heating the water first, you’re guaranteed almost exact results every single time.
What a great guide. So handy to refer to. Love it! Now I am craving boiled egg of course.
Haha. Totally understandable. ;)
So simple…copying the photo with the eggs/minutes and printing it for the pantry cork board. Might even frame it…making the everyday extraordinary as we always promote to our design clients!
Such a great idea to print it out and pin it up!
What a great guide! I always cook my eggs way too much, but using this post I can finally get it right! Thanks :)
I think many people accidentally overcook their eggs. Glad you found the chart and video helpful!
Oh, dear. How to adapt for high altitude?
You should be fine, though you may need to cook them a bit longer than the times on the chart. :)