Buzz
Boiling an egg to perfection is trickier than you might think. To cook an egg properly, you need to boil it for 10 - 15 minutes. After boiling, you can check if the egg is cooked by cutting it open or using an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature.
Steps
Cut the egg
Boil the egg properly. To cook eggs thoroughly, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Then, gently place the eggs into the water and let them cook for 8-14 minutes. Alternatively, you can start with cold water, bring it to a boil, remove the pot from the heat, and let the eggs sit in the hot water for about 9-15 minutes.
- Boiling eggs for 8 minutes will result in firm egg whites and a slightly soft, yellow yolk.
- Boiling eggs for 12 minutes will fully cook the yolk.
- Boiling eggs for 14 minutes or longer will cause the yolk to become crumbly and dry.
Check one of the eggs from the batch of boiled eggs. If you are boiling more than one egg, there's no need to check each one individually. Simply take one egg out of the boiling water and check it. If it is cooked, that means the rest of the eggs are also done.
Place the egg under running water to cool it down. Boiled eggs can be very hot immediately after removing them from the water. Hold the egg under cool running water for about a minute to bring its temperature down, making it easier to peel.
Peel the egg. You can gently tap the egg on a flat surface and peel off the shell with your hands. Alternatively, you can break the shell with the back of a spoon and then slide the spoon underneath to remove it.
Cut the egg in half. Slice the egg right down the middle. You’ll find the yellow yolk surrounded by the white egg white.
Inspect the inside of the egg. When you cut into the egg, the yolk should be firm and yellow. If the yolk has a greenish ring around it, this indicates the egg is overcooked. If the inside is still runny, the egg is undercooked. The egg white should be firm but not rubbery.
- If the egg is undercooked, continue boiling the remaining eggs for an additional 30-60 seconds.
- If the egg is overcooked, remove the other eggs from the water to prevent them from cooking further.
If your eggs are cooked to your liking, transfer them immediately to an ice water bath to prevent them from overcooking. Place some ice cubes in a bowl and add half a bowl of water. Then, carefully move the eggs from the pot into the bowl using a slotted spoon.
Use a thermometer
Carefully remove an egg from the boiling water using a spoon or ladle. Gently lift the egg and tap the spoon to drain off any excess water.
When handling hot eggs, use oven mitts to avoid burning your hands. Eggs will be very hot as soon as they come out of the water, but you don't want to cool them down too quickly since this may interfere with accurate thermometer readings. Instead, wear thick oven mitts to handle the eggs.
Insert the instant-read thermometer into the center of the egg by piercing the sharp tip through the shell. Keep the thermometer in place for a few seconds until it displays the temperature.
Check the temperature display screen. The yolk should be between 70-77°C. If the temperature is below this range, you should place the egg back into the water to cook it further. If it’s higher, it means the egg has been overcooked.
- An overcooked egg yolk might become dry and crumbly but can still be eaten.
Tip
- If you’re unsure whether an egg is raw or boiled, take a raw egg and spin both eggs on a hard surface. If they spin at the same speed, they are both raw. If one spins faster than the other, that egg is cooked.
What You Need
Cutting the Egg
- Cold water
- Knife
Use a thermometer
- Oven mitts
- Instant-read thermometer
