The time to boil eggs depends on how you like the yolk:
- 3 to 5 minutes for soft-boiled eggs with runny or slightly set yolks
- 6 minutes for runny yolks with set whites
- 7 to 8 minutes for almost set to softly set yolks (good for Scotch eggs)
- 10 minutes for classic hard-boiled eggs with fully set yolks that are mashable but not dry
- Longer than 10 minutes (e.g., 15 minutes) results in rubbery whites and powdery yolks, which is usually undesirable
A common recommended approach is to bring water to a boil first, then gently lower in fridge-cold eggs, reduce heat to keep a gentle boil, and start timing from that moment. For large eggs, typical timings are:
- 6 minutes for runny yolks
- 8 minutes for soft boiled
- 10 minutes for hard boiled
Cooling eggs immediately in cold water after boiling stops the cooking process and makes peeling easier
. In summary:
Egg Type| Boiling Time (minutes)| Description
---|---|---
Soft boiled| 3-5| Runny or slightly set yolk
Runny yolk| 6| Set white, runny yolk
Almost set yolk| 7-8| Softly set yolk, good for Scotch eggs
Hard boiled| 10| Fully set yolk, classic hard-boiled
These times are for large eggs; adjust slightly for egg size
