How To Boil Eggs Perfectly (Soft, Medium, Hard)

Whether you’re wanting soft-boiled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, or something in-between, learning how to boil eggs to your perfect level every single time is easier than you think! Using this simple, fool-proof method, you’ll never go wrong!

Over the past week, I’ve taken to my Instagram stories to ask everyone not only how they prefer their eggs (hard vs. soft), but also their preferred cooking method and/or what they’d like me to cover in this ‘how to make boiled eggs’ guide. 

As it turns out – people came back time and time again wanting to know the answers to how long does it take to boil an egg: soft and hard-boiled egg times particularly. Also, wanting a simple method that will work every single time. 

Well, that’s what I have for you! Having spent many a year making boiled eggs, I’ve tried every method there is before settling on the pre-boil hot water method. This method uses pre-boiled water to cook the eggs, simmering them for X minutes until you reach your desired level. I prefer this to versions where you pop your eggs in room temp/tap water and bring it to a boil as I’ve found that the results are far more consistent. 

This post will not only take you through my step-by-step process and the boiling times required for your perfect boiled egg, but I’ve also included a handy FAQ section. This includes how to peel hard-boiled eggs, store them, how long they keep, and more!

For now, let’s jump straight into the simple method. 

Top Recipe Notes

• I used eggs from the fridge here and ran them under warm water for 20-30 seconds. If you decide to use room temperature eggs then, as a general rule, remove a minute from the egg cooking time to what I suggest below.
• I used medium eggs weighing between 55-60g for this post. If you use large eggs then you’ll need to add a minute to the cooking time, depending on what level of boiled you’d like them to be.

The Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Boil The Water

Boil enough water to cover all the eggs that you’re planning on cooking. There are three main methods for doing this including stovetop, microwave, or kettle.

Stove Top: Add enough water to your pan, heat over high heat, and bring the water to a boil. This method usually takes the longest, and times will vary based on how wide your pan is and how much water is in it.

Microwave: Pour the water into a microwave-safe container (I use a glass bowl), place a wooden spoon, popsicle stick, or chopstick in the water, and heat in intervals of 60-90 seconds, until boiling. If you can’t easily see inside your microwave, you may need a thermometer to check.

You need the wooden (never use metal) item to form a ‘nucleation site’ in the water – which encourages the water to bubble. Otherwise, it can become dangerous and even ‘explode.’ While this method is quicker, it’s harder to tell if the water is boiling, and you need to include a ‘nucleation site.’

Kettle: Pour enough water into the kettle and pop on to boil. This is my favorite method as I have a fast electric kettle, it boils to the perfect temperature, and I usually add a little extra water to it to make myself a tea at the same time.

Step 2: Add your eggs to the water

Once your water is ready, transfer it to a saucepan (if it is not already in it), and heat over medium heat – you want a rolling simmer rather than a boil.

Use a slotted spoon/spoon or something similar to lower the eggs into the boiling water carefully.

Note* – I used eggs that had been in the fridge but I ran them under warm water for about 20 seconds to warm them up slightly. This will help to avoid them cracking when you place them in the boiling water. You could also leave the eggs out of the fridge overnight before cooking them – so they are at room temperature.

Note – Make sure not to overcrowd the pot and place them in a single layer. The water should cover the eggs by at least 1-inch for up to six eggs and 2-inches for more.

Don’t drop them in as you may get splashed with boiling water, and you run the risk of cracking the eggs, which will affect the cooking process (and can look ugly – when it explodes out the side as it cooks).

Step 3: Boil the eggs to soft, medium, or hard levels

At this point, however long you leave the eggs in the water will determine how cooked they are. Use a timer for accurate results (rather than just glancing at a clock/watch).

This is my cook time guide for getting consistent results every time:

Soft Boiled Egg Times

• Anything under 4 1/2 minutes and the white isn’t fully set
• 4 1/2 minutes – whites will be ‘just’ set, with a super runny yolk
• 5 minutes – fully set white, with a thick and runny yolk
• 6 minutes – fully set white with a thick and slightly runny yolk

Medium Boiled Egg Times

• 7 minutes – Fully set white, thick, and barely runny yolk
• 8-9 minutes – The yolk is set but still soft and darker in color.
• 10-11 minutes – The yolk is set and only ever so slightly still tender

Hard-Boiled Egg Times

12-14 minutes – The egg is hard-boiled from 12+ minutes, though you’ll notice that the yolk will get lighter and harder and more crumbly in consistency.

I wouldn’t boil longer than 14 minutes as the eggs overcook and become rubbery, and the yolks can get a green-grey ring around them.

For perfect hard boiled eggs, I’d personally suggest going for 12 minutes.

Once ready, turn off the heat and quickly move on to the next step.

Step 4: Cool The Eggs

To avoid the eggs continuing to cook after removing them from the water, you need to cool them down quickly. This will also help you to avoid the green-grey ring yolks can have.

Either place the eggs carefully in an ice bath (bowl of water and ice) OR dump out the boiling water from the pan and run cold water over the eggs for at least one minute.

Step 5: To Easily Peel The Eggs

There are a couple of ‘tips’ I use for easy to peel boiled eggs.

• First, never skip the post-cooking temperature shock with ice water/cold water as this not only is great for texture and color, but it also helps make the eggs peel easier.
• You can also lightly crack the eggs before placing them in the ice water, which can help them soak up a little water and lead to easier peeling.
• You can use a thumbtack to prick a tiny hole at one end of the egg before boiling them (never on the side as it can break the egg – only the very end). I’ve found this method almost always leads to shells that are FAR easier to peel.

Note – Older eggs also tend to peel easier, usually ones that have sat in the fridge for at least a week before boiling.

To peel the eggs, I like to tap and press them against a surface and roll lightly back and forth. Do this lightly so that the shell cracks but without breaking the egg whites. Once peeled, rinse the eggs to get rid of any remaining tiny bits of shell.

FAQs

Egg Recipes & DIYs

• Air Fryer Boiled Eggs (Soft, Medium, + Hard Boiled)
• How Do You Poach an Egg? (+ Top Tips | Multiple Methods)
• How to Pasteurize Eggs (3 Ways + Bonus)
• Simple Soy-Marinated Ramen Eggs
• How to Separate Egg Whites and Yolks (2 Methods)
• How To Make A Veggie Omelette (with tips)
• Easy Potato Egg Salad (Mashed Potato Salad)
• Perfect Peel Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

If you try this simple boiled egg DIY, then let me know your thoughts and questions in the comments. I’d also really appreciate a rating and would love to see your recreations and how you use your boiled eggs – just tag @AlphaFoodie.