Soft-boiled eggs are my new obsession. The whites of the eggs are firm, but the yolk stays silky, creamy, and in a liquid gold state. It’s a little like a cross between butter and melted cheese. They’re seriously divine. And they’re not just for breakfast! I enjoy soft-boiled eggs with toast, as an addition to bowl meals, as a topper for salads or soup (hello, ramen!), or just as a quick snack. I pretty much add soft-boiled eggs to everything I eat, no matter what time of day. Are you ready to see how easy it is?
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Why we Love Soft Boiled Eggs
Soft-boiled eggs are my new obsession. The whites of the eggs are firm, but the yolk stays silky, creamy, and in a liquid gold state. It’s a little like a cross between butter and melted cheese. They’re seriously divine. And they’re not just for breakfast! I enjoy soft-boiled eggs with toast, as an addition to bowl meals, as a topper for salads or soup (hello, ramen!), or just as a quick snack. I pretty much add soft-boiled eggs to everything I eat, no matter what time of day. Are you ready to see how easy it is?
How Long Does it Take TO Soft Boil an Egg?
The short answer is that it takes six minutes to soft boil an egg with fully set white and a liquid yolk, or 3-5 minutes if you prefer softer, slightly unset whites near the yolk. The long answer is that the time for soft boiled eggs also depends on the size of your egg and the technique used to boil the egg.
The recipe below is formulated for large eggs that are still cold from the refrigerator. In the U.S. large eggs weigh approximately 56-62 grams. You can use this method for other-sized eggs, just be aware that you will need to adjust the time up or down, depending on the size of your egg. Other factors that may affect the cooking time include high elevation, the type of cookware used, adding the egg to cold water vs. hot water, and the starting temperature of your egg. Start with six minutes for large eggs and adjust the time until you find the exact amount of time needed to achieve your perfect soft-boiled egg.
The diagram above shows how long to cook large eggs (cold) to achieve soft or hard boiled eggs and everything in between.
- 3-5 minutes: liquid yolk with soft, whites not fully set
- 6 minutes: liquid yolk with fully set whites
- 7 minutes: jammy yolk with outer edges set
- 8 minutes: half set yolk
- 9 minutes: half set yolk
- 10 minutes: mostly set yolk
Using the steaming method, I find 12 minutes to be perfect for a hard boiled egg with a fully set yolk. If you prefer to use a full water bath instead of the steaming method, check out my tutorial for hard boiled eggs.
How to Boil Eggs Fast
Half of the time spent when boiling eggs is just waiting for the water to boil, so I like to use a combination of boiling water and steam. To create the steam you only need one inch of water in the pot, which comes to a boil in just a few quick minutes instead of several minutes for a full pot of water. The steam from the boiling water is then trapped under the lid, it surrounds the egg and cooks the egg just as quickly and evenly as a full pot of water. The quick steaming method allows you to cook your soft-boiled egg in just six minutes, or about the amount of time that it takes to start making your coffee or toast a piece of bread.
If you want to see how to make soft or hard-boiled eggs using a full pot of water, check out my tutorial for how to make hard-boiled eggs.
How to Make Perfect Soft Boil Eggs – Step by Step Instructions
Add one inch of water to a sauce pot. Yes, you only need ONE INCH of water. Use the smallest pot you have that will house the number of eggs you’re making, so they’re in a single layer in the pot. I usually only do one or two eggs at a time, but this same technique can be used for any number of eggs. Place a lid on the pot and bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, gently place the large egg(s) into the pot. Tongs or a slotted spoon makes this easier to do without burning your finger tips.
After adding the egg(s) to the pot, put the lid back on top, and set a timer for six minutes. The lid holds in the steam, which surrounds the eggs with even heat, cooking them quickly and evenly.
After exactly six minutes, turn off the burner, and use the tongs to transfer the eggs to an ice bath. Allow the eggs to cool until they’re no longer too hot to handle, or let them sit in the ice bath until you’re ready to eat. Just make sure you don’t let them sit at room temperature after steaming, otherwise they will continue to cook with their residual heat, and the yolks will continue to solidify.
Carefully tap the egg on a hard surface to crack the shell, then gently peel it away. You’ll need to be gentle because the inside is still liquid and the egg will be somewhat soft and wobbly. Begin peeling on the fat end, which often has an air-bubble that separates the shell from the whites, and makes an easy spot to separate the two. Give it a quick rinse after removing the shell to get rid of any shell fragments.
And now it’s time for that magic moment… OMG the runny yolk is liquid perfection! *squeal* Just so you can see a close up of the awesome results… The whites are completely solid and the yolk is ALL liquid. How perfect is that? I feel like I won the lottery.
How to Make Perfect Soft Boiled Eggs
Servings 1Ingredients
- 1 large egg, chilled
Instructions
- Add 1 inch of water to a sauce pot, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, add an egg (or however many you’d like as long as they are in a single layer in the bottom of the pot), straight from the refrigerator into the pot. Replace the lid and let it continue to boil for exactly six minutes.
- After six minutes, remove the egg(s) from the pot and place them in an ice water bath or run under cool water until they are cool enough to handle. Peel, and enjoy!
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Notes
Nutrition
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How Long do Soft Boiled Eggs Last?
Soft boiled eggs in the shell will last in the refrigerator for about two days. To reheat the refrigerated soft boiled eggs, just repeat the initial cooing process with half the time. Bring about an inch of water to a boil in a small saucepot, add the egg, and let steam for 3 minutes instead of six.
What to Serve with Soft Boiled Eggs
Soft boiled eggs go well with so many different foods that I find myself adding them to almost all my meals (“put an egg on it!”). I add soft boiled eggs to everything from noodles and rice bowls to salads and toast. When you break open that liquid gold yolk is like adding a deliciously rich sauce to your meal. Here are a few recipes where a soft boiled egg can really take your meal to the next level:
I followed instructions and eggs were properly cooked, bit it was very hard to get tiny shell fragments off the egg. Why would that be?
I’ve read so many different theories about why eggs are sometimes hard to peel or what makes them easier to peel, but I’ve found no consistency with any of them. For me it’s just random. Sometimes they peel effortlessly and sometimes they are impossible. I would say that I only have a difficult egg once in a great while, so my theory is that it has to do with the freshness of the egg or perhaps even the brand (I find great differences in shell quality between cheaper eggs and more expensive eggs).
I don’t know how long ago I saw this recipe, I’ll guess at least 2 years, the eggs are perfect every time, firm whites with lovely runny yolks. Thank you!
I cover with water and bring to a rolling boil , turn off heat and let cook 3 mins. covered. Then put in cold water til cooled. then crack at the larger end and peel. Never had a problem with this method.
When I was a kid my mother soft-boiled eggs perfectly; we’d peel them and put them on toast. I’ve never been able to cook soft-boiled eggs right. I finally bought 2 floating “egg boats” and set them in boiling water with an egg, cover and cook for four and a half minutes. That’s the closest I’ve been able to come, but I’m anxious to give this a try. Thanks!
I suspect this is easier said than done, but I shall give it a try.
Thank You, worked like a charm. Did not bother to cool it down, just plopped it in my egg cup and chowed down. It was just the way I liked it.
I’ve always loved soft boiled eggs but I’ve never had them come out well except by accident! Yours is the first technique I’ve found that works every time. I’ve made up to 5 eggs at a time & it works. Any size egg works.
Thank you, you amazing person! You’ve made me & my family very happy!
I was frustrated making sunny side up eggs too until I saw a method on tv that really works–crack the eggs into the skillet and then add a bit of water, put a lid on, and in about three minutes the whites are cooked but the yolk is perfect. I use 1/4 cup water for two eggs.
–oiling the skillet as usual, I should add
Thank you so much for this post and this method. Just had two perfect soft boiled eggs. I’ve been waiting for this day for so long.
I saw your soy noodles with spinach and eggs then this recipe! Two great lunch/dinner ideas for work, but hate inconsistent results from micro. Years ago I saw this recipe combination. Never used jasmine, I use basmati thinking it is more separate rice, of course with a large dollop of coconut oil. But for this recipe I use “wild rice” with long black pods/seeds and coconut oil in it. Really good. And I feel thin the next day! Lol
My favorite food!
Followed these instructions to a T, and I got the most perfect soft boiled egg! Great for ramen! Awesome recipe.
Just to pass on a tip for sunny side up eggs – just before they’re done add about 1 tablespoon water to the pan and cover for about 15-20 seconds. The steam will cook the egg whites around the top of the uncooked yolk.
Now I will try your method for soft boiled eggs – which are my favorites! Thanks.
I tried this method today and it was total perfection!
Thanks!
Thanks so much for this post! These are delicious! I will definitely be making them again.