How Long To Boil An Egg (And Why)?

How Long To Boil An Egg (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 5-10 Minutes

When it comes to cooking, the secret to tasty food is to cook it for the right duration. The same applies to eggs as well. Especially when we talk about boiled eggs, we must know the right duration for which the egg should be boiled.

You’ll all agree that hard-boiled eggs are a terrific item to keep on hand since they can be used in so many different ways. They’re not only tasty on their own, but they’re also great in other dishes such as sandwiches and salads.

The key to outstanding hard-boiled eggs is to avoid overcooking them, which can result in a grey ring around the yolk, and you can notice a rubbery texture as well.

How Long To Boil An Egg

How Long To Boil An Egg?

Boiling TypeTime Duration
Soft Boil4-5 Minutes
Hard Boil10 Minutes

Boiled eggs, especially for vegetarians, are a quick and easy way to bulk up any meal, but many people still struggle with how to prepare the ideal boiled egg. How long does it take to boil an egg? The short answer is that soft boiling a large egg, which is great for dipping bread soldiers into, takes four to five minutes.

Cooking time for eggs, on the other hand, is determined by a variety of factors, including personal preference, whether the eggs are refrigerated, their size, and even the type of pan used. There are different ways, tips and duration suggested for different types of boiled eggs.

Some people like half-boiled eggs, some like soft while some prefer hard-boiled eggs. No matter what type of boiled eggs do you prefer, you just need to know the right duration to boil it and you will get to eat delicious boiled eggs. Earlier, people used to be afraid of eating eggs because of the cholesterol found in the yolks.

Boiled Eggs

But, it is not the case anymore. Eggs not only raise the beneficial cholesterol that our bodies require, but the latest Federal dietary rules no longer advise against dietary cholesterol. This was something that caused individuals to limit eggs in the first place.

When it comes to boiling eggs, the most common issue is that they easily get overcooked, resulting in a dark green color surrounding the yolk and a sulfuric flavor. If you don’t want this to happen to your boiled eggs, you just need to cook them for the right time.

Why Boil An Egg For That Long?

Everyone likes it when things happen their way and when it comes to food, all of us prefer our tastes and preferences above everything else. Well, this is the main reason why it is important to boil eggs for the right duration of time.

When it comes to boiling eggs, the ideal cooking time is mostly determined by your preferences and the purpose for which you intend to utilize them. A fully cooked, hard-boiled egg, for example, is great as an on-the-go snack or in egg salad.

A boiled egg with a soft, jammy yolk, on the other hand, is an excellent way to top a slice of toast, a crisp salad, or a bowl of handmade ramen. Start by filling a big saucepan with enough water to thoroughly cover the eggs, regardless of the desired outcome.

Boiled Egg

You can boil as many eggs as you want as long as each one is completely submerged in water while cooking. Bring the water to a full boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Place your eggs carefully in the water and turn up the heat to bring the water back to a slow, rolling boil.

It is important to boil the eggs for the right duration of time because the only thing that determines the type of boiled egg you will get, is the boiling time. For example, if you like hard-boiled eggs but you boil the egg just for five minutes, you’ll get a half-boiled egg that you’re not going to like most probably.

Conclusion

Boiled eggs are a delightful and nutritious necessity to have on hand, but the time it takes to cook them varies depending on the intended result. Boil big eggs for about 7 minutes for a tender yolk.

Cook them for up to 13 minutes for a typical hard-boil. Keep in mind that smaller eggs cook faster and that at higher elevations, due to variations in air pressure, you may need to cook for longer.

You can achieve the same outcome by baking, steaming, or pressure cooking whole eggs if boiling isn’t your favorite method of cooking. So, if you are a boiled egg fan but didn’t know for how long to boil it, you know it now.

References

  1. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chris-Fellows/publication/266407610_First_Learn_to_Boil_an_Egg_Towards_a_Pragmaticist_Vision_of_the_Physical_Sciences/links/54b467ca0cf26833efd024db/First-Learn-to-Boil-an-Egg-Towards-a-Pragmaticist-Vision-of-the-Physical-Sciences.pdf
  2. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0143-0807/27/1/013/meta?casa_token=_CgEYr8SpbcAAAAA:n_CjDraYjINUNN6KWkVuMqdE4sdA5L1vy5rENj7rTgR2ceUWevaISHed8T22XeQthmDacBP32xRuVTRP
  3. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0143-0807/21/1/314/meta?casa_token=S1tl6r5X-AUAAAAA:Ccbr4LvBJ7dRVYIOatqM7kj3lwVdZE7_46RI_rkU3QdijdQPNexGzvegbCij00dcwwP1dq763o8-LTCa
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AboutNidhi

Hi! I'm Nidhi.

Here at the EHL, it's all about delicious, easy recipes for casual entertaining. So come and join me at the beach, relax and enjoy the food.

21 Comments

  1. I appreciate the useful tips on how to tell if an egg is cooked to your liking without having to cut it open. Very informative and helpful.

    1. Yes, learning about being able to tell if an egg is cooked without cutting it open was eye-opening for me as well.

  2. I know a lot of people who will find this article incredibly valuable. It really helps demystify the process of boiling eggs properly.

  3. It’s important to recognize that the quality of the egg you start with could affect the final outcome, so make sure you’re starting with the best quality eggs you can get your hands on.

    1. That’s a good point, I never thought about the quality of the egg. I will definitely keep that in mind next time I boil eggs.

  4. Finally, I’ve been enlightened about the right cooking times for various types of boiled eggs. Not only that, but the health benefits were also surprising to me.

    1. I had no idea that the dietary guidelines have changed regarding cholesterol in eggs. This was very informative.

    2. The health benefits were surprising to me too! I’ve always avoided eating too many eggs, but it’s interesting to learn about the latest dietary advice.

  5. The instructions to bring eggs to a gentle simmer and then place them in boiling water were eye-opening. That extra attention to detail really makes a difference.

  6. The practical tips on achieving the perfect boiled egg consistency were extremely helpful. The detailed instructions really made a difference.

    1. I agree, the instructions were very detailed and easy to follow. I’m looking forward to boiling my eggs the right way from now on.

  7. This article provides a lot of helpful information about how to boil eggs to get the perfect type for ultimate enjoyment. I’ve always struggled with this and now I finally understand how to do it properly. Thank you!

    1. I completely agree! I too have always struggled with boiling my eggs perfectly, but now I feel much more confident.

    2. I’m glad to hear that you found this article helpful. I have never thought about the proper way to boil eggs but now I see how important it is.

  8. The article offers a lot of scientific insights into the egg boiling process. It’s much more intricate than I had imagined.

    1. Yes, I was surprised by the complexity as well. This article really broadened my understanding of the topic.

  9. I’ll definitely be using the tips in this article to achieve the perfect boiled egg every time. There’s no going back to overcooked eggs now!

    1. Absolutely! The insights from this article will definitely improve my egg boiling skills. I’m excited to give it a try.

  10. I found the science behind egg boiling very fascinating. I never knew that it all depended on the cooking time to achieve the right boiled egg consistency.

    1. Absolutely! It’s interesting to see how the interaction of different factors can impact the final product. This article provided a lot of knowledge on that.

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