Soft Boiled Eggs
Eggs boiled for 6 minutes so the white is set and the yolk still runs, served with buttered toast soldiers.
How to Cook Soft Boiled Eggs
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Bring a pan of water to a boil. Lower the eggs in gently with a spoon and boil for 6 minutes.
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Meanwhile toast the bread, butter it and cut it into fingers.
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Move the eggs into a bowl of cold water for 30 seconds.
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Set each egg in an egg cup, slice off the top and season. Serve with the toast fingers.
Keep an Eye on These
- Start timing when the eggs go in.
- Cool them briefly in cold water.
- If the eggs are cold from the fridge, add 30 seconds.
- Use a spoon to lower them, not your fingers.
The Short Version
Four eggs, four slices of bread and six minutes. The quality of the egg is what you taste, and the timing is the only skill.
Lower the eggs gently into a pan of boiling water with a spoon, and start the clock once they are in. Six minutes gives a set white and a runny, golden yolk. Time it exactly. A minute over gives a thick, jammy yolk, and a minute under leaves the white wobbly.
Have a bowl of cold water ready. When the six minutes are up, move the eggs into it for 30 seconds. This stops the cooking and cools the shell enough to handle.
Tap the top of each egg with a teaspoon and lift the cap off. Season the yolk with salt and pepper, and dip in fingers of hot buttered toast. If your eggs come straight from the fridge, add 30 seconds. Eat them straight away, since the yolk keeps cooking in the shell and thickens as it sits.
On the Table Alongside
Orange juice · Hot tea · Grilled tomatoes · Crisp bacon
Keeping Soft Boiled Eggs
Best eaten at once. Boiled eggs can be kept in the fridge, but the yolk will not stay runny.
Questions People Ask
How long does Soft Boiled Eggs take to make?
About 8 minutes in total — 2 minutes of preparation and 6 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 2.
What are the key tips for making Soft Boiled Eggs?
Start timing when the eggs go in. Cool them briefly in cold water. If the eggs are cold from the fridge, add 30 seconds. Use a spoon to lower them, not your fingers.
What should I serve with Soft Boiled Eggs?
Orange juice; Hot tea; Grilled tomatoes; Crisp bacon.
Is Soft Boiled Eggs suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Soft Boiled Eggs?
About 396 kcal per serving, with 19 g protein, 35 g carbohydrate and 20 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Soft Boiled Eggs Nutrition
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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