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Why do you need a recipe for boiled eggs? Soft Boiled Eggs are cooked for a specific amount of time to keep them soft and we’ve perfected the recipe for you! You will have a delicious and soft, gooey, flavorful yolk every time!

I really love eggs. They taste great in so many different things! Whenever I need to use up some eggs, egg salad is always my go-to recipe. I also can’t resist a deviled egg, and of course scrambled eggs for breakfast!

Soft boiled eggs on a dark plate cut in half so you can see the yolks.

Soft Boiled Egg

Soft boiled eggs are the coolest thing since sliced bread! Well, maybe not, but they are super delicious and in my opinion, not made enough! It isn’t any harder to make than a hard boiled egg and the only difference is you don’t boil them as long. They have a soft runny yolk that is so flavorful, and not dry at all. The egg white is far from rubbery, it’s soft and almost melts in your mouth.

If you are wondering what to eat a soft boiled egg with, don’t overthink it! What do you enjoy eggs with now? It is great with a vegetable stir fry, or paired with some roasted potatoes. A soft boiled egg is most commonly served in ramen, so you have to make these soft boiled eggs in this super easy homemade ramen recipe!

Ingredients

Alright, you really just need water and eggs. You can make as many eggs as you want, but you don’t want to crowd the pot because the water temperature will drop too much and your eggs will not cook the way you want them to. You can add salt or vinegar to the water if you want. Some people feel that adding salt or vinegar to the water keeps the eggs from cracking.

  • 4-6 Large Eggs: I always use large grade A eggs in my recipes. I like to let my eggs sit out for about an hour before boiling them to get them to room temperature. If they are too cold when you drop them in boiling water, they might crack.
  • Water for Boiling: Water from your tap will work great, and you can add vinegar or salt if you want. You want to fill the pot so that there is one inch of water covering the eggs.
Process photos showing water in a pot, then eggs added to the water, a bowl full of ice water, and the eggs added to the ice water.

How to Make Soft Boiled Eggs

Perfect soft boiled eggs are just as easy as hard boiled! Make sure you have a slotted spoon handy to lower the eggs. You don’t want to drop them in the pot because they might crack when they hit the bottom. You will also want to have a bowl of ice water handy to cool the eggs off quickly so they don’t keep cooking once you take them out of the water.

  1. Boil Water: In a large saucepan of water bring to a boil over medium high heat.
  2. Add Eggs: Once the water is boiling use a slotted spoon to gently lower the eggs. This will help to prevent them from cracking.
  3. Cook: Boil the eggs for 7 minutes. Transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice and cold water. Let the eggs chill in the water until they are no longer hot.
  4. Peel: Crack the eggs all over and start peeling from the wider end which will contain the air pockets.
A photo showing the different yolks of different cook times at 6 minutes, 7 minutes, and 8 minutes.

How Long to Soft Boil an Egg

A hard boiled egg is usually cooked for 10-12 minutes, which makes the inside of the yolk very firm and dry. Here is what happens when you cook an egg for different amounts of time. Each of these are considered a soft boiled egg, and they will be slightly different based on the cook time.

  • 6 Minutes: If you like your eggs over easy, that is what these centers are like. They ooze out when you cut into them, and the egg white is nice and soft. This is great for ramen!
  • 7 Minutes: This is just a little more firm, and the egg white has a little more stiffness. It is really yummy on a salad or with roasted asparagus!
  • 8 Minutes: Now you are getting to the edge of a hard boiled egg. If you cook it for a few more minutes, the yolk would be firm. So this is as long as you would want to cook a soft boiled egg.
A close up of soft boiled eggs cut open to see the yolks.

Storing Leftovers

You can save a soft boiled egg in the fridge for a few days. They do taste really yummy as leftovers, but they are harder to reheat to get that same runny inside. Here is how you can store your soft boiled eggs.

  • In the Refrigerator: Store your unpeeled soft boiled egg in the fridge for up to two days. You can store a peeled soft boiled egg in an airtight container in the fridge for two days, they are just harder to reheat the right way.
  • Reheat: Put your unpeeled soft boiled eggs in simmering water for about a minute. They will reheat without overcooking.
A bowl of chicken ramen with eggs and a white spoon.

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Soft-Boiled Eggs

Why do you need a recipe for boiled eggs? Soft Boiled Eggs are cooked for a specific amount of time to keep them soft and we've perfected the recipe for you! You will have a delicious and soft, gooey, flavorful yolk every time!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • In a large saucepan of water bring to a boil over medium high heat.
  • Once the water is boiling use a slotted spoon to gently lower the eggs. This will help to prevent them from cracking.
  • Boil the eggs for 7 minutes. Transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice and cold water. Let the eggs chill in the water until they are no longer hot.
  • Crack the eggs all over and start peeling from the wider end which will contain the air pockets.

Nutrition

Calories: 63kcalCarbohydrates: 0.3gProtein: 6gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 164mgSodium: 62mgPotassium: 61mgSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 238IUCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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