How to soft boil and hard boil eggs
There are a few ideas on how to boil eggs, you may want to experiment with some until you find the one you feel comfortable with. Remember that eggs straight from the fridge and placed in boiling water will crack.
How to soft boil eggs
Traditional method
Put your eggs into a small saucepan and fill with more than enough cold water to cover them. Put the pan on the hob and turn the heat up to the highest setting.
As soon as the water starts to boil reduce the heat and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes depending on how thick or runny you want your egg to be.
Chefs method
Get a small saucepan and fill it with enough water to cover the eggs and an extra fingers width. Stick the saucepan on the the hob and turn the heat to the highest setting.
When the water starts to simmer put in the eggs one at a time, lowering in with a tablespoon.
Reduce the heat and simmer the eggs for exactly 1 minute, not a second more or less.
Remove the pan from the heat and leave for 6 or 7 minutes depending on how runny you want your egg yolk.
Hard Boiled Eggs
Put your eggs into a small saucepan and fill with more than enough cold water to cover them. Put the pan on the hob and turn the heat up to the highest setting. As soon as the water starts to simmer reduce the heat to a level that keeps the water simmering away but not boiling.
Cook the eggs for about seven minutes.
Take the eggs out of the saucepan with a tablespoon.
Stick the eggs in the sink and immerse them in very cold water for about 3 minutes.
Remember!
- Pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems should always hard boil eggs.
- To check if an old egg is still fresh drop it in a glass of water and see if it floats. If it does then it is a sign of the egg being bad as bacteria will give off gas making the egg lighter than water
Do you have a recipe?
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Like to read more? – Dave and Andy have written a number of books on Selfs-ufficient (ish) and budget living including
Grow your food for free (here’s a review) For those outside UK visit Chelsea Green
And Booze for free