How Long For The Perfect Boiled Egg?

From the University of Exeter, School of Physics, far more than you ever wanted to know about boiling eggs.

Well, I suppose I asked for that one didn't I?

Thanks Set

Re: How Long For The Perfect Boiled Egg?


At the page i linked, there is a link for the "Learn2-dot-com" page about boiling eggs. It has both the "hot" method, when the water is already boiling, and the "cold" method in which the egg is put in the water and the water is brought to a boil.

Nice one.

My pan is on the stove as I type.

Having a little bit of evening supper? It is evening there in Angle-land, no?

Yeah it's 20 past eight and I've sensibly decided against a Chinese Take Away delivery.

Not had my tea yet and the eggs are the only thing in the fridge.

Wot time is it round your way?

The following technique assumes you're using a large fresh egg:

Use a timer

After taking from refrigerator, raise the egg up to temp in warm water bath in sink or a glass. The water level in pot should cover 1-in. over the top off egg (at rest). Lower egg very gently in moderately (not rolling) boiling water. The boil should be steady not furious And should be about 8 minutes...definitely not more than 10. take eggs out immediately..and coll for a few minutes if cool water.

This technique should allow you to peel the shell off fairly easily and should give you soft a center but not totally liquid.

Five hours earlier . . . i don't even have an excuse for afternoon or "high" tea yet. However, The Girl grilled some bangers a little while ago, so i guess i'll survive.

Guess what guys?

The eggs are out of date.

I really need to do some shopping.

That should read a gentle boil... so that some bubbles appear.

Well, the next time you want to makes eggs, try this technique. It should work well. I'm retrying it now to make sure.

Cool.

Let me know if it works.

OK...timing was off a little. For true soft boiled eggs of a large egg, take them out much sooner. I just did 2 of mine at 5 minutes

By the way, a large egg here is about:
2 in (5 .1 cm) long by 1-2/3 in (3.7 cm) wide

I fresh egg does not peel as easily as one that is a few days old.

How out of date were you eggs dorothy?

I've never had a problem with that, in fact, I don't think I've ever looked for an eggsperation date on a carton.

They were dated the 22nd chai. Oh well.

Pix of soft-boiled (5 min) large egg


So you can see for yourself what I consider soft-boiled, this is what the egg I just made looks like:

(For a larger view and also to see my photographic portfolio too..click on the image itself.)

The 22nd of what month?

This month. Feel guilty for throwing them away now.

With eggs, dates around the eggs-piration dates aren't bad. I'd still have considered them 'fresh' enough...though, then we couldn't consider it the 'perfect' soft-boiled egg, could we?

Hey, Dorothy...did you like my egg pix?

Or lord Dorothy, that was just yesterday!

Nothing wrong with those eggs.

go ahead and eat them