How to Make Soft Boiled Eggs
How to make perfect soft boiled eggs, with jammy yolks and set whites. Serve them on toast, with ramen or add them to a salad.
If you’re looking for a foolproof method for cooking soft boiled eggs, you’re in the right place! A jammy soft boiled egg served on avocado toast is one of my favorite breakfasts. This soft boiled eggs recipe uses the same cooking method as my easy Hard Boiled Eggs recipe, but with a shorter cook time.
The secret to making soft boiled eggs that come out perfect every time is to add the eggs to a pot of already boiling water. This ensures that you’ll have an accurate cook time. If you were to start the eggs in cold water, you’d risk over- or under-cooked eggs since the time it takes for a pot of water to come to a boil can vary. Starting the eggs in boiling water also makes them easier to peel.
How to Make Soft Boiled Eggs
- First, fill a medium saucepan or pot with 2 inches of water. Bring the pot to a boil on the stove.
- Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat slightly to a gentle rolling boil. Use a slotted spoon to gently lower cold-from-the-fridge eggs into the water.
- Boil the eggs for 7 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed to keep the pot at a gentle rolling boil.
- Immediately transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water. Leave the eggs in the ice bath for 2 minutes.
I like to enjoy soft boiled eggs right after cooking them, but you can also store them, unpeeled, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
To peel the eggs, gently crack them on all sides on the counter and then start carefully peeling from the bottom of the egg. There is usually an air bubble at the bottom of the egg that makes it easier to start peeling off the shell.
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Recipe Tips
- Experiment to find your perfect soft boiled egg time. I boil eggs for 7 minutes for fully set egg whites and jammy yolks. If you want very runny yolks, set a timer for 6.5 minutes. The cook time needed can vary based on the size of your eggs.
- Use eggs straight from the fridge (not room temperature) for an accurate cook time.
- Set a timer immediately after adding the eggs to the pot so you’ll know exactly when to take them out of the boiling water.
- To keep the eggs from cracking, make sure the water is at a gentle rolling boil before adding the eggs and use a slotted spoon to add the eggs to the pot carefully.
- Prepare the ice bath (bowl of ice water) while the eggs are boiling. Immediately transferring the eggs to the ice bath stops the cooking process. It also makes the eggs easier to peel.
Ways to Serve Soft Boiled Eggs
Eggs are a versatile protein source and there are so many ways to enjoy them!
- On toast or avocado toast, with a sprinkle of salt and pepper or everything bagel seasoning.
- Add them to a salad.
- With ramen.
- In a veggie bowl with roasted vegetables and quinoa.
- On top of a bowl of savory oatmeal.
- With breakfast potatoes.
What’s your favorite way to serve soft boiled eggs? Let us know in the comments below!
More Egg Recipes
You might also enjoy this Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs recipe (includes cook time for air fryer soft boiled eggs) and Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs.
How to Make Soft Boiled Eggs
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs*
Instructions
- Fill a medium saucepan or pot with 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to a gentle rolling boil. Gently lower the eggs into the water using a slotted spoon. Boil for 7 minutes,* adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a gentle rolling boil.
- Immediately transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water. Leave the eggs in the ice bath to cool for 2 minutes. Then carefully peel the eggs: gently crack them on all sides on the counter and then start peeling from the bottom of the egg.
Notes
- You can cook more or less eggs, as long as they fit in a single layer in the pot.
- The cook time may need to be adjusted slightly depending on the size of your eggs. If they are on the smaller side, they will cook faster.
- If you wish to cook soft boiled eggs ahead of time they can be stored, unpeeled, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. They will stay fresher if you store them in their shells. You can reheat soft boiled eggs by placing in a pot of gently simmering water for 3.5 minutes. The eggs will be slightly more cooked after reheating.
I like you Kristine, like them on avocado on toast. I sprinkle a bit of olive oil on to make sure I get the appropriate food groups. I have cooked a lot of your recipes!! I look for others but I always come back to you. I use my crock pot or oven. Don’t have the instant pot or the air fryer. Anyway keep on cooking!!
Isn’t it so good that way? Thank you for your kind words! It makes me so happy that you are enjoying my recipes.
I’ll give you 5 stars if I get the perfect runny egg yolks..I’ve tried so many different times to cook that perfect soft boiled eggs.
Thank you
Hi Christel, I used to have the same problem, but I think you’ll find this method really works! As I mentioned in the post, it might take a bit of experimenting to find your perfect cook time. 7 minutes works great for me; you might prefer 6.5 minutes, depending on the size of your eggs and how runny you want the yolks. 🙂
Love them with toast soldiers! Â Happy to have a recipe to ensure they come out right. Thanks!