How to boil eggs: tried-and-true methods for the perfect cook time.
Boiled eggs are a popular ingredient in salads, snacks, soups, and breakfasts. UNIAN shares that to achieve the desired consistency and maintain the appealing appearance of eggs, a few simple rules should be followed.
How to Prepare Eggs for Boiling
To prevent the eggshells from cracking during boiling, the eggs should be at room temperature. To achieve this, take them out of the refrigerator an hour before boiling and leave them on the counter. If you don’t have that much time, submerge them in warm water before boiling.
Additionally, make sure to rinse the eggs under running water before boiling.
To ensure that eggs peel easily, gently poke them with a thin needle at the blunt end to avoid cracking the shell. The egg should be pierced a few millimeters deep to damage the protective membrane.
Methods for Boiling Eggs
Warm eggs are placed in a pot and covered with cold water so that they are completely submerged. Then, bring the eggs to a boil and start timing once the water reaches a boil.
On the stovetop, the boiling times for eggs of different consistencies after boiling are as follows:
- Soft-boiled egg (runny white and yolk) – 3 minutes.
- Medium-boiled egg (firm white and runny yolk) – 6-7 minutes.
- Hard-boiled egg – 12 minutes.
Eggs are boiled on medium heat with the lid covered.
In a multicooker, eggs can be boiled in the "boil" or "soup" mode. After the water boils, set the timer for:
- Medium-boiled egg – 7 minutes.
- Hard-boiled egg – 14 minutes.
To hard-boil an egg in the microwave, place it in a cup, fill the cup with water, add a teaspoon of salt, and microwave for 10 minutes at 60% power or 500 watts.
In a steamer, eggs are steamed medium-boiled for 10 minutes and hard-boiled for 18 minutes.
What to Do After Boiling Eggs
Do not boil the egg for more than 20 minutes, as it will become rubbery and lose its flavor. After boiling, place the eggs in a bowl of cold water for 5-10 minutes – this will help them peel easily, and the yolk will not turn green. If the eggs are hard to peel, it means they are very fresh. Farm-fresh eggs should be kept in the refrigerator for at least 5 days before boiling.
To check if an egg is boiled, place it on the table and spin it. Raw eggs spin slowly, while boiled eggs spin quickly due to their lower density.