- Boil for 2 minutes: soft boiled with a liquid center
- 3 minutes: soft-boiled with a creamy center
- 4-5 minutes: medium-boiled with a moist, soft center
- 6-7 minutes: hard-boiled eggs with a soft center
- 8-9 minutes – fully hard-boiled eggs with firm, dry center
A perfect hard-boiled egg should have fully set (but not rubbery) whites, have a bright yellow center, and should never have a green tinge around the yolk which signifies overcooking. Soft-boiled eggs have fully set whites and a creamy liquid center.
Common Questions
Is salt needed for boiled eggs?
Adding salt increases the boiling point of water but only by about 1 degree which is insignificant. Unless you are adding a ton of salt, it doesn’t make a difference. We do not add salt.
Do you need vinegar for eggs?
It is thought that adding vinegar to the water helps with easier peeling of eggs, but vinegar only dissolves the outer layer of the shell. It is unnecessary and can be skipped.
Can I use farm-fresh eggs?
If you have fresh eggs, the best method is instant pot boiled eggs which are easier to peel.
