How to Boil an Egg

By eHow Food & Drink Editor

Rate: (664 Ratings)

Eggs are a rich source of protein and vitamins and are generally healthy to eat, unless you have a high cholesterol level. You can eat eggs raw, boiled or cooked in a pan as scrambled eggs or an omelet. Boiling eggs is one of the easiest ways to prepare them; this eHow will provide instructions on how to boil an egg in six simple steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1
Place the raw egg in a saucepan.
Step2
Run cold water into the saucepan until the water is 1 inch above the egg.
Step3
Place the saucepan on a stove and cook over medium heat until the water begins to boil.
Step4
Reduce the heat to low.
Step5
Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes for soft-boiled eggs or 10 to 15 minutes for hard-boiled eggs.
Step6
Remove the egg with a spoon or ladle and let it cool slowly, or run cold water over it to cool it more quickly.

Tips & Warnings

  • Use hard-boiled eggs to make deviled eggs or egg salad sandwiches.
  • Don't over cook your eggs, it can cause a green ring to appear around the egg yolk because of the iron and sulfur in the egg. This will not affect the taste of the egg, but overcooking will hurt the protein quality.

Comments

| View All Comments

jyjyfty said

Flag This Comment

on 5/1/2008 yummy! i love hard boiled eggs. and without the yucky green yolk. thanks so much! =)

jyjyfty said

Flag This Comment

on 5/1/2008 yummy =] i love hard boiled eggs. thank u guys!

tamsin said

Flag This Comment

on 3/26/2008 I keep seeing the same advice re boiling eggs - put them in a pan and boil from at least 15 to 25 minutes. Well if you want rubbery whites and bone dry yolks, go ahead! The best way to boil an egg, according to a 2michelin star chef, is to place the egg in a pan of water, just enough to cover it, bring it to a rolling boil for one minute only, yes, ONE minute. Turn off the heat and let the egg sit in the pan for a further twenty minutes. Fantastic succulent hard boiled egg.

gail2247 said

Flag This Comment

on 3/24/2008 Coddle method: Put cold eggs in cold water (enough to cover) bring water to full rolling boil. Remove from heat and cover for 18 to 20 minutes.(no peeking)Remove and chill in ice water. No more ugly green around the yolk. P.S. I do my macaroni and noodles this same way, no watching or boil over anymore.

gail2247 said

Flag This Comment

on 3/24/2008 Coddle method: Put cold eggs in cold water (enough to cover) bring water to full rolling boil. Remove from heat and cover for 18 to 20 minutes.(no peeking)Remove and chill in ice water. No more ugly green around the yolk. P.S. I do my macaroni and noodles this same way, no watching or boil over anymore.

View All

Post a Comment

POST A COMMENT

Request a New How-To Article

Looking for more How To information? Chances are there’s an eHow member who knows how to do what you’re looking to do. Submit an article request now!

eHow Article:  How to Boil an Egg

eHow Food & Drink Editor

eHow Food & Drink Editor

Category: Food & Drink

Articles: See my other articles

Related Ads

Food & Drink

Bethenny
Meet Bethenny Frankel eHow’s Food & Drink Expert.