Egg Timer
Perfect egg timer for soft, medium and hard boiled with adjustments for egg size, starting temperature and altitude
Boiling Time
Boiling Time
7 mins
Ice Bath Time
2 mins
Total Time
9 mins
Steps
- Bring water to rolling boil
- Gently place egg in water
- Boil for 7 minutes
- Transfer to ice bath immediately
- Rest for 2 minutes
- Peel and serve
Soft Boiled
Runny, jammy yolk. Good for dipping soldiers or toast.
Medium Boiled
Creamy, jammy yolk with set whites. Perfect for salads.
Hard Boiled
Fully set yolk. Great for packed lunches and devilled eggs.
How Long to Boil an Egg
Soft-boiled (runny yolk): 4-5 minutes. Medium (set white, just-set yolk): 6-7 minutes. Hard-boiled (fully set yolk): 9-12 minutes. Times start when water returns to boil after eggs are added. For very hard yolks (suitable for egg salads or curries), 12-14 minutes. Let cool in cold water immediately to stop cooking and make peeling easier.
Egg size matters: medium eggs cook 30 seconds faster than large; jumbo eggs 30-60 seconds slower. Refrigerator-cold eggs need 30-60 extra seconds. For poached eggs: 3-4 minutes in barely-simmering water. For scrambled: 30-90 seconds in a pan over low heat with constant stirring. Frittatas/omelettes: 5-7 minutes in a pan.
Egg Cooking Times
| Method | Time |
|---|---|
| Soft-boiled (large) | 4-5 min |
| Medium-boiled | 6-7 min |
| Hard-boiled | 9-12 min |
| Very hard | 12-14 min |
| Poached | 3-4 min |
| Soft scramble | 1-2 min |
| Hard scramble | 3-4 min |
| Fried (sunny side) | 2-3 min |
| Fried (over easy) | 3-4 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if an egg is fresh?
Float test: place egg in glass of water. Fresh eggs sink and lie flat. Older eggs (2-3 weeks) sink but stand up. Bad eggs float entirely - the air pocket has expanded enough to lift them. Fresh eggs are also harder to peel than week-old eggs.
Why does my egg break in boiling water?
Sudden temperature shock or fragile shell. Tips: room-temperature eggs are less likely to crack than cold; gentle lowering vs dropping; pinprick at the broad end releases air pocket pressure. Older eggs (1+ week) crack less than very fresh eggs.