Let’s face it, what would most of us do without our beloved chicken eggs. Not only are they one of the most versatile foods on the planet, but they are also nutritional powerhouses that are literally overflowing with goodness. The only challenge lies in how to make a perfect boiled egg to your liking.
I’ll put my hand up here and admit that fried eggs with nice runny yolks are my all time favorite, but since I’m always being made to feel guilty about eating fried foods,
I embarked on a mission to master the art of making the perfect boiled egg. I don’t want to blow my own trumpet or anything, but seriously, my boiled eggs turn out perfect every time, both hard boiled and soft boiled.
Perfection in a Shell
You can make a perfect boiled egg with any store bought eggs, but of course fresh eggs are way better if you can get hold of them. They make the perfect healthy breakfast on the go every time. With that having been said, day old eggs can be quite difficult to peel once you have boiled them.
A perfect hardboiled egg should have no trace of green around the yolk, and the yolk should be mild in flavor with a somewhat creamy texture. The yolk of a soft boiled egg on the other hand, should be gooey rather than totally runny.
Boiling the Perfect Egg
Many people recommend bringing your water to the boil first, and then adding the eggs. While this may work for some people sometimes, I find it delivers inconsistent results.
To get perfect eggs every time, you need to place your eggs in some cold water, making sure they are completely covered by about one inch of water.
Now, place you pan or pot over high heat and bring the water to a rolling boil. Once you reach this stage, remove you pot or pan from the heat. Leave the eggs in the hot water and set your egg timer.
How long you set the timer for will depend on how you like your eggs. Below is a general guide but you may have to make slight adjustments based on your personal preferences.
Runny/Gooey yolks – 4 minutes
Custard textured yolks – 6 minutes
Firm yolks – 10 minutes
Very firm yolks – 15 minutes
Remember, you need to set your timer as soon as you remove your pot or pan from the heat. I’m sure other people have their own special techniques for boiling the perfect egg, but the method I have described above has never let me down.
Now, we’re not quite finished yet because the eggs still need to be peeled, and this in itself can ruin an otherwise perfect egg.
Peeling Boiled Eggs
Some eggs and especially very fresh eggs can be very difficult to peel. It is all too easy to end up with an egg which is full of imperfections caused by stubborn bits of shell which cling on to the egg for dear life.
So, here’s a little secret for making egg peeling a breeze:
Remove your eggs from the water using a slotted spoon.
Tap each egg against a hard surface in order to crack the shell in a few places. If you are making soft boiled eggs then you need to skip this step.
Place the cracked eggs into a bowl of very cold water and allow them to stand for at least a minute or two. Ice water works best for this, but water straight out of the fridge should also get the job done.
Remove the eggs one at a time and peel, cracking the shell a few more times if need be.
Storing Hard boiled Eggs
Once your hard boiled eggs have been peeled they are ready to eat, but if you have prepared more than what you actually require, you can store unpeeled eggs in your fridge for one week at least.
Soft boiled eggs are of course best when they are eaten just after cooking. Follow these simple instructions and you can enjoy perfect boiled eggs any time, anyway.