There’s just something about soft boiled eggs – they’re rich and jammy, the runny yolk is enough to make mouths water, plus eggs prepared in this manner are so versatile. That said, preparing soft boiled eggs is a delicate process and one that should be exact for consistent results. This is where how long to soft boil an egg comes in. Knowing how long to boil a soft boiled egg is crucial to prevent overcooking. As you know, overcooking yields a hard-boiled egg with a set yolk, while undercooking results in a big mess. Fortunately, we’re covering how long to cook soft boiled eggs to ensure that the texture is right every time.
So, How Long to Soft Boil an Egg?
Picture it: you’ve prepared a delicious bowl of ramen, and all you need to finish the meal is a soft boiled egg. Upon this realization, you ask yourself, “How long does it take to soft boil an egg?” You’ll be happy to know that soft boiling an egg is quick and easy (when you know what you’re doing), so let’s go over the process step by step. First, you’ll need the following:
- Medium pot
- Water
- Slotted spoon
- Eggs
An ice bath is also necessary. Otherwise, carry-over cooking will occur, turning your soft boiled egg into a hard boiled one. Once you’re prepared, it’s time to soft boil the eggs:
- Fill the pot with water and bring to a gentle simmer over medium-high heat.
- Once the water is simmering, reduce the heat to prevent the water from coming to a boil.
- Use a slotted spoon to gently lower the eggs into the water.
- Cook for 3-7 minutes.
- Remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and immediately transfer them to the ice bath to stop the cooking process. Leave them in the ice bath for 2-3 minutes.
- Peel and serve.
You might be questioning the range. Three to seven minutes is quite a large gap for something that can easily overcook. Eggs are enclosed, so it’s not like you can check the degree of doneness like steak, right? The reason is that there are different degrees of doneness. Refer to the table below for an exact cook time.
| Yolk and White Consistency | Size | Boiling Time |
| Runny yolk, almost set white | Medium | 3 minutes |
| Runny yolk, almost set white | Large/XL | 4 minutes to 4 minutes and 15 seconds |
| Runny yolk, lightly set white | Medium | 4 minutes |
| Runny yolk, lightly set white | Large/XL | 5 minutes to 5 minutes and 15 seconds |
| Soft yolk, firm white | Medium | 5 minutes |
| Soft yolk, firm white | Large/XL | 6 minutes to 6 minutes and 15 seconds |
| Soft yolk, hard boiled white | Medium | 6 minutes |
| Soft yolk, hard boiled white | Large/XL | 7 minutes to 7 minutes and 15 seconds |
How Long to Steam Eggs for Soft Boiled?
Steaming eggs for soft boiled is similar to actually boiling them; the cook times are the same. The only difference is the method. To steam, you’ll need a medium pot fitted with a steamer basket, water, eggs, a slotted spoon and an ice water bath. Then:
- Add an inch of water to the pot with a steamer basket. Bring the water to a boil.
- Gently place eggs into the steamer basket once the water is boiling. Cover the pot with a lid.
- Steam for 3-7 minutes.
- Remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and immediately transfer them to the ice bath to stop the cooking process. Leave them in the ice bath for 2-3 minutes.
- Peel and serve.
Conclusively, how long to boil an egg for a soft yolk falls within the 3-7-minute range. The cook time is the same if you steam the eggs. How many you make isn’t important, but the texture you want and the size of the eggs are. Now, make a few and enjoy!
