How to Cook Soft-boiled Eggs Perfectly

How many times has it happened to us; we looked forward to eating lovely, soft-boiled eggs, only to cut them open and find out they've been overcooked. Or sometimes we've been so cautious, that the runny yolk oozes out.

This is a common problem faced by many mothers, and things get worse when one kid received a perfect one, and the other gets a hard-boiled one. You then have to face scowls at the breakfast table. Let's take a look at how we can perfect this art, without having to be disappointed again.

If you want to serve eggs for breakfast, it is best to remove the eggs from the refrigerator, the previous night itself. Often cold eggs crack in hot water, causing the egg white and yolk to seep out of the shell.

To boil eggs to the desired perfection, it is best to use a timer. Eggs need to be watched. Slight negligence can cause overcooking or undercooking.

Moreover, don't rely on your watch or the kitchen clock. If you have a digital clock make note of the time, however, the best solution is to get a timer. Its buzzer does the trick! Here's another tip: before boiling the egg, make a pinprick on the rounded end of the shell.

This will give space for air to escape. Moreover, the pan you use to boil the eggs in must not be too large. The eggs should fit such that they don't hit each other, while they're being boiled.

• To prepare your eggs, first pour water into the right kind of pan. The water level should be such that it just covers the eggs by about a centimeter.
• Add salt to the water. Adding salt helps make the peeling process easier.
• Bring the water to a boil.

• In the mean time, pin prick the eggs to allow air to escape.
• When the water comes to a boil, reduce the heat, and lower the eggs one by one, into the pan with the help of a spoon. Increase the heat.

• When the water starts boiling again, let the eggs cook on simmer. Now comes the big question, how long should one boil an egg so that it is soft boiled.
• If you want runny yolk, then you will need to boil the eggs for 4 minutes (if you are using large eggs).

• If you want slightly runny yolk, then you will need to boil them for 6 minutes.
• If the eggs are medium in size, then the cooking time should be reduced by one minute. For bigger eggs, you will have to increase the cooking time by a minute.

• As soon as the timer goes off, remove the eggs from the water and hold it under running tap water. This will ensure that the eggs stop cooking in their own heat.
• When the egg cools down, place it on an egg cup with the narrower end at the bottom.

These soft-boiled eggs can be had as they are, or can be added to salads, served as side dishes, etc. Perfecting this art is not rocket science. Just pay attention to your eggs when they're cooking, and they'll come out simply perfect!