Make perfect soft boiled eggs with fully cooked white and a deliciously runny yolk to add to grain bowls, ramen, or enjoy for breakfast with your favorite toast.
How To Make Soft Boiled Eggs
There’s something truly indulgent about the perfect soft boiled egg. I love breaking them open to reveal a creamy, velvety yolk that’s just begging to be dipped into. It’s easier than you think, whether you’re adding them to your morning toast, serving as part of brunch, or using them to top your favorite grain bowl, here’s my go-to cooking method. Depending on how you like your yolk, I have a cooking range; 6 minutes for a runny yolk, 7 to 8 minutes if you like it a little more firm. If you prefer making them in the Instant Pot, you can see me Instant Pot Soft Boiled Eggs. And if you don’t like runny yolks, use my recipe for hard boiled eggs.
Soft-boiled Eggs Bring Back Memories of my Childhood
I have a sentimental attachment to soft-boiled eggs from my childhood. My mom would set one on an egg holder, crack the top of the shell, sprinkle it with a pinch of salt, and hand me a little spoon to scoop out the warm, flavorful, yolky center.
Soft-boiled eggs were a breakfast staple growing up. Later in life, I learned to enjoy them in bowls and with ramen, but as a child, nothing was simpler—or more delicious—than savoring one on its own.
What You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make perfect soft boiled eggs. See full recipe in the recipe card below.
- Eggs: Start with large eggs, cold from the refrigerator
- Water: To boil the eggs
- Ice Water: For an ice bath so they don’t overcook.
How To Make Soft Boiled Eggs
But how do you achieve that perfect balance between a fully cooked white and a deliciously runny yolk? It’s easier than you think! See printable recipe in the recipe card below.
- Bring enough water to cover eggs to a boil in a pot.
- Carefully lower the eggs into the boiling water using a spoon, ladle, or tongs. Be sure to do this gently to avoid cracking the eggs.
- Once the eggs are in the water, start your timer. For a soft boiled egg with a runny yolk, you’ll want to cook the eggs for about 6 minutes. If you prefer a yolk that is still soft but not runny, aim for about 7 to 8 minutes.
- Once the timer goes off, quickly use a slotted spoon or tongs to remove the eggs from the boiling water.
- Immediately transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water. The ice water will stop the cooking process and cool the eggs down for handling and peeling.
- Let the eggs sit a few minutes before you peel them.
Ways to use Soft Boiled Eggs
Soft-boiled eggs can elevate any meal from ordinary to extraordinary. Here’s a few ways to use them.
- Add them to your morning toast with a sprinkle of salt and pepper
- Serve over wilted spinach or asparagus
- Serve them with toast soldiers or avocado toast
- Use eggs as a topping on your favorite dish
- Add to a bowl of ramen
- Add to your favorite grain bowl
- Over salad for extra protein
More Egg Recipes You Will Love:
How To Make Soft Boiled Eggs
Equipment
- medium pot
- medium bowl for ice bath
Ingredients
- Eggs, cold from the refrigerator
- Water, for cooking
- Ice Water, for an ice bath
Instructions
- Bring enough water to cover eggs to a boil in a pot.
- Carefully lower the eggs into the boiling water using a spoon, ladle, or tongs. Be sure to do this gently to avoid cracking the eggs.
- Once the eggs are in the water, start your timer. For a soft boiled egg with a runny yolk, you’ll want to cook the eggs for about 6 minutes. If you prefer a yolk that is still soft but not runny, aim for about 7 to 8 minutes.
- Once the timer goes off, quickly use a slotted spoon or tongs to remove the eggs from the boiling water.
- Immediately transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water. The ice water will stop the cooking process and cool the eggs down for handling and peeling.
- Let the eggs sit a few minutes before you peel them.
Has become my go to egg recipe. So easy.
Mine cracked as soon as the hot water touched them and fell apart as I tried to peel them.
What would be the timeframe for boiling eggs if they have been freshly laid? I purchase freshly laid eggs from our daughter’s friend, so they are on the counter and washed when I use them.
Perfect!
Love soft boiled eggs but never perfected them. This is a game changer, delicious! Use Gina’s Instant Pot hard boiled eggs every week, so easy and perfect every time. This morning I ran in and made myself 2 eggs and they were perfect. Did not think of the trick to put them in an ice bath. Since it was only me, used the pot on the stove method. Such a quick and easy breakfast.