How to Boil an Egg

The protein rich egg is the staple breakfast diet in many families. The main reason for this is that egg is a host of innumerable health benefits. Studies on the importance of eating eggs have shown that eating eggs regularly is good for the eyes as it decreases the person's risk of developing a cataract. Eggs are also said to be good for preventing heart problems like heart attack, blood clots, stroke, etc. Though earlier it was believed that eating eggs can cause high level of cholesterol, recent research has shown that it increases the good cholesterol in the body which is necessary for proper functioning. Moreover, eggs are said to be necessary for healthy hair and nails. As eggs have so many health benefits, including it into one's diet is extremely important. Among the different ways of cooking an egg, the best and the easiest is boiling.

Tips on Boil an Egg Perfectly

There are actually different ways of consuming an egg. While some like it raw, there are others who love to eat the egg by making an omelet. However, one of the most easiest way of consuming eggs is by boiling them. Even when it comes to boiling an egg, there are two ways of doing it which include soft boiled eggs and hard-boiled eggs. Nevertheless, before we proceed to the procedure of boiling an egg, there are some important things that one has to know.

• Eggs should never be kept for boiling directly after taking them from the refrigerator. This is because when cold eggs are exposed to very hot water, there are likely to crack easily.
• Another thing is that it is always better to use a small saucepan that accommodates the eggs perfectly. This is because having too much room in the container can cause the eggs to collide and crack.
• A kitchen timer is very important when it comes to boiling eggs because over boiled eggs can make the color of the eggs black and its texture akin to a rubber.

Ways to Boil an Egg Perfectly

Most people find it difficult to peel the eggs that are very fresh. So, it will be best to use eggs that are at least a week old, for boiling. However, if you have only fresh eggs available with you, adding a little bit of salt into the boiling water can make the process of peeling the eggs easier. Apart from this, boiling the fresh eggs for a little extra time can also help in peeling the eggs easily. Here we will see the different methods for boiling an egg.

How to Hard Boil an Egg
Place the egg in a small saucepan and fill it with water. Make sure that the water stays an inch above the egg and not beyond that. Add a little salt and a teaspoon of vinegar to it so that the egg does not crack while boiling. Place the saucepan on the stove and cook the egg on a high heat. When the water begins to boil rapidly, reduce the stove to a low heat and allow it to simmer for 10 - 12 minutes, according to the size of the egg. After the completion of the above mentioned time, take the saucepan off the stove and transfer the eggs into another container. Fill the container with cold water and allow the egg to sit in the water for 4 - 5 minutes. After five minutes, you can either store the egg in the refrigerator for later use or eat it instantly after peeling.

How to Soft Boil an Egg
Fill a saucepan with water and keep it for boiling on a high heat. When the water begins to boil, gently place the egg into it with the help of a tablespoon. Once the water begins to boil completely, bring the flame to low and allow it to simmer for a few minutes. If you like your soft boiled egg to be really soft and runny, let the egg to simmer in low heat for three minutes. On the other hand, if you want to have a creamy yolk, simmering the egg for four minutes will be sufficient. However, if you want to have an egg which is completely set, with only a slightly runny center, you will have to let the egg simmer for five minutes at least.

Boiling Egg in a Microwave
Another way of cooking an egg is to boil it in the microwave. Many think that eggs cannot be cooked properly in the microwave and also that they taste different when it is cooked on the stove. To boil an egg in a microwave, take water in the microwave safe dish and put in salt and vinegar to the water. Place the dish in the microwave and heat it till it boils completely. Take the dish out of the microwave and place the egg slowly into the water. Cover the dish with a lid and cook again in the microwave on low or low medium, for 8 minutes. After this, take the dish out of the microwave and allow the egg to stay in the boiled water for 8 - 10 minutes. After this, drain the hot water and fill it with cold water before peeling it.

You can consume the boiled eggs simply with a piece of toast or use it to cook different types of dishes like sandwiches, soups etc. Whatever you make, you will definitely enjoy the delicious taste of simple boiled eggs.