How to Boil Eggs

Eggs are a rich source of proteins and essential vitamins. They are an indispensable part of our breakfast every day. There are numerous ways in which you can enjoy eggs - scrambled, poached or you may opt to make an omelet. But without doubt, the best way of consuming an egg is by boiling it. Timing is the key to cook a perfectly boiled egg. There are different techniques for cooking both soft-boiled and hard-boiled eggs.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

There are some basic things that you need to remember if you want to know how to boil the perfect hard-boiled eggs.

• Use only those eggs which do not have any visible cracks on their shells. Eggs that have small cracks, ooze out the egg white while boiling.
• Use eggs that are at least 4 - 5 days old. Fresh eggs are very difficult to peel after boiling as the egg white tends to stick to the shell.
• If you start boiling eggs directly after taking them out from the refrigerator, they may crack. So make sure that the eggs are at room temperature.

In a medium-sized saucepan, carefully place the eggs in a single layer. Now slowly add cold water into the saucepan until the water is filled up to one or two inches and add ½ teaspoon of salt. This prevents the eggs from cracking and it also makes them easier to peel. Turn the burner on medium heat and bring the eggs to boil. When the water in the saucepan begins to boil, reduce the heat and simmer them at low heat for the next 10 - 12 minutes. Your hard-boiled eggs are ready to eat. Hard-boiled eggs can be used in a variety of dishes like deviled eggs, eggs salad or in a curry.

Soft-Boiled Eggs

Soft boiled eggs have a lightly cooked white with a runny yolk. To have perfectly cooked soft-boiled eggs you have to adhere to strict timings while boiling the eggs. You need to have a kitchen timer, if you want delicious eggs with soft center and firm white. In a small saucepan, place the eggs and fill it with enough water to cover the eggs by half an inch. Put the pan on the burner and set the timer for exactly a minute. At the end of a minute, make sure that the pan is removed from the heat. If you want a liquid yolk with a wobbly white, set the timer for 6 minutes and again simmer the eggs. For a more firmer yolk, set the timer for 7 minutes and boil on low heat. At the end of 6 - 7 minutes, plunge the eggs into ice-cold water to stop them from overcooking.

Boil Eggs in Microwave

If you want to know how to boil eggs quickly, the best way is boiling them in a microwave. To boil eggs in a microwave, wrap each egg with an aluminum foil and place them in a dish. Pour water over the dish until they cover the eggs. Now place the dish in a microwave and set the temperature for 3 - 6 minutes for a soft-boiled egg, and 8 - 10 minutes for a hard-boiled one. Remove the dish from the microwave and pour cool water over them. Once cooled, take off the foil and peel the eggs.

Eggs are very versatile and they can be used to make frittatas, meringue and mayonnaise. If you are cooking a large number of eggs, do not put too many of them in the pan. The eggs will jostle against each other while boiling and this might cause them to crack. Hard-boiled eggs can be stored for up to 5 days in the refrigerator, if you have peeled them.