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Cooking Eggs Properly: You Should Avoid These Mistakes

From very soft to waxy soft to consistently hard: when it comes to eggs, tastes vary widely. But how does the perfect breakfast egg succeed? This is what it comes down to if you want to cook eggs properly.

Freshly boiled eggs are not only part of the breakfast table at Easter. While some prefer to enjoy their egg soft, for others the yolk must be hard-boiled. And of course the shell shouldn’t burst either. Cooking eggs properly is not an art if you follow a few tips.

How long to boil eggs

That’s the big question, because in order to cook the egg correctly, the size also plays a role: the larger the egg, the longer it has to cook. The cooking time given is for an average size (M) weighing between 53 and 63 grams. An S size egg should take 20 to 45 seconds less to cook, while an L should take 25 to 50 seconds longer. Therefore, it is best to only boil eggs of the same size together.

Cooking breakfast eggs: avoid these mistakes

In addition to the size, other factors also play a role if the egg is to turn out perfectly:

Don’t take them straight out of the fridge – eggs should be at room temperature or they will add 1 minute to the cooking time.
Underestimating Altitude – In the mountains, the boiling point of water is lower than at sea level, which is 100 degrees. If you then cook the eggs at a lower temperature, you should allow a few more seconds.

Boil eggs without cracking

When raw eggs are cooked, an air bubble inside the egg expands and the shell can burst. Then protein runs out, which does not harm the taste, but looks ugly. Although there is no guarantee that the eggs will not burst, the risk can be reduced: Before cooking, you should pierce the eggs so that the air can escape. You can use a special egg pick or a pin for this. Add a pinch of salt or a dash of vinegar to the water so that any protein that oozes out coagulates quickly.

Boil eggs in a pot – that’s how it works

Some use an egg cooker, where various programs are already pre-programmed. However, the proven method of cooking in a pot is often still used. You should proceed as follows:

  • Bring water to a boil in a saucepan with a lid.
  • Carefully drop eggs in with a spoon or ladle.
  • Close the lid and reduce the heat so that the eggs are simmering.
  • Depending on the consistency you want, cook for as long as you like.
  • Take the eggs out of the water and rinse under cold water.

Soft-boiled eggs cook in minutes

For soft eggs, the cooking time is 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the consistency of the yolk and egg white: after 3 to 4 minutes the egg white has coagulated and the yolk is runny, while after 5 minutes the egg white is rather firm and the yolk is soft. What matters is your own preference.

How long do waxy eggs need to cook?

If you like it less runny, you should let the eggs cook for 6 to 8 minutes. After 6 minutes, the egg white is firm and the yolk is slightly soft in the middle. After 8 minutes you can also enjoy a firm egg white, the yolk still has a rather creamy consistency.

This is how hard-boiled eggs work

Eggs become medium to solid when cooked for 9 to 10 minutes. The egg white and yolk are then of a firm consistency. Easter eggs should be cooked a little longer – 10 to 11 minutes – so that they are firm and durable. If you cook them longer, a greenish ring forms around the yolk. It’s not harmful, but it doesn’t look tasty anymore.

If you follow these tips, cooking eggs properly is no problem at all – and the perfect breakfast egg for every taste is on the table.

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Written by Mia Lane

I am a professional chef, food writer, recipe developer, diligent editor, and content producer. I work with national brands, individuals, and small businesses to create and improve written collateral. From developing niche recipes for gluten-free and vegan banana cookies, to photographing extravagant homemade sandwiches, to crafting a top-ranking how-to guide on substituting eggs in baked goods, I work in all things food.

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