How to boil eggs correctly: tips and tricks

It would seem that what could be simpler than boiling an egg? This does not require any specialized skills or a huge amount of time. But, despite the speed and ease of the process, there are still some nuances that are important to consider in order to do it correctly. There are a huge number of ways to cook an egg: from classic hard-boiled and soft-boiled, to poached eggs, eggs in a bag and other types.

How to determine the freshness of an egg?

Let’s start with the main thing – determining the freshness of the egg. The easiest way is to immerse the egg in a container of cold water: the fresh egg will sink to the bottom of the pan and remain under water. If the egg rises upward at an obtuse angle or even floats to the surface, this means that the freshness leaves much to be desired, and it is better not to eat such eggs.

How important is it to wash eggs before cooking?

Even though store-bought eggs look clean, it is important to remember that the shell has a porous structure and various bacteria, such as salmonella, can still remain on its surface. These bacteria get onto the shell along with bird droppings or in production. That is why when purchasing, it is important to try to choose eggs without cracks, feathers or other contaminants. But for your own peace of mind and safety, you should still rinse the eggs before boiling, despite the fact that boiling water kills almost all bacteria.

So, now let’s move on to the methods of cooking eggs.

Method 1. How to boil hard-boiled eggs so that the yolk does not spread

When hard-boiling, place chicken eggs in a pan of cold water so that the water level is a couple of centimeters higher. Add a teaspoon of salt and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.

Method 2. How to boil soft-boiled eggs so that the yolk does not curdle

It is important here that the egg is at room temperature before cooking, otherwise the shell will crack during cooking. Soft-boiled eggs take less time to cook than hard-boiled eggs – about 3-4 minutes. Method of preparation: lightly boil water, adding salt first. The water should also cover the eggs by 2-3 cm, then using a spoon, carefully lower the egg into the already heated water and cook over low heat.

Method 3. Boil an egg in a bag

With this method of cooking eggs, the yolks remain liquid and the whites completely coagulate. To boil an egg in a bag, you must first remove the eggs from the refrigerator so that they, just like when soft-boiled, come to room temperature. Boil water in a saucepan and add a little salt, then reduce the heat, carefully lower the egg into the water with a spoon and cook a little longer – about 5-6 minutes.

Method 4. Cooking poached eggs

There are several ways to prepare poached eggs, but in fact, preparing them is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. One option is to cook using a funnel and vinegar. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and add a teaspoon of vinegar and a teaspoon of vegetable oil to the water, and first break the egg into a separate container. Next, use a spoon to stir the water to form a funnel in the center, and carefully pour the egg from the container into the very center, lightly stirring the water around the funnel. Cook for 2-3 minutes – during this time the white should curl sufficiently and “wrap itself” in a bag, and the yolk will remain liquid. Next, use a spoon to carefully remove the egg from the water and place it on a paper napkin to drain off excess liquid.

Another way to cook a poached egg

Another accessible method, more suitable for beginners, is preparing a poached egg in a bag or cling film. Here we also bring the water to a boil, lightly grease the inside of the bag or film with vegetable oil, break an egg inside and tightly twist or tie the bag. Place the bag in boiling water for 3-4 minutes and you’re done. The main thing is to carefully remove the poached meat from the bag so that it does not spread.

How to boil quail eggs

Usually, about 1 cup of water is required for 6 quail eggs: pour water into a saucepan, wait until it boils, and carefully lower the quail eggs into the boiling water. They cook for about 4-5 minutes – after this time the yolk will become medium-soft. If you prefer hard-boiled eggs, increase the cooking time by a couple of minutes.

How to easily peel boiled eggs

You’ve probably heard that eggs that have already rested are easier to peel – and this is true. This happens because over time more air enters the shell and it moves away from the white slightly. But you can still simplify peeling eggs in several ways. The first is to remove the eggs from the refrigerator in advance so that they come to room temperature, or keep them in lukewarm water for a while. Second, before cooking, you can carefully make a small puncture on the blunt side of the egg, then air will get inside. Another great way is to boil the eggs over very low heat, and then keep them covered for a while.

After any boiling, it is recommended to quickly cool the eggs by dipping them in cold water or using ice. This will help stop the cooking process and prevent overcooking, and will also make shelling easier.