Chapter 09 — Big & Curious
How long do I boil an egg?
From cold water, brought to a boil: 4 minutes for runny yolk, 6 for jammy, 8 for fully set but still bright, 10 for hard-boiled. Drop into ice water immediately to stop cooking and make peeling possible. Older eggs peel easier than fresh.
Follow-up questions
Why are my eggs hard to peel?
Eggs less than a week old grip their shell. Use older eggs, or steam them instead of boiling — steamed eggs peel beautifully.
How long for soft-boiled?
6 minutes from a rolling boil if you drop the eggs in (room temperature). 3 minutes from cold-water start brought to boil and removed off heat.
Can I tell if an egg is bad?
Float test: place in a bowl of water. Sinks and lies flat — fresh. Stands upright — old but fine. Floats — throw it out.
Why won't my egg peel?
Too fresh — older eggs (1–2 weeks) peel cleanly. Steaming works even for fresh.
Does adding vinegar help?
Slightly — helps whites set fast if a shell cracks. Doesn't affect peeling much.
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