The Asked

Chapter 04 — Travel, Food & Lifestyle

How do I boil the perfect egg?

Lower eggs from the fridge into already-boiling water with a spoon. Soft-boil: 6 minutes. Jammy yolk: 7 minutes. Hard-boil: 10 minutes. Plunge into ice water for 60 seconds to stop cooking and make peeling easier. Older eggs peel better than fresh ones.

Follow-up questions

Why are my eggs hard to peel?

Very fresh eggs cling to the shell. Use eggs at least a week old, drop into boiling (not cold) water, and shock in ice water afterwards.

How do I know if an egg is bad?

Float test: place in a bowl of water. Sinks and lays flat = fresh. Stands upright = use soon. Floats = throw out. Also: crack into a bowl and sniff.

Can I boil eggs in the microwave?

Only with the shell off in water — whole eggs explode. Easier and safer to use a stovetop or a dedicated egg cooker.

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