Follow this easy technique to make perfect soft-boiled eggs every time!
Boiling eggs may seem like the simplest kitchen task one can accomplish with a blink of an eye, but most of us know it is much trickier than that. If you have never made soft-boiled eggs because it looks more intimidating than hard boiled eggs, then I hope this step-by-step recipe will encourage you to give it a try!
How to Make Perfect Soft-Boiled Egg – Timing & Ice Bath
To achieve the right texture for soft-boiled eggs, timing is key. Fill your sauce pan with enough water so the eggs are submerged completely. After you bring the water to a rolling boil, gently put in the eggs from the refrigerator one at a time before you reduce the heat to a simmer. Then begin timing right away. For four eggs, it takes about 6.5 to 7 minutes. If you prefer the yolk to be more runny, you can reduce the timing by a minute.
When it’s done, stop the cooking process immediately by submerge the eggs in an iced bath for 3 minutes. Once the eggs are cooled, they will be good to go. The whites of the soft-boiled eggs should be firm (but not overly hard) and the yolk warm and runny.
Enjoy Soft-Boiled Eggs (Hanjuku Tamago 半熟卵) the Japanese Way
I like to prepare Hard Boiled Eggs and Soft-Boiled Eggs (Hanjuku Tamago 半熟卵) for Japanese dishes like Ramen, Udon, and Japanese Curry Rice. They never failed to make a dish extra special and extra satisfactory.
Sometimes I eat soft-boiled eggs as a snack too. Just a light sprinkle of furikake (rice seasonings) and shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven spice) before you dig in. It is as good as a snack can get!
Now that you’ve learned the simple technique of making perfect soft-boiled eggs, I hope you get to enjoy your ramen or rice dishes with this protein-packed companion. Like a molten lava cake with oozing chocolate, nothing is more luxurious when you slice open the soft-boiled eggs to reveal the golden runny yolk.
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How To Make Perfect Soft-Boiled Eggs (Hanjuku Tamago)
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs (50 g each w/o shell) (refrigerated)
- water
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Put water (should be 1 inch (2.5 cm) above eggs) in a saucepan and bring the water to boil on medium heat.
- Once boiling, take out the eggs from the refrigerator and gently put the eggs in the boiling water using a slotted spoon.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the eggs for 6.5 to 7 minutes. If you want your egg yolk to be in the center, gently rotate the eggs with chopsticks once in a while for the first 3 minutes so the egg yolk will be in the center. Note: The cooking time may vary depends on the size of the eggs and the starting temperature of the egg.
- When it's done, drain the water and shock the eggs in iced water for 3 minutes. Gently peel the egg shell. Cut the eggs in half with a sharp knife or fish string.
