Perfect Soft-Boiled Egg Recipe

It takes just six minutes to get firm whites and liquid yolks, every single time.

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated Aug. 01, 2022
A perfect soft-boiled egg, cut in half to reveal the runny yolk, with toasted bread at the top of the image.

Serious Eats / Julia Estrada

Why It Works

  • Using a slotted spoon to gently lower the eggs prevents them from cracking.
  • Exactly six minutes is just enough cooking time for the perfect soft-boiled texture.

Perfect soft-boiled eggs require the right technique. We cooked dozens and dozens of eggs before arriving at this method, which delivers eggs with tender whites and liquid yolks every single time.

0:37

How to Make Soft-Boiled Eggs

July 2017

Recipe Facts

5

(3)

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Active: 5 mins
Total: 15 mins
Serves: 1 to 6 servings

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Ingredients

  • 3 quarts (2.8L) water

  • 1 to 6 large eggs

Directions

  1. Bring water to a gentle simmer in a medium pot. Gently lower eggs into water with a slotted spoon or strainer (do not drop eggs into water, as they might crack). Cook for exactly 6 minutes, then remove eggs with slotted spoon and serve.

    A four-image collage showing the eggs being added to a pan of gently boiling water and then removed with a slotted spoon.

    Serious Eats / Julia Estrada

Special Equipment

Medium pot, slotted spoon

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
12 Calories
1g Fat
0g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 12
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 31mg 10%
Sodium 31mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 19mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 12mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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