What You’ll Need
Here I explain the best ingredients for perfect soft boiled eggs, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Eggs – The star of the show is none other than the EGGS! I used large eggs. If you use medium, extra large, or jumbo eggs, you’ll need to adjust the cooking time.
Vinegar – Adding vinegar to the water softens the shells and makes them easier to peel. I used apple cider vinegar because that’s what I have on hand most often, but white vinegar will work, too. Sea Salt – Salting the water when soft boiling eggs cooks the egg whites faster and prevents overcooked yolks. It also seals cracks and helps with easy peeling.
You can learn more about the impact of salt and vinegar in the water in my post about hard boiled eggs.
How To Make Soft Boiled Eggs
This section shows how to soft boil an egg, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card. Some methods for soft boiling eggs involve boiling the water first and then lowering the eggs into the water with a slotted spoon, but my method is faster:
Tips For Peeling Soft Boiled Eggs
There’s nothing more frustrating than struggling to peel eggs! Peeling soft boiled eggs will never be as easy as hard boiled ones, but it doesn’t have to be hard either. Here are some tips to help: How long to soft boil eggs also depends on the size of your eggs, and the times above are for large eggs. Medium eggs might cook 20-30 seconds faster, and extra large or jump eggs might take 20-60 seconds longer.
Use older eggs – Fresh eggs tend to stick to the inner shell more. With older eggs, the shell shrinks slightly and creates space between the membrane (that covers the egg white) and the shell itself. This space makes the eggs easier to peel. Begin with cold water – Giving eggs a “cold start” (placing in water before boiling) gives the vinegar more time to penetrate the shell. Use salt and vinegar – As explained above, salt and vinegar help to break down the shells. Both make the eggs easier to peel. Ice water bath – For perfect soft boiled eggs that don’t get overcooked, plunge them into a bowl of ice water, or run them under ice cold water. This also helps loosen the bond to the egg white, making the eggs easier to peel. Start with the wider end to peel just the top – The wider, rounder end is typically the side that has the air pocket, so it’s easier to peel from that side. Roll on the counter to peel the entire egg – Simply roll the egg on the counter with the palm of your hand, creating cracks all over the widest part. Then, start peeling at one of the cracks near the center of the egg and work toward the ends.
Storage Instructions
Store for later: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days, with the egg shells on. You can store the eggs peeled, but they won’t last as long. Reheating instructions: Yes, you can reheat soft boiled eggs without overcooking them, as long as you do so straight from the fridge. The fastest ways are to microwave in a bowl of water for 1 minute on medium power, or simmer water on the stove and then add the eggs for 1 minute. You can also place them in a bowl of hot water on the counter for about 5 minutes.
Ways To Serve Soft Boiled Eggs
Now that you know how to soft boil an egg perfectly, there are lots of ways to enjoy it! Try these ideas:
Breakfast dishes – Pair them with a stack of almond flour pancakes and some crispy oven baked bacon for the ultimate breakfast feast! They are also amazing over roasted potatoes. Salads – Halved soft boiled eggs make the perfect addition to a grilled chicken salad or steak salad. You can also use them in place of hard boiled eggs in a chef salad, classic cobb salad, or spinach bacon salad. Cooked veggies – Serve these runny eggs over quick sauteed spinach, oven roasted asparagus, or mixed sauteed vegetables for a light and filling meal. Bread – Crack them over buttered toast on coconut flour bread, or any bread you like. They are amazing over avocado toast, too! Soup – A perfect soft boiled egg is a classic component in a bowl of ramen (or keto ramen).
More Easy Egg Recipes
Eggs are so versatile and easy to cook. Try switching them up with these easy egg recipes: Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. If you plan to peel the soft boiled eggs entirely or eat them later, leave the eggs in the pot for about 10 minutes, until they reach room temperature. To peel easily, roll the egg on the counter with the palm of your hand, pressing gently to make cracks all over the shell. Then, peel from the center towards the ends of the egg. The peel should come off fairly easily, but not as easily as hard boiled eggs.
