Soft Hard-Boiled Eggs

This was perfect! Except I probably did something Chef John would gasp at horror at. Instead of gently letting cool water into the pot, after the cooking time was up I took the eggs out of the boiling water and immediately put them in ice water. Gently stirring until they were cool. It's how my Grandmother did it, it's how my Mom does it and frankly they turned out perfectly. I put a little water in a mason jar, added one egg at a time, shook vigorously and then I was able to peel the shell off in one continuous piece.

I was skeptical because I've tried two suggestions before and it never comes out the way I want. I tried this and PERFECTION. Thank you thank you!!

My first time making soft-boiled eggs, and it worked perfectly!

Excellent! Now doing all my hard boiled eggs like this. Thanks Chef john!

I tried this steaming method and cooked the eggs for 7 minutes because I prefer a softer yolk. Fantastic! The yolk was still a little runny and the egg was cooked perfectly. Also used Chef John's suggestion for easy peeling - worked great. This is now the only way I will make boiled eggs. Love Chef John!

If you're looking for a soft-boiled egg this is a simple recipe that yields good results.

Chef John is wright on again!!!!

I use a small strainer to "slowly" lower the eggs into the hot water to avoid them cracking/breaking.

I personally love hard and a bit soft cooked eggs in the oven only. They taste so much better! I will never boil an egg again! Great idea, though!

Finally, one method that works consistently. Others I have tried didn't always end up the same way for some reason. Maybe size or cold temp if egg affecting it....who knows. Tried this method and so far flawless and results in perfect middle and it's so easy to adjust simply by adding or subtracting time by 30 seconds or a minute either side.

Followed directions two times and both turned out perfect!

Chef John, perfect, excellent, you just nailed it.... I use a lot of your ideas and follow your receipts. I never review as I just use receipts as A guide. Thank you chef

I made it exactly like the recipe says and they turned out great...I love soft boiled eggs rather than hard boiled

Running cold water and drought issues. I keep some frozen water in small containers in the freezer then put one or two into the water bath I want to cool down. Use containers over and over. You have to think a little smarter to use limited resources wisely.

Perfect all the time! Thank you chef John!

The recipe worked mostly as stated, though the eggs I get fresh from a neighbor are terribly hard to peel without losing lots of the egg white. Timing for soft boiled consistency appears to be spot on. One comment on another reviewer's suggestion to shake eggs up in a mason jar of water to easily peel them...DO NOT TRY THIS WITH SOFT BOILED EGGS! Mine split open in the process and leaked yolk into the water!

I made it exactly as written except for steaming the eggs an extra thirty seconds or so. My eggs come from the neighbor's hens and are super extra jumbo large. They peeled beautifully, and no ugly green ring! I used half the eggs for the colored deviled egg recipe on this site, and the other half for the fried hard-boiled eggs recipe on this site, and they were great.

Turned out exactly as described! I'll never make hard boiled eggs any other way ever again!

Thanks for the let cold water seeop in tip! I used a steamer basket making putti in & taking out easy. Also could uae more water & not have it boil off.

This was the first time in my life I ever boiled eggs and got them peeled without destroying the pretty whites! Thanks, Chef John!

Perfect every time. This is the only way I cook hard-cooked eggs. If you want the yolks a little firmer (like I did for deviled eggs) I did them for 11 minutes. Yolks completely cooked, no green ring to create that sulfur taste. Excellent!

Perfect!

Never had a good recipe for hard “soft” boiled eggs. Follow these directions for perfect results, on the first try, like I did. And, peeling was a breeze. Excellent! Will use this recipe again soon.

My yolk in my soft hard boiled eggs came out velvety smooth!!

59 years old and there the best eggs i've ever had! so simple Thanks Chef John!

I never liked hard-boiled eggs,but these are great!

I put the eggs in the refrigerator and tried to peel them the next morning. The white of the egg stuck to the shell, so I lost almost half of the egg. They did taste good, although I do like my yolks cooked a little more.

Easy to make! Yolks were a little runny on my attempt so I'll tweak the timing on my next attempt

wow! perfection soft n sligtly custardy texture rich n delishhh

I have become the deviled egg person for church memorial suppers. I never know when I am going to have to make a batch of eggs. Any suggestions for getting eggs to peel when one does not have the luxury of time to let them age a week in the fridge?

Awesome, I've been meaning to make a 6 minute egg for the Shoyu Pork recipe on AR. This recipe calls for 9.5 minutes, so I experimented as the author suggested ......... perfect, ran cold water for 5 minutes, cracked the eggs as I began the rinse and the peel was that simple as stated .......wow thanks a bunch!

perfect egg my dad and mom were amazed

This method came out perfect. Not soft, and not overly hard cooked. This will be the only way I cook them from now on! Thanks Chef John, love your recipes!

That was pretty darn neat! I also like the way you cracked them under the cold water, so there is no eggshell fighting. It looks like I'm snacking on a couple eggs tonight! Cool info. Thanx!!!

Perfect every time!

these were the best eggs.

excellent! I have always had a passion for cooking but I have also always been absolutely terrible at finding the right way to soft boil eggs :-) this recipe makes perfect soft boiled eggs, also the trick that he puts in there about cracking the shelves and running water into them right away, works amazingly! they don't come off in one peel for me but they come off in like three pieces and that's pretty awesome. I recommend doing this exactly how it says the first time and then tweaking your temp in time after if need be. I did not need to

This is the best way to cook eggs. I love how the eggs peal and how the yoke is always perfect.

I tried this and it was great but peeling the eggs in water didn’t work for me

My yolks were a bit more set than I would have liked but I believe it was because I may have used smaller eggs. As the author says I think I just need to experiment with timings. Great straightforward recipe for someone who didn't have a clue though! Now I know where to start...thank you!

Followed everything and made some of the best boiled eggs I have ever made! Very tasty and they peeled perfect!

This is the only way I cook shell eggs anymore. Seven minutes for soft boiled and 10 for hard boiled. Easy to peel. Perfect.