🥚 Soft-Boiled Egg Calculator
Dial in soft, jammy, medium, or just-set eggs by size, altitude, and starting temperature, then chill them for a cleaner peel.
Use the defaults as a starting point, then fine-tune for pot size, altitude, and how soft you want the centers to stay.
| Egg Size | Weight | Soft | Jammy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 38 g | 5-6 min | 6-7 min |
| Medium | 44 g | 5.5-6.5 | 6.5-7.5 |
| Large | 50 g | 6-7 min | 7-8 min |
| Extra-Large | 56 g | 6.5-7.5 | 7.5-8.5 |
| Jumbo | 63 g | 7-8 min | 8-9 min |
| Start | Method | Delta | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fridge | Cold start | +0.5 | Most common |
| Room | Hot drop-in | 0.0 | Fastest path |
| Cool | Cold start | +0.25 | Mid-ground |
| Warm | Hot drop-in | -0.25 | Shorter simmer |
| Any | Steam | -0.75 | Clean finish |
| Elevation | Add | Texture | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-999 ft | 0.0 | Normal | Sea level |
| 1000-1999 | 0.25 | Stable | Small bump |
| 2000-2999 | 0.5 | Firm | Watch heat |
| 3000-3999 | 0.75 | Set slower | Common hike |
| 4000-5999 | 1.0 | Gentler | Mountain cook |
| 6000+ ft | 1.5 | Very gentle | High altitude |
| Egg Age | Ice Bath | Peel Score | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh | 8-10 min | 2/5 | Needs longer chill |
| 1 Week | 6-8 min | 4/5 | Sweet spot |
| Older | 5-6 min | 5/5 | Easy peel |
| No Chill | 0 min | 1/5 | Carryover stays |
| Cold Rinse | 3-4 min | 3/5 | Light stop |
Soft-boiled egg require precise timing due to the variable that affect the final texture of the eggs. Many people finds soft-boiled eggs to be more challenging to prepare due to the difference in the reaction of the yolk and the egg white to heat. There is several variables to account for in order to achieve a perfect soft-boiled egg: the size of the eggs, the temperature of the eggs, the method of cooking the eggs, and the altitude at which you cook the eggs.
The size of the eggs is one of the most important variable. If you use larger eggs, such as jumbo eggs, you will have to increase the cooking time by one minute compared than a small egg. This is because the larger the mass of the egg, the longer it will take for the heat to even distribute throughout the egg.
How to Make Perfect Soft-Boiled Eggs
Another important variable are the temperature of the eggs. Using eggs that are taken from the refrigerator will require more time to cook than eggs that are at room temperature due to the higher starting temperature of the room temperature eggs. The method in which you cook your eggs will also play a role in the cooking time.
Placing the eggs direct into already-boiling water will take less time than if you place the eggs into cold water. Furthermore, the steaming method will be more efficient than placing the eggs directly into boiling water. One reason for the difference in cooking time for each of these method is because boiling water will immediately transfer heat to the eggs, while the steam method allows for even heat to be distribute to the eggs.
However, the altitude at which you cook your eggs will also play a role in the cooking time. The higher the altitude, the lower the boiling point of the water. This means that the water will be at a lower temperature, and cooking times will need to be increase to ensure even cooking of the eggs.
Additionally, another variable is the number of egg that you cook. If you cook many eggs at once, the temperature of the water will drop to accommodate the much cold eggs. In this instance, you will have to wait for the water to reach a simmer before begin to time the eggs.
Furthermore, you should cook your eggs in a single layer to ensure even distribution of heat to each individual egg. Following cooking, you must place the eggs into an ice bath to stop the cooking process of the eggs. Using an ice bath ensures that you remove the eggs from the heat source, preventing the cooking of the eggs from continue after removing them from the boiling water.
Furthermore, cooking the eggs in an ice bath will make it easier to peel the shell from the eggs. This is because the older the eggs, the larger the air pocket that will form within the egg shells, which will allow them to be peeled more easy. Depending on the desired texture of the soft-boiled eggs, cooking times will have to be adjust.
For a very soft yolk, cooking times will need to be shorter. For a jammy yolk, cook the eggs for between seven and eight minute. For a yolk that is just set enough to be sliced, cook the eggs for eight to nine minutes.
By controlling these variable for cooking soft-boiled eggs, you can ensure the eggs reach the desired texture.
