For a perfect soft-boiled egg with a runny yolk and set white, boil for approximately 5 to 6 minutes (medium egg, placed into already boiling water). The white should be fully cooked while the yolk remains delightfully liquid. Adjust by ±30 seconds depending on egg size and your altitude.

The greenish-gray ring around the yolk is iron sulfide — it forms when eggs are overcooked or not cooled quickly. To avoid it: cook for no more than 10–12 minutes, and immediately transfer eggs to an ice water bath for at least 5 minutes after cooking. This stops the cooking process instantly and prevents the reaction between iron (yolk) and sulfur (white).

Boiling water start (our timer's default) gives you more precise control — the timer begins the moment eggs hit the water. This method works best for consistent results. Cold water start means placing eggs in cold water, bringing to a boil, then timing — but since stovetops vary, timing is less predictable. If using cold start: soft ≈ 3–4 min after boiling begins, medium ≈ 5–6 min, hard ≈ 8–9 min.

Larger eggs need more time. As a rule of thumb: Small eggs (≈40g) cook about 30 seconds faster than medium; Large eggs (≈60g) need 30 extra seconds; Extra-large eggs (70g+) need about 60 extra seconds. Our egg size selector automatically adjusts the timer for you.

Use older eggs (not super fresh) — as eggs age, the inner membrane separates from the shell, making peeling easier. Ice bath shock: immediately after boiling, plunge eggs into ice water for 5–10 minutes. Peel under running water: the water helps slip between the membrane and egg white. Roll and crack: gently roll the egg on a countertop to create cracks all over, then peel from the wider end where the air pocket usually is.

At higher altitudes, water boils at a lower temperature (e.g., at 1500m/5000ft, water boils at ~95°C/203°F instead of 100°C/212°F). This means eggs cook more slowly. If you live above 1000m (3300ft), consider adding 1–2 extra minutes to the standard times. You can use our fine-tune buttons (+30s) to adjust.