How to boil an egg: tips and tricks

HOW TO BOIL THE PERFECT EGG
Eggs are a rich source of protein and vitamins and are generally healthy to eat, unless you suffer from a high cholesterol level. You can eat eggs raw, boiled or cooked in a pan as scrambled eggs or an omelet. Boiling eggs is one of the easiest ways to prepare them. Whether you like them hard-boiled or golden and runny, here’s how to get the perfect result, every time. The trick to making a perfect boiled egg is all in the timing. Follow these three easy steps and you can't fail.

Step 1
Bring your eggs to room temperature before cooking – this prevents the shells from cracking when the water boils
Step 2
Place the eggs in a saucepan; cover with cold water and bring to the boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to a simmer – cooking the eggs in hard-boiling water will cause the whites to turn rubbery. For runny, soft-boiled eggs, cook for three minutes once simmering; for medium eggs with a semi-firm yolk, cook for four minutes. Remove eggs from the water or they will continue to cook. Serve immediately
Step 3
For hard-boiled eggs, cover with cold water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for six to seven minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove and cool under cold, running water. Allow to sit in cold water for two minutes before serving