How Long to Boil Eggs?
Get a size-aware boil estimate below, then verify doneness before serving. How we calculate times.
Calculator
Estimated cooking time
7 min
Evidence-informed estimate · Cooking times vary — follow the food-specific completion and food-safety guidance.
- Straight from the fridge into boiling water. Shock in ice water for 5 minutes to stop cooking and make peeling easier.
- USDA guidance is to cook eggs until yolk and white are firm. Soft and jammy eggs may not meet fully cooked food-safety guidance; pasteurized eggs are a safer choice for people at higher risk from foodborne illness.
Eggs by method
At typical settings. Poach is fastest at 3–4 min.
| Method | Typical time | Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Boil | 7 min | |
| Poach | 3–4 min |
How to boil eggs
Start checking at the early end of the 7 min estimate. Appliance output, size and starting state vary, so use the settings above and follow the food-specific completion and safety guidance.
Egg boiling time by result
| Size | Approximate | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Soft boiled | Runny yolk, set white | 6 min |
| Jammy | Fudgy, jam-like yolk | 7 min |
| Medium | Yolk just set at the edges | 8–9 min |
| Hard boiled | Fully set yolk | 10–12 min |
How to know when it's done
Use the cooking time, yolk texture and an ice bath to judge boiled eggs — not a thermometer. Soft and jammy eggs may not meet fully cooked food-safety guidance. Pasteurized eggs are a safer choice for people at higher risk from foodborne illness.
Food-level cooking reference: BBC Good Food — Soft boiled eggs (checked 2026-08-01). CookCue applies deterministic adjustments; food-safety guidance is sourced separately.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I boil eggs for a jammy yolk?
7 minutes for a fridge-cold large egg in already-boiling water, then straight into ice water. 6½ minutes for runnier, 8 for just-set.
Should eggs start in cold or boiling water?
Boiling water — it makes timing predictable and peeling easier. Lower eggs gently with a spoon so they don't crack.
Why does my egg explode when boiled?
It was cooked from frozen or had a hidden crack. Never boil frozen in-shell eggs — thaw them in the fridge overnight first.
How do I peel hard boiled eggs easily?
Shock them in ice water for 5 minutes right after boiling, then peel under running water, starting from the wide end where the air pocket is.