Cooking a perfect soft-boiled egg; not magic, just timing

An egg is an egg is an egg, no?

People who like soft-boiled eggs instead of hard-boiled sometimes get irritated when their egg doesn't come out just right.

Things you'll need:

• Egg
• Water
• Pan
• Heating source; stove

There's a fine-line:
For connoisseurs of soft-boiled eggs, there is a very fine line that separates a properly cooked and improperly cooked egg.

If the egg is undercooked and too runny, it can be quite unpalatable! And, if the egg is overcooked it might as well be hard-boiled! So, it takes some precision timing and a watchful eye.

Timing is critical:
To get your soft-boiled egg to come out right every time, it is important to cook it for just three minutes after the water begins boiling.

Missing the mark:
It is easy to miss the mark here. If you set the timer too early, the egg will undoubtedly come out at least a little hard.

If you set the timer too late, the egg will likely be runny. So, attention to detail is important. When the water has reached a definitive boiling state, then is the time to set the timer for three minutes.

The egg removal:
When the three minutes have passed, quickly remove the egg from the water and run it under cold water for at least 30 seconds, to prevent further residual cooking.

Once the egg shell is cool enough, crack the shell and poke a kitchen knife through to split it into two pieces, then scoop out the perfect soft-boiled interior onto your favorite toast, English muffin or other preferred soft-boiled egg accompaniment.

Tips & Warnings

• Use caution handling boiling water and hot eggs.