How to Boil Eggs

Once you get the hang of it, boiled eggs are so easy and endlessly all-purpose. Whether they're for breakfast, picnics or lunch boxes, here are some tips to help you cook boiled eggs just as you like them.

Before you get started, think about timing. Really soft boiled eggs should be cooked in boiling water for 3 minutes. Hard boiled eggs with a lightly soft yolk require boiling for 6 minutes.  Timings will vary slightly with size and the age of the egg. You may have to experiment before you get them just to your liking!

Don't add your eggs to boiling water as this may crack the shell. Instead add the eggs to cool water and bring it to the boil.

Remember to add a pinch of salt – egg shells are porous.

When the water is almost boiling, set a kitchen timer to your preference  

Once cooking time is complete, remove the egg from the pan and tap the shells as soon as they are cool enough to handle.

If it is difficult to neatly peel the shell from hard boiled eggs, it's usually because they are too fresh! Eggs boil better when they are a few days old. If you have trouble peeling hard boiled eggs, try using the back of a teaspoon handle. Simply insert between the egg white and shell – easy!

To prevent the eggs cracking, make a small pin prick in the shell at the rounded end to allow the steam to escape. An egg picker is the gadget to use if you have one

There are lots of simple gadgets to help you make the perfect boiled eggs including colour changing egg timers and even something to make an oval boiled egg, square. For this however, I will come back with tips when I get my gadgets and steps set but please don't expect it right away :-).