KITCHEN · TIMER
Boiled Egg Timer
Pick how you like your eggs, and the timer tells you how long and counts down.
Egg timer
8 min 30 sec
- Bring enough water to cover the eggs to a boil.
- Lower the heat slightly, gently add the eggs with a spoon and start the timer right away.
- When the timer ends, move the eggs to cold or ice water so they stop cooking.
Timer
Time left 8:30
Boiled egg times
| Yolk | From the fridge | Room temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Runny yolk | 6:00 | 5:00 |
| Jammy yolk | 8:30 | 7:30 |
| Hard-boiled | 11:00 | 10:00 |
How the times are set
Times for boiling and steaming start from J. Kenji López-Alt’s tests with large eggs straight from the fridge: 6 minutes for a runny yolk, 8 minutes 30 seconds for jammy and 11 minutes for just-set. The cold-start times come from the American Egg Board.
The size and room-temperature adjustments (30 seconds per size step, 1 minute less for room-temperature eggs) are our own estimates. Stoves and pots differ, so peel one egg the first time to check.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I boil an egg for a soft, jammy yolk?
About 8 minutes 30 seconds for a large egg straight from the fridge, lowered into boiling water, then cooled in cold water. For a runny yolk, about 6 minutes.
How long does a hard-boiled egg take?
About 11 minutes in boiling water for a large fridge-cold egg. With the cold-start method, bring the eggs to a boil, turn off the heat and let them stand covered: 12 minutes for large eggs.
Why put boiled eggs in cold water?
Cold water stops the cooking so the yolk stays the way you timed it, and it makes the eggs easier to handle and peel.
Are runny eggs safe?
The U.S. FDA advises cooking eggs until both the white and yolk are firm, especially for young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system.
More tools
Sources and last updated
- Boiling and steaming times: J. Kenji López-Alt, How to Boil the Perfect Egg (The New York Times, 2019); steaming method: University of Kentucky EatWell, Foolproof Boiled Eggs
- Cold-start method (medium 9, large 12, extra large 15 minutes): American Egg Board, How to Hard-Boil Eggs
- Egg safety: U.S. FDA, What You Need to Know About Egg Safety
Last updated: · 한국어로 보기