Perfect Boiled Eggs – Soft, Jammy, and Hard

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Learn to make perfectly cooked boiled eggs exactly how you like them, from soft boiled to jammy, or hard boiled! Follow the steps and tips to make perfect eggs, every single time.

Close up of a hand holding one half of a jammy boiled egg.

Why it Works

It’s no secret I love eggs! As part of my weekly meal prep, I make up a batch of a dozen boiled eggs for quick breakfasts or recipes like egg salad, deviled eggs, and more!

They’re the best tasting, easiest protein for your healthy meals. I think they’re the perfect addition to salads, platters, and just to eat on their own.

Learning to make the perfect egg was a total game changer to my meal prep game, so today I’m sharing exactly how I do it.

A gray plate with 6 jammy eggs, each cut in half to show the yolks.

Soft boiled eggs have a silky smooth, liquid yolks and fully cooked but soft whites. Hard boiled eggs have a fully cooked yolk. Jammy eggs are right in the middle of soft and hard boiled, with yolks that are a little bit creamy and a little bit silky smooth.

Sometimes I make my eggs in the air fryer, and sometimes I use the tried and true boiling method. I’m sharing how I do it to get perfectly cooked eggs, every single time!

How to Make Perfect Boiled Eggs

You might be wondering why you can’t just throw the eggs in the pot, turn up the heat, and call it a day. Well, there are a few tried and true tips I’m sharing to get the eggs exactly the way you like them!

  1. Bring a pot of salted water to a slow simmer, then use a slotted spoon to carefully add the eggs to the water. The eggs should be covered by 2 inches of water. Don’t overcrowd the pot! Only cook as many eggs can fit in a single layer on the bottom of the pot, with a little room left over. Set a timer depending on how well you’d like the eggs cooked.
  2. Use a slotted spoon to remove the eggs and transfer them to an ice bath for about 5 minutes. This stops the cooking process. Allow the eggs to cool enough so you can handle them, but not so long that they completely chill through. This will make them easier to peel.
  3. Crack and roll the eggs gently before peeling them. The air bubble usually forms at the bottom of the egg (the fattest part), so try to start peeling there.
Process collage showing the 3 recipe steps: eggs cooking, in an ice bath, and peeled.

Cook Times for Boiled Eggs

  • Soft Boiled Eggs: 6 minutes
  • Jammy Eggs: 7 minutes
  • Medium Boiled Eggs: 9 minutes
  • Hard Boiled Eggs: 11 minutes

Note: Use these times to guide your cooking, but there still may be some experimenting to do based on your personal preferences and the equipment you use. Start by cooking just 1 or 2 eggs, then move on to making bigger batches.

Four sliced boiled eggs at different doneness with cook times next to them.

Storing

After cooking, peel the eggs while they’re cool enough to handle but still a bit warm on the inside. Once they’ve been fully chilled in the ice bath, they’ll be more difficult to peel.

Peel the eggs but do not cut them until you’re ready to eat them. Transfer the eggs to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to a week, per USDA.

Boiled Eggs FAQs

How many eggs can I boil at one time?

That depends on the size of your pot. The eggs should fit in a single layer at the bottom of the pot, with a little room for them to roll around as they cook. Don’t overcrowd the pot! It’s better to cook eggs in batches than to have unevenly cooked eggs.

Why is there a green ring around my boiled eggs?

A green ring around the egg yolk usually indicates that the eggs were overcooked, or cooked at too high a temperature. Try lowering the heat a bit and cooking them a few minutes less next time. With a green ring, they’re still perfectly safe to eat, just a little less pretty.

Why are my eggs hard to peel?

Eggs can be difficult to peel for several reasons:
They’re too fresh. Super fresh eggs are notoriously hard to peel. If you have farm fresh eggs or backyard chickens, wait until the eggs are at least two weeks old before boiling them. Another common reason is, the eggs are too cold. They are much easier to peel while they are still slightly warm on the inside.

Can I freeze boiled eggs?

You can freeze eggs, but for best taste and texture, I don’t recommend it. It’s better to cook a fresh batch whenever you’re close to running out.

Did you make this recipe?

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Close up of a hand holding one half of a jammy boiled egg.

Perfect Boiled Eggs – Soft, Jammy, and Hard.

Total Time 12 minutes
The best, fool proof method to make perfect jammy boiled eggs, every single time!
5 from 4 votes
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Laura Miner

Equipment

  • Sauce Pan

Video

Ingredients

  • 6 eggs

Instructions

  • Bring a medium pot of salted water to a slow boil, not quite at a rolling or fast boil.
  • Gently add in the eggs to the pot with a slotted spoon, one at a time, in a single, spread out layer at the bottom of the pot. Make sure the eggs are covered by about 2 inches of water, and don't overcrowd the pot.
  • Soft Boiled Eggs: Cook for 6 minutes.
    Jammy Eggs: Cook for 7 minutes.
    Medium Boiled Eggs: Cook for 9 minutes.
    Hard Boiled Eggs: Cook for 11 minutes.
  • While the eggs cook, prepare an ice bath. Add 3-4 cups of ice to a large bowl, then fill the bowl to 2/3 full with cold water.
  • Once the cook time is over, remove the eggs using a slotted spoon. Set the eggs gently into the ice bath to stop the cooking process.
  • Allow the eggs to cool in the ice bath just until they're chilled enough to hold in your hands, then remove them before they're fully chilled through.
    Crack and peel the eggs, starting with wherever the air bubble has formed, usually at the bottom.

Notes

To store boiled eggs: Transfer peeled, uncut eggs to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, per USDA. It’s not recommended to freeze boiled eggs. 

Nutrition

Calories: 63kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 61mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
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A woman in a black dress smiles while holding a bowl of food with vegetables and ground meat in a kitchen.
Hey friend, I’m Madison!

I’m the mama behind Cook at Home Mom. Through simple, family-friendly recipes and practical meal prep tips, I show busy moms how to make healthy eating enjoyable and sustainable, even with packed schedules. So glad you are here!

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