How to Make Soft Boiled Eggs

Learn how to make Soft Boiled Eggs using the stovetop or Instant Pot method. Delicious, warm eggs with soft yolk are the perfect addition to your breakfast or other recipes.

I will just go ahead and say it. Soft boiled eggs are my favorite way to eat eggs. You just can’t beat the cooked egg whites with the runny yolks. It’s truly the best of both words.

I will go into details shortly, but cooking soft-boiled eggs in my Instant Pot is my new favorite thing. Why? Because they are beautifully cooked every single time with set egg whites and soft and delicious egg yolks. Plus, the shells come off in a breeze when they are pressure-cooked.

If you would rather have hard boiled eggs, be sure to try my Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs! Game-changer!

Eggs are seriously one of the best foods on the planet. They are nutrient-dense and convenient. You can make them as a quick and effortless snack; they can be your main course or add them to your favorite dishes. Even most kids are happy to gobble up their fair share of eggs. With all of the nutrients eggs provide, it’s an ingredient that you can feel good about serving.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

1. Large Eggs – Yep, you are reading this right; the only ingredient you need is eggs and some water. Seriously, it couldn’t be any easier.

HOW TO MAKE SOFT BOILED EGGS

Stove Top Instructions:

1. Start by boiling a pot of water.

2. Carefully drop the eggs into the water.

3. Cook them for 6 1/2 minutes. You’ll need to adjust the temperature, so the water slows to a gentle simmer instead of rolling boil.

4. Add water and ice to a bowl.

5. Once the eggs are done cooking, place them in the ice water and allow them to cool.

6. After they are cooled enough, you can touch them with your hands, remove the shells.

Instant Pot Instructions

1. Pour one cup of water into the inner pot and add the steamer rack.

2. Put all of the eggs on the steamer rack.

3. Turn on the manual button or the pressure cook button, depending on your machine, to the high setting, and turn the time to 3 minutes.

4. Add ice and water to a bowl to form an ice bath.

5. Once they are done cooking, do a quick release.

6. Place all of the eggs in the ice water.

7. Once they are cooled down some, remove the egg shells.

FAQS ABOUT SOFT BOILED EGGS

HOW LONG CAN YOU KEEP SOFT BOILED EGGS?

While I prefer to make them freshly cooked, you can save soft boiled eggs for 2 days. Keep them in a sealed and airtight container in the fridge. Warm them in some simmering water on the stove for 1-2 minutes or until they seem hot. If you warm them too long, the yolk will turn hard instead of being soft.

Additionally, you can also warm the eggs in the microwave. Heat them up for 25-30 seconds, and they should be warm enough. If not, heat them a little bit longer. Just keep in mind you should never microwave eggs with the shell on. Or they may explode, and you’ll have a giant mess on your hands.

HOW DO I KEEP EGGS FROM CRACKING WHEN ADDING TO BOILING WATER?

I find the easiest way to prevent the eggs from cracking is to sit them on the counter to warm up for a bit before adding them to the water. Start lowering the heat to a simmer right before you add the eggs. This should help keep them from cracking. Sometimes it just happens, and it’s one of those things. You can always make more if needed, but cracked eggs won’t hurt you.

WHAT DO YOU SERVE WITH SOFT BOILED EGGS?

Oh, the options are endless for these yummy eggs! Add them to a salad, top a piece of toast, eat them with some sweet potato cubes, or enjoy them with some Everything Bagel seasoning. Sometimes, we will eat them with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and that’s it.

They are also pretty tasty with cooked spinach, risotto, on top of noodles, or even with potatoes. Try them out in a variety of ways to see what you like the best. We love them in this Best Ever Breakfast Salad as well as this Spring Vegetable Skillet with Soft Boiled Eggs.

Can’t get enough egg recipes? Here are some of our favorites: Best Deviled Eggs, Baked Eggs and Spinach in Sweet Potato Boats, Healthy Egg Muffins, and this Egg Casserole. No matter how you eat them, adding plenty of eggs to your diet is a great way to get extra nutrients!

If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating below! It’s so helpful for other readers to see which recipes are tried and true! I’d also love to see it–share your photo of this dish and tag me on Instagram, and I’ll feature you!

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