Perfect Soft-Boiled Egg Recipe

It takes just six minutes to get firm whites and liquid yolks, every single time.

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated February 11, 2025

Why It Works

  • Using a slotted spoon to gently lower the eggs prevents them from cracking.
  • Exactly six minutes is just enough cooking time for the perfect soft-boiled texture.

Perfect soft-boiled eggs require the right technique. We cooked dozens and dozens of eggs before arriving at this method, which delivers eggs with tender whites and liquid yolks every single time.

A perfect soft-boiled egg, cut in half to reveal the runny yolk, with toasted bread at the top of the image.

Serious Eats / Julia Estrada

July 2017

Recipe Details

Perfect Soft-Boiled Egg Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Cook 10 mins
Active 5 mins
Total 15 mins
Serves 1 to 6 servings
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Ingredients

  • 3 quarts (2.8 L) water

  • 1 to 6 large eggs

Directions

  1. Bring water to a gentle simmer in a medium pot. Gently lower eggs into water with a slotted spoon or strainer (do not drop eggs into water, as they might crack). Cook for exactly 6 minutes, then remove eggs with slotted spoon and serve (see note).

    A four-image collage showing the eggs being added to a pan of gently boiling water and then removed with a slotted spoon.

    Serious Eats / Julia Estrada

Special Equipment

Medium pot, slotted spoon

Notes

For the best way to remove their shells, see our explainer on peeling steamed and boiled eggs.

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
72 Calories
5g Fat
0g Carbs
6g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 72
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 186mg 62%
Sodium 90mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 42mg 3%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 69mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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