How Long Does It Take to Boil an Egg?
Quick Answer
6–12 minutes depending on how you like it: soft-boiled (6–7 min), medium (9–10 min), or hard-boiled (11–12 min).
Typical Duration
Quick Answer
Boiling an egg takes between 6 and 12 minutes once the water reaches a rolling boil, depending on your desired doneness.
Breakdown by Doneness
- Soft-boiled (runny yolk): 6–7 minutes
- Medium-boiled (jammy yolk): 9–10 minutes
- Hard-boiled (fully set yolk): 11–12 minutes
Factors That Affect Timing
Egg size matters. Large eggs are the standard for most timing guides. Jumbo eggs need an extra minute, while medium eggs need about a minute less.
Starting temperature plays a role. Eggs straight from the fridge take slightly longer than room-temperature eggs. If you start with cold eggs, add about 30 seconds to the times above.
Altitude affects the boiling point of water. At higher elevations (above 5,000 feet), water boils at a lower temperature, so you may need to add 1–2 extra minutes.
Method also matters. The times above assume you lower eggs into already-boiling water. If you start with cold water and bring it to a boil with the eggs in it, turn off the heat once boiling and let them sit for 10–12 minutes for hard-boiled.
Step-by-Step Method
- Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil
- Gently lower eggs in with a slotted spoon
- Reduce to a gentle boil
- Set your timer based on desired doneness
- Transfer eggs to an ice bath immediately to stop cooking
Tips
- Ice bath is key — it stops the cooking process and makes peeling easier
- Older eggs peel better than fresh ones for hard-boiled preparations
- Don’t overcrowd the pot; eggs should be in a single layer
- A green ring around the yolk means the egg was overcooked