Q&A for How to Boil Eggs

No. Fresh eggs sink in water. If it floats to the surface, it's bad.

It's just a way to prepare the egg for eating. You should always cook eggs somehow before eating to kill the bacteria in them. Boiling is the simplest and healthiest method.

Microwaves will boil liquids, but every type of heat is not appropriate for every kind of cooking.

The egg will be fine to eat. The white may leak out a little and it might be a little misshapen, but it doesn't affect the quality.

No. Microwaves do not boil things. Use a pot on the stove top.

No. See How to Cook Carrots and follow Methods 1 and 4.

No, you don't need to wash your eggs (unless they are farm-fresh, in which case it would be a good idea).

It is not recommended to do this. You should try one of the other methods for best results.

Sure, though cleanup could be a mess if the egg breaks.

To soft boil an egg, place in 1” covered pot of boiling water for 6 minutes (US Grade Large). Yoke will be soft and thickened. To hard boil an egg, the time needed is 15 minutes in boiling water covering eggs 1 - 2”. Any time after this, the heat can be removed.

Cooking longer can cosmetically brown the area where the shell touches the pan. Over-boiling an egg while water still is in the pan does not harm the quality of the egg. If you accidentally overcook until pan is dry, the shell will crack, sometimes exploding egg, and the area of white is will brown on surface area where shell touched pan. This cosmetic effect does not hurt the egg for consumption, but the texture and taste may be altered. (Just place it in a covered container for use as egg salad or another dish, observing the 24-hour guideline.)

This egg is burnt - not suggested for consumption. Throw it out and start over.

The sulfur in the egg white and iron in yolk react when boiled too long. This does not harm the egg.

Eggs are a source of protein, so if you don't put anything unhealthy on them (like too much salt or a fatty dressing), then they are very good for you. Like anything though, don't rely on a diet of just boiled eggs!

The boiling and simmering times remain the same. With an egg stove you can even faster and easier your breakfast eggs.