How to use the egg boil timer
- Pick the cooking method and how you like the yolk, from runny to firm.
- Set the egg size, whether the eggs come from the fridge or room temperature, and your altitude.
- Bring the water to a rolling boil, lower the eggs in gently and press Start.
- When the timer rings, move the eggs into cold water to stop them from cooking.
How long does an egg take to boil?
It depends on how set you want the yolk. A large fridge-cold egg lowered into boiling water needs about 3 minutes for a runny centre and about 10 minutes for a firm one. The egg boil timer works out the exact minutes for your egg and counts them down.
What changes the egg boiling time
Egg size
A bigger egg takes longer for the heat to reach the centre. Going from medium to extra-large adds roughly a minute.
Starting temperature
Eggs straight from the fridge need a minute or two more than eggs at room temperature. Cold eggs are also more likely to crack, so lower them in gently.
Altitude
The higher you live, the lower the temperature at which water boils, so eggs cook more slowly in the mountains. Enter your altitude and the timer adds the extra time.
Egg boiling tips
- Start the timer the moment the eggs are in the boiling water, not when you turn on the stove.
- To keep eggs from cracking, lower them in with a spoon and turn the heat down to a gentle boil.
- Do not crowd the pan: the eggs should sit in a single layer, covered by about 3 cm (1 inch) of water.
- You cannot see through the shell, so the only reliable way to know eggs are done is to time them.
How does an egg timer work?
A classic egg timer is a small clock or sand glass set to a fixed number of minutes, and colour-changing timers sit in the pot with the eggs. This online egg timer calculates the time from the size, temperature and altitude you choose, shows the egg cooking in real time and rings when it is ready. It also times poached, fried and scrambled eggs and omelettes.