How long to boil an egg?
Medium egg, gently lowered into water that’s already boiling:
| Style | Time | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Soft-boiled | 3 min | White just set, runny yolk: made for toast soldiers. |
| Medium | 6 min | Firm white, jammy yolk: the star of salads and ramen. |
| Hard-boiled | 9 min | Firm all the way: picnics, egg mayo, deviled eggs. |
Banana’s tips
- Egg straight from the fridge: 1 minute more. Tick “Straight from the fridge” under the buttons and I’ll do the maths.
- Small or large egg: pick its size under the buttons (S −30 s, L +30 s, XL +1 min).
- In the mountains, water boils cooler: around 1,500 m (5,000 ft), add a good minute.
- For drama-free peeling: straight into ice water, then tap and roll.
FAQ
Start in cold or boiling water?
Boiling! The times above start from water that’s already boiling. From cold, everything depends on your pan and your stove: impossible to time properly.
Why does my yolk have a green ring?
It’s slightly overcooked. Harmless, just less pretty: stick to 9 minutes and cool it down fast.
Does the timer keep going if I switch tabs?
Yes: the countdown keeps running and shows in the tab title. Turn on the notification under the buttons so I can reach you elsewhere, and keep your sound on.
No notification at the end?
You need two green lights: the box under the buttons, and your system allowing your browser to notify (on a Mac: System Settings → Notifications). On iPhone, Safari doesn’t let websites send notifications: the alarm and the always-on screen take over.