Soft Boiled Jammy Eggs

If you know me, you know I love for soft boiled eggs. I love them on a simple piece of toast, in a bowl of ramen, in egg salad sandwiches, on salads, on top of avocado toast topped with truffle salt -- the list goes on! The soft yolk is spreadable and has a jammy texture. All you need is a little salt and pepper on top for the perfect bite. The perfect Soft Boiled Jammy Eggs are in your near future with this easy recipe!

Soft Boiled Jammy Eggs are so perfect, they seem like they would be difficult to make, but they are so easy to prepare. Making the perfect jammy eggs only requires a pot of boiling water, a bowl of ice water, and a spoon.

Where to Get Your Eggs

We are strong proponents for pasture raised eggs. Pasture raised eggs are laid by hens who have access to pastures outdoors and their eggs are full of flavor and vitamins. This is reflected in the egg yolks which are deep orange or red. 

Our favorite pasture-raised eggs are distributed by Vital Farms, who works with carefully-selected farmers throughout the United States.

How to Make Soft Boiled Jammy Eggs

1. Make sure the eggs are at room temperature - One of the most important things to note about boiling eggs is that the eggs need to be at room temperature. If the eggs are cold and right out of the fridge, they will crack when lowered into the hot water. If you don't have time to let your eggs get to room temperature on their own, fill a bowl with warm water (not hot) and let them sit in the water for a few minutes to expedite the temperature change.
2. Boil the water - To make the eggs, you will first fill a sauce pan or small pot with water.  Wait a few minutes as you bring the water to a boil on medium heat.  
3. Cook the eggs - Using tongs or a slotted spoon, carefully lower the eggs in the water and cook for 7 minutes.  You will want to lower the heat so that the water simmers. Most importantly, set a timer for 7 minutes to be exact. Every minute counts when you boil eggs!
4. Fill a bowl with ice water - As the eggs cook on the stovetop, fill a bowl with cold water and ice.  The bowl of ice water will stop the eggs from cooking and will preserve the soft yolk. 
5. Cool the eggs - Once the timer pings, use the tongs or spoon to remove the eggs from the pot and place them in the bowl of ice water to cool.  Let the eggs sit in the ice water for a few minutes before you peel them.
6. Crack the eggshells - Using a spoon, lightly tap each egg to crack the shell.  The shell should easily peel off once the egg is cooled.

How to Enjoy Soft Boiled Jammy Eggs

There are endless ways to enjoy these 7 minute eggs. You can chop the eggs and toss them with Kewpie mayo when preparing an egg salad sandwich. You can also prepare them with a simple piece of toast and top with fresh cracked pepper and Maldon Sea Salt Flakes. They are especially delicious as an added source of protein in a salad, including the Salmon Niçoise salad pictured below.

Variations

While Soft Boiled Jammy Eggs are my favorite, I enjoy all types of eggs.  Here are a few other ways to prepare eggs.

• Runny Soft Boiled Eggs -  If you want your eggs runnier and perfect for going over rice, follow the same steps above, just boil the eggs for 5 minutes instead of 7. Our Bacon and Egg Breakfast Rice Bowl is an example of how to integrate this runny soft boiled egg into a delicious breakfast.
• Soft Scrambled Eggs - Whenever we make scrambled eggs, we make them soft and fluffy. We love making a soft scramble with burrata, tomatoes, and arugula.
• Fried Eggs - Great on toast and also delicious over rice if you don’t like a runny yolk. In order to fry eggs, crack them into a heated pan (over medium heat) then fry them for 3 minutes or until the egg whites are firm, then flip and cook them for 2 more minutes.
• Hard Boiled Eggs - Great for an egg salad sandwich if you prefer a firm yolk.  In order to hard boil eggs, just boil the eggs for 10 minutes then cool and peel the shell.

Equipment

These perfect jammy eggs require just a few kitchen essentials. You need tongs or a slotted spoon, a pot to boil the eggs, a knife, and a cutting board.

Storage

You can refrigerate Soft Boiled Jammy Eggs in an air tight container for 2 days.  Here are some containers I recommend: OXO Pop Containers, Glass Meal Prep Containers, Glass Food Containers.

Top Tip

Figure out what you want to make with your jammy eggs before you start making them so your eggs are ready at the same time as your other food and you can enjoy everything hot and fresh.

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Food Safety

• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.