Soft Boiled Egg Timer — Perfect 6-Minute Soft Boiled Eggs with Runny Yolks
A free soft boiled egg timer tuned for runny yolks. Tap a preset for the exact texture you want — from very runny (3 min) through classic soft boiled (6 min) to a jammy ramen-egg yolk (7 min). Includes a soft boiled egg time chart, cold-water-start mode, audio alarm, and tips for soft boiled eggs that come out perfectly every time.
Soft Boiled Egg Time Chart
How long to soft boil eggs depends on your starting water temperature, the egg size, and how runny you want the yolk. Use the soft boiled egg timer chart below as your reference. Times assume large eggs straight from the fridge.
| Doneness | From boiling water | From cold water | Yolk & white |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very Runny | 3 min | 5 min | Liquid yolk, barely-set white |
| Runny Yolk | 4 min | 6 min | Fully liquid yolk, just-set white |
| Half Boiled | 5 min | 7 min | Jammy white, mostly liquid yolk |
| Classic Soft Boiled ⭐ | 6 min | 8 min | Firm white, runny golden yolk |
| Jammy / Ramen Egg | 7 min | 9 min | Firm white, fudgy jammy yolk |
Egg size: Add ~30 seconds for extra-large eggs, subtract ~30 seconds for medium eggs. Soft boiled eggs are timing-sensitive — even 30 seconds changes the texture noticeably.
How to Soft Boil Eggs Perfectly
- Bring water to a rolling boil in a small pot — soft boiled eggs are best with a tight, controlled cook.
- Lower cold eggs in gently with a slotted spoon or skimmer. Don’t drop them — soft boiled timing assumes the egg is in the water for the full duration.
- Tap your soft boiled time above — 6 minutes for classic, 7 for jammy ramen-style, 4 for very runny.
- Wait for the alarm. The timer beeps and shows “DONE!” when your eggs are ready.
- Quick ice bath (1 minute) just to stop the cooking — soft boiled eggs don’t need a long ice bath like hard boiled.
- Serve immediately. Crack the wider end and scoop with a spoon, or peel and slice in half over toast or ramen.
Soft Boiled vs Half Boiled — What’s the Difference?
These terms are often confused, but they describe different textures:
- Soft boiled (6 min): Firm, fully-set white. Runny golden yolk. The white holds its shape when you slice the egg in half. This is the classic Western “soft boiled egg.”
- Half boiled (5 min): Jammy, barely-set white that’s almost custardy. Fully liquid yolk. The whole egg slides out of the shell when cracked. This is the Singaporean / Malaysian breakfast style, often served with soy sauce and white pepper.
Both are delicious — pick based on whether you want a sliceable egg (soft boiled) or a pour-and-mix breakfast egg (half boiled).
Best Ways to Eat Soft Boiled Eggs
- Soldiers and runny yolks (4–5 min): The British breakfast classic. Served upright in an egg cup, tap the top off, dip toast strips into the runny yolk.
- Ramen eggs / ajitsuke tamago (7 min): The jammy yolk is what makes ramen eggs special. Marinate peeled 7-minute eggs overnight in soy sauce, mirin, and sake for the full effect.
- On avocado toast (6 min): Slice a 6-minute egg in half, scoop onto seasoned avocado toast — the runny yolk becomes the sauce.
- Grain bowls and salads (7 min): A jammy egg sliced over a Buddha bowl, niçoise salad, or rice bowl turns it into a complete meal.
- Asian-style breakfast (5 min): Crack two half-boiled eggs into a bowl, add a dash of soy sauce and white pepper, and eat with kaya toast or buttered bread.
Soft Boiled Egg Timer FAQ
How long do you boil an egg for soft boiled?
4 to 6 minutes in boiling water depending on how runny you want it. 4 minutes gives a very runny yolk and barely-set white. 6 minutes is the classic soft boiled with firm white and runny yolk. 7 minutes gives a jammy ramen-egg style yolk. From a cold water start, add about 2 minutes to each time.
What is the perfect time for a soft boiled egg?
6 minutes from boiling water is the most-recommended time for a classic soft boiled egg with a fully-set white and runny golden yolk. If you want it firmer for ramen-style jammy egg, go 7 minutes. Egg size matters — add 30 seconds for extra-large eggs.
How do you make a runny yolk soft boiled egg?
4 minutes in boiling water gives a fully runny yolk while still keeping the white set enough to peel. For an even runnier yolk with a barely-set white (useful for dipping toast soldiers), go 3 minutes. Always start from cold eggs straight out of the fridge for predictable timing.
Should I start soft boiled eggs in cold or boiling water?
Boiling water start is the standard for soft boiled eggs because it gives more predictable, repeatable timing — every minute matters at this level of doneness. Cold water start works too but adds about 2 minutes to your timing and makes the exact moment of doneness harder to control.
How do you peel a soft boiled egg without breaking it?
The shell on a soft boiled egg is delicate work. Crack it gently all over by tapping on the counter, then peel under cool running water starting from the wide end where the air pocket sits. Some people prefer to scoop the egg out of the shell with a spoon instead of peeling it — much easier, especially for 4–5 minute eggs.
Can I make soft boiled eggs ahead of time?
Soft boiled eggs are best eaten immediately, but they keep up to 2 days refrigerated in their shells. To reheat, lower into hot (not boiling) water for 1–2 minutes. Ramen eggs marinated in soy mixture keep up to 4 days and actually improve in flavor over the first 24 hours.
Why is my soft boiled egg too watery inside?
Either undercooked (try adding 30–60 seconds), or your egg was extra-large (add 30 seconds for XL), or you used a cold water start without adjusting the timer. Switch the toggle above to “Cold water start” and the timer will compensate automatically.