Boiled egg facts for kids
A boiled egg is an egg boiled in its shell. This is a common way of cooking eggs. If the shells are broken, it is called a poached egg. There are two different types of boiled eggs: hard boiled eggs and soft-boiled eggs.
Hard-boiled eggs
Hard-boiled eggs are completely cooked. The egg yolk is solid. They can be eaten warm or cold. Some dishes use them like egg salad. They can be stored for a long time in the refrigerator. Some machines called egg slicers can slice these easily.
Soft-boiled eggs
Soft-boiled eggs have firmly cooked eggwhites, while at the same time, the yolks are liquid. They can have salmonella in them if you don't prepare them correctly. In Europe, soft-boiled eggs are a traditional breakfast cousin, and you normally scoop them out of the shell and eat. In Asia, the soft-boiled egg is cracked into a cup with soy sauce and black pepper. To make the perfect soft boiled egg, bring the water up to a boil, then lower it to a rapid simmer. Add the eggs to the pot, and then begin timing. If you're just cooking one or two eggs, five minutes is perfect for a runny yolk, or cook as long as seven minutes for a more firmly set, but still spoonable, yolk.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Boiled eggs, increasing in boiling time from left to right: 4 minutes, 7 minutes and 9 minutes
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Onsen tamago, a Japanese slow cook at a low temperature
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A boiled egg, presented in an egg cup
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An aspic with chicken and eggs
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A bowl of ramen topped with a seasoned boiled egg. (Note the darkened exterior of the egg).
See also
In Spanish: Huevo cocido para niños
