h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've always had this problem with eggs, you see, they always turn out either runny or so hard it takes a jack hammer and jaws of life to crack open...
So here's the big Q:
What am I doing wrong?

If this forum is anything to go by, you're boiling them for double the time you should be. However,
1) make lots of toast and try to keep it hot while you bring a pan of water to the boil
2)lower 3 eggs into the boiling water with a spoon . This should mean they don't crack.
3) Take one out after 3 and a half mintes. If still too runny foir your liking, eat it on top of the toast like a poached egg
4) Take the second out at 4 minutes. You should be able to dunk toast "soldiers" into the yolk, but if not repeat the last step
5) Try again at 4 and a half minutes
Write down which one is nearest to your taste and repeat this timing when you want a boiled egg.
If you are a poverty-stricken student, or very worried about cholesterol, spread the experiment over several days
The important thing is that the water should be boiling before you put thwe egg in - cold water is for when you want hard boiled eggs.

Well thank you kindly!
I'll try out these cunning tactics at lunch today.
I'll let you know how it works out.
-Shadrach

Actually, I always put my eggs in cold water and start timing from the instant the water comes to a good rolling boil. This method is generally easier and more successful on a gas cooker than on an electric hob, 'cos you have to turn the water down to a simmer when it comes to the boil and gas reacts faster. Using cold water does NOT always result in hard-boiled eggs, it just depends on the timing.

One more thing. When you have reached the appropriate time, always rinse the eggs under a cold tap, otherwise the cooking process will continue inside the shell. This also helps to prevent the 'black ring' forming round the yolk (noticeable on hard-boiled eggs).

Yep, you're right - I should have said reduce the heat.
My preferred method is put on pan to boil (I currently have an electric hob), go and put make-up on.Come back and lower eggs in water, set timer, turn off power, go and make bed, come back and fish egg out.Eat at speed.Dash outside and down excalator to catch train. The water retains enough heat for a 3 and a half minute egg and I never have to panic half way to work that I've left the hotplate on. If I adopted your method, which is probably superior, I'd have to stand over the pot until it boiled and as we know "A watched pot never boils"

I was once told that you should allow your eggs to get to room temperature before boiling them but I don't know how this affects the cooking of them. It was one of those things that your mother tells you that you only kinda listen to half of it. Sorry.

If you put a cold egg into boiling water, it will crack and you will have part-poached egg, which isn't very nice.

True in theory, but it doesn't always happen. And it sometimes happens on eggs that are room temperature. If you start with both the water and the eggs cold, it seems to happen less often because the temperature of the egg gradually comes to match the temperature of the water anyway.

I agree. To avoid cracking I always put the eggs into cold water, bring to the boil and then continue to boil for approximately 90 seconds (a bit more for very big eggs). This should produce a slightly soft yolk suitable for dunking.

Depends on the kind of electric hob you've got. If you've got one of the old-fashioned solid plates or ring hobs, you can probably put the water on to boil with the eggs in it, walk away and put on your make-up, and come back to find that the darned things still haven't come to the boil. Every electric hob of those types that I have ever used has taken a year and a day to heat a pan of water, even at full heat! I currently have an electric cooker with two halogen hobs. These are a lot faster, so it would depend on how quickly you put on your make-up.

I've got it down to 3 and a half minutes. I'm tempted to swap my solid lecky plate for gas when I move next week, but that means getting a gas bottle up a "ladder street" on which no cars are possible. So, I probably won't.

Yes, I was assuming a gas hob - electricity is useless for boiling eggs.

I was told by my mother that adding vinegar helps stop the eggs cracking.
Is this true?

Yes, but if they do crack despite it,your half-poached egg will taste of vinegar

Hmm... very intresting ideas
I've tried most of them, I have an electric stove.
And...
::drum roll::
I have succesfully boiled an egg!
Using the following method:
Preheat pan of water on high heat until boiling
Lower heat to slow boil
Warm up eggs in warm water (from tap, or to you Americans, faucet)
Place eggs in boiling water
Wait 3 minutes
Remove
Crack with spoon
Dunk toasty soldiers into tasty egg
Place eggy soldiers into mouth (or mandibles, depending on species)
Consume.
Mmm.... Eggs...
Thanx guys!

Would you like to grauate to the next class - how to poach an egg ?