Egg Timer

The Ultimate Online Egg Timer

Getting perfectly boiled eggs requires precise timing. Our free online egg timer takes the guesswork out of cooking eggs, whether you prefer soft, medium, or hard boiled. Simply select your preferred doneness and start the timer when your eggs hit the water.

How to Boil the Perfect Egg

The key to perfect boiled eggs is consistent timing and temperature control. For best results, use eggs at room temperature and place them gently into already boiling water. Start your egg timer immediately and transfer eggs to an ice bath when done to stop the cooking process.

Egg Cooking Times Explained

• 3 minutes (Soft Boiled): Runny yolk with barely set whites. The classic "dippy egg" for toast soldiers.
• 5 minutes (Medium Soft): Jammy, gel-like yolk with firm whites. Popular for ramen toppings.
• 7 minutes (Medium): Yolk is mostly set with a slightly soft center. Versatile for most uses.
• 10 minutes (Hard Boiled): Fully set yolk throughout. Perfect for egg salad and deviled eggs.
• 12 minutes (Extra Hard): Very firm yolk, ideal for making stuffed eggs that hold their shape.

Tips for Perfect Boiled Eggs

Start with room temperature eggs to prevent cracking. Add a pinch of salt or vinegar to the water to help whites set quickly if shells crack. Use older eggs (7-10 days old) for easier peeling. Always transfer to ice water immediately after cooking to prevent the grey-green ring around the yolk.

Why Use an Online Egg Timer?

An online egg timer is always available on your phone, tablet, or computer. Unlike physical timers, there are no batteries to replace and the large digital display is easy to read from across the kitchen. Our timer also includes an audible alarm so you'll never miss the perfect moment.

Ramen Eggs (Ajitsuke Tamago) Timer

Ramen eggs (ajitsuke tamago) are the jammy, marinated eggs you find in authentic Japanese ramen. The perfect ramen egg has a soft, gel-like yolk that's creamy but not runny. To achieve this:

• 6 minutes: Very soft, almost runny center - classic ramen style
• 6.5 minutes: Jammy, custardy yolk - the sweet spot for most ramen
• 7 minutes: Slightly firmer but still creamy - easier to handle

After boiling, immediately transfer to ice water for 10 minutes. Peel gently and marinate in a mixture of soy sauce, mirin, and water for at least 4 hours (overnight is best). Use our egg timer for perfect ramen eggs every time.

Cold Start vs. Boiling Water Method

There are two main approaches to boiling eggs, and each affects timing differently:

• Boiling Water Start: Drop eggs into already boiling water. More precise timing, easier to replicate. Our preset times are based on this method.
• Cold Water Start: Place eggs in cold water, bring to boil, then time from boiling. Add 2-3 minutes to each time. Some prefer this for fewer cracked shells.

Professional chefs typically recommend the boiling water method because it provides more consistent results across different stoves and pot sizes. With cold start, the heating time varies based on your stove power and water volume.

Egg Size Matters: Timing Adjustments

Most egg timing guides assume large eggs. If you're cooking different sizes, adjust your egg timer accordingly:

• Small eggs: Subtract 30 seconds from standard times
• Medium eggs: Subtract 15 seconds from standard times
• Large eggs: Use standard times (our presets)
• Extra-large eggs: Add 30 seconds to standard times
• Jumbo eggs: Add 45-60 seconds to standard times

Also consider that more eggs in the pot require slightly longer cooking times. For every 4 additional eggs, add about 30 seconds.

High Altitude Egg Timer

Cooking eggs at high altitude requires longer boiling times because water boils at lower temperatures. At sea level, water boils at 212°F (100°C), but at higher elevations, it boils at lower temperatures:

• 3,000 feet: Add 1-2 minutes to cooking time
• 5,000 feet: Add 2-3 minutes to cooking time
• 7,500 feet: Add 3-4 minutes to cooking time
• 10,000+ feet: Add 4-5 minutes to cooking time

If you live in Denver, Salt Lake City, or other mountain locations, you'll need to experiment to find your perfect times. Start with adding 2 minutes to our standard presets and adjust from there.

Steam Method for Easy-Peel Eggs

Many professional chefs recommend steaming eggs instead of boiling for easier peeling. The steam method provides more consistent results:

• Soft boiled (steamed): 6 minutes
• Medium (steamed): 9-10 minutes
• Hard boiled (steamed): 12-13 minutes

Add 1 inch of water to a pot with a steamer basket, bring to a boil, add eggs to the basket, cover, and start your egg timer. Steamed eggs peel more easily because the steam quickly sets the outer membrane, preventing it from sticking to the shell.

Instant Pot and Pressure Cooker Eggs

Pressure cooker eggs are famous for being incredibly easy to peel. The 5-5-5 method is popular: 5 minutes at high pressure, 5 minutes natural release, 5 minutes in ice bath. However, our online timer can also help:

• Soft boiled (IP): 3 minutes high pressure + quick release
• Medium (IP): 4 minutes high pressure + 2 min natural release
• Hard boiled (IP): 5 minutes high pressure + 5 min natural release

Use our timer for the ice bath portion - exactly 5 minutes in ice water ensures the eggs stop cooking completely.

Easy-Peel Egg Tips

Nothing is more frustrating than eggs that won't peel cleanly. Here are proven tips for easy-peel boiled eggs:

• Use older eggs: Eggs 7-14 days old peel much easier than fresh eggs. The pH level increases as eggs age, making the membrane separate more easily.
• Add baking soda: Add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to your boiling water. It raises the pH and helps with peeling.
• Ice bath immediately: Shocking eggs in ice water contracts the egg away from the shell.
• Peel under running water: Water gets under the membrane and helps lift it away.
• Roll gently: Roll the egg on the counter to crack the shell all over before peeling.

Eggs Benedict Timer

Perfect Eggs Benedict requires precisely timed poached eggs with runny yolks. For the ideal poached egg:

• 3 minutes: Very runny, may be too soft for some
• 3.5-4 minutes: Perfect for Eggs Benedict - set whites, runny yolk that oozes when cut
• 4.5 minutes: Slightly firmer but still runny center

Use our egg timer to time your poached eggs precisely. For multiple eggs Benedict servings, poach eggs in batches and hold them in warm (not hot) water until ready to serve.

Deviled Eggs and Egg Salad Timer

Deviled eggs and egg salad require hard boiled eggs with fully set, crumbly yolks - no green ring allowed! The timing is critical:

• 10 minutes: Fully set yolk, slightly creamy center - easier to mix for egg salad
• 11-12 minutes: Completely set, crumbly yolk - ideal for deviled eggs that hold their shape

The green ring around the yolk comes from overcooking. Transfer eggs to ice water immediately when the timer goes off, and the yolks will be golden yellow. For deviled eggs, use eggs that are at least a week old for easier peeling.

Soft Boiled Eggs with Toast Soldiers

The classic British breakfast of soft boiled eggs with toast soldiers requires a perfectly runny yolk for dipping. Use an egg cup to hold the egg upright and slice off the top with a knife or egg topper. Perfect timing:

• 3 minutes: Very runny yolk - traditional "dippy egg"
• 4 minutes: Runny with slightly thicker consistency
• 4.5 minutes: Yolk just starting to thicken at edges

Use our 3-minute or 4-minute timer preset for the perfect dippy egg. Cut toast into strips (soldiers) for dipping into the golden yolk.

Soft Boiled Egg Timer: Perfect Runny Yolks Every Time

A dedicated soft boiled egg timer is essential for achieving that perfect runny yolk. Unlike hard boiled eggs where a minute or two doesn't matter much, soft boiled eggs require precision timing—the difference between 3 and 4 minutes creates completely different results.

Our online soft boiled egg timer includes preset options specifically calibrated for soft boiled perfection:

• 3 minutes: Classic "dippy egg" - completely runny yolk, whites just barely set
• 4 minutes: Jammy soft boil - yolk flows but has slightly thicker consistency
• 5 minutes: Medium-soft - yolk is starting to thicken but still has a runny center

For the best soft boiled eggs, always lower eggs into already boiling water (not cold water start), use room temperature eggs to prevent cracking, and transfer immediately to ice water after your timer sounds. Soft boiled eggs are perfect for breakfast, ramen, salads, or served in an egg cup with toast soldiers.

Hard Boiled Egg Timer: No More Guesswork

A reliable hard boiled egg timer ensures your eggs come out perfectly cooked—no grey-green rings around the yolk and easy to peel. Hard boiled eggs are the foundation for deviled eggs, egg salad, Cobb salads, and healthy meal prep.

Perfect hard boiled egg timing:

• 10 minutes: Fully set yolk with slightly creamy center—ideal for egg salad where you want some creaminess
• 11 minutes: Completely set, slightly crumbly yolk—perfect for slicing in salads
• 12 minutes: Very firm yolk—best for deviled eggs that need to hold their shape

The key to perfect hard boiled eggs is the ice bath. When your hard boiled egg timer goes off, immediately transfer eggs to ice water for at least 5 minutes. This stops the cooking process and prevents that unappetizing green ring. For batch cooking meal prep, use our 10-minute timer or 15-minute timer for the ice bath step.

3 Minute Egg Timer: The Classic Soft Boil

Searching for a 3 minute egg timer? You've come to the right place. The 3-minute egg is a breakfast classic—a perfectly soft boiled egg with runny yolk that's ideal for dipping toast, adding to ramen, or spooning over avocado toast.

Why 3 minutes specifically?

• At 3 minutes, the egg white is just set enough to hold together
• The yolk remains completely liquid and golden
• Perfect for serving in an egg cup with a spoon
• Creates the classic "dippy egg" texture for toast soldiers

Our 3 minute egg timer preset starts immediately with a single click. When the alarm sounds, use a slotted spoon to transfer your egg directly to an egg cup (no ice bath needed for immediate eating). Tap the top with a knife, remove the cap, and enjoy your perfect 3-minute egg. For other quick cooking needs, try our 5-minute timer.

Egg Timer for Kids: Making Cooking Fun and Safe

Teaching kids to cook eggs is a wonderful life skill, and an egg timer for kids makes the process fun and educational. Our kid-friendly timer features:

• Large, colorful display: Easy to read from across the kitchen
• Fun alarm sounds: Choose from multiple alert tones that kids enjoy
• Simple one-click presets: Kids can start the timer independently
• Visual countdown: Helps children understand the concept of time

Safety tips for cooking eggs with children:

• Adult supervision is required near the stove
• Let kids handle the timer while adults handle the hot water
• Use the "cold water start" method to reduce splash risk
• Teach kids to never touch the pot or boiling water

Egg cooking is perfect for introducing children to kitchen basics because results are quick and visible. Use our classroom timer for cooking lessons with multiple kids, or check out our cooking timer for more kitchen activities.