He answered the question of eternal concern: how to cook eggs.

Brigita Baratinskaitė, a food production expert at retail chain Maxima, admits that there is no unanimous and correct answer on how long it takes to cook an egg. Both seasoned housewives and restaurant chefs believe it is a matter of taste, according to the press release.

When boiling eggs, it is equally important that the shell does not crack. Therefore, before putting the eggs in boiling water, leave them at room temperature for a while. Otherwise, there is a sharp increase in the risk of the egg breaking due to the temperature difference in the pot. You will slightly reduce this risk if you reduce the heat before laying the eggs.

If you plan to eat hard-boiled eggs, it is best to choose eggs whose shell is brown and has a firmer texture. For the same purpose, it is worth adding salt or vinegar to the water.

Cooking time per song duration

“After putting the eggs in boiling water, it is generally recommended to cook them for at least 4 minutes. And those who appreciate the dry yolk can leave an egg in a boiling pot for at least 12 minutes. It is worth noting that if you did not follow the time, but after peeling and cutting the egg you find a green surface of the yolk, it is a sign that this time you worked excessively and overcooked the contents of the shell ”, says B. Baratinskaitė, expert in food production at Maxima.

With this in mind, it is possible to review the fundamental differences associated with standard boiling water. In order not to have to constantly work on the clock, B. Baratinskaitė offers to try playful practice and equate the desired cooking time with the duration of a popular song or several of them:

• 4 min. (The Beatles’ legendary work “Come Together” lasts 4 minutes 20 seconds) – during this time the protein hardens, but the yolk remains liquid. Eggs prepared this way are perfect for spreading on toast.

• 6 min. (Depeche Mode – Enjoy the Silence 1990 version of the single) – this cook time gives gourmets a runny but mushy yolk, which can be accompanied by an even more runny protein layer.

• 8 min. (Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” will suit old rock fans) – both hard-boiled eggs also fall into the soft-boiled category, but the edges of the yolk already have a harder consistency, which helps maintain a firm shape.

• 10 minutes. (this is roughly the length of the song “Blackstar” from David Bowie’s latest album) – Due to the mathematically appealing number of minutes, this cooking method is often recommended as a standard for hard-boiled eggs.

• 12 min. (You can hear the Queen’s song “Bohemian Rhapsody” twice): The consistency of the yolk becomes solid, like protein, but the taste remains light and far from smelling like a cooked egg. These eggs are commonly used in salads and other dishes where a sliced ​​egg is needed.

Other different ways to boil an egg

Throughout their long culinary history, chefs have devised many different methods to obtain what they call a perfectly boiled egg. For example, chef Heston Blumenthal advises placing the eggs in cold water, which barely eats eggs, and as soon as the water starts to boil, move the pot aside and leave it for 6 minutes.

“It is true that cooking simply, adding eggs to boiling water, has a clear advantage: at high temperatures, the protein membrane does not adhere as strongly to the shell wall, which makes it easier to peel the egg. still choose to start boiling the eggs in cold water, ice water will be used for a more successful peeling process, in which it is enough to immerse the hard-boiled eggs for 5 minutes ”, says B. Baratinskaitė.

Meanwhile, you will get the effect of a less elastic protein and a less loose yolk if you cook the eggs over a light heat. Intense and slow cooking can be combined: first immerse the eggs in boiling water and stir vigorously, and after half a minute reduce the heat and thus cook the eggs for the selected time.

“If you personally like or have fans of a creamier egg texture in your family, steaming is worth a try, which is not that complicated. All you need is a pot with a special insert for steaming or a small saucepan and a steel strainer suitable for its width, which you could hang over boiling water. Although this method gives the inside of the egg a silky smoothness, it will be a little more difficult to achieve due to the more complicated peeling process, ”shared the Maxima food production expert.

Cook without the shell

“And if you’re tired of caring for the shells and peeling them, or just want a luxurious homemade brunch with the popular Eggs Benedict, give her a chance to boil the eggs without the shells. This method of preparing eggs is a bit more complicated and requires minimal sharpness and adequate concentration, but the result is worth it, ”says B. Baratinskaitė.

According to her, shelled eggs are usually cooked for 2-3 minutes, unless reheating is planned; in this case, the cooking time should be shortened slightly.

When making this type of boiled egg, bring water to a boil in a large pot and minimize the heat. Next, place an egg in a separate metal container (or a baking pan or spoon). After doing this, add a teaspoon of apple or wine cider vinegar to the water and stir throughout the pot with a few swirling movements. Next, take a container with the liquid egg and slowly pour its contents into the water. After a few minutes, remove the cooked egg through a strainer and let it dry on kitchen paper.

According to B. Baratinskaitė, when preparing several or more shelled hard boiled eggs, it is important to maintain a fast pace and not let them cool down, because all the best properties of a shelled shelled egg are revealed while it is pleasantly warm.