Alton Brown Soft Boiled Eggs Recipes

HARD NOT-BOILED EGGS

Steps:

• Add an inch of water to a 3-to 4-quart saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Fill a large bowl with room temperature water and have it standing by near the cooktop.
• When the water reaches a boil, retrieve eggs from the refrigerator and place in a folding steamer basket. Carefully lower into the pot, cover, and steam for exactly 11 minutes for a set egg that still has a slightly creamy yolk. If you're looking for something harder, go for 12 to 13 minutes.
• Carefully remove the steamer basket and transfer the eggs to the bowl of water. Allow them to cool down just enough to handle comfortably, 30 seconds to 2 minutes max. Carefully crack the shell by tapping on a flat surface and peel under the water, being careful to remove both the shell and the membrane just underneath.
• Pat dry and consume whole while still warm. If you're planning to split in half for say, deviled eggs, cool thoroughly before slicing.

PERFECT POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• Heat the water: Add enough water to come 1 inch up the side of a narrow, deep 2-quart saucier. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 2 teaspoons white vinegar and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile, crack 1 very fresh cold large egg into a custard cup or small ramekin. Use the handle of a spatula or spoon to quickly stir the water in one direction until it's all smoothly spinning around.
• TIP: Use this whirlpool method when poaching a single serving (one or two eggs). For bigger batches, heat the water, salt and vinegar in a 12-inch nonstick skillet and do not stir.
• Add the egg: Carefully drop the egg into the center of the whirlpool. The swirling water will help prevent the white from "feathering," or spreading out in the pan.
• Let it poach: Turn off the heat, cover the pan and set your timer for 5 minutes. Don't peek, poke, stir or accost the egg in any way.
• Lift it out: Remove the egg with a slotted spoon and serve immediately. Alternatively, move the egg to an ice bath and refrigerate up to 8 hours. Reheat in warm water just before serving.

PERFECT SCRAMBLED EGGS

Steps:

• Whisk the eggs: Whisk 3 large eggs, 1 pinch of kosher salt, 1 grind of black pepper and 3 tablespoons whole milk together until light and foamy.
• TIP: Odds are you're going to be serving these on a plate. If so, I strongly suggest you park an ovensafe one in a low oven or in hot water while you're cooking. Cold plates suck the heat right out of food.
• Add to the pan: Add 1 tablespoon unsalted butter to a 10-to-12-inch nonstick skillet and put it over high heat. When the butter bubbles (after about a minute), pour the eggs straight into the middle of the pan, which will force the butter to the edges, where it's needed.
• Scramble the eggs: Stir slowly with a rubber or silicone spatula. As soon as curds (big soft lumps) of eggs begin to form, drop the heat to low and shift from stirring to folding the curds over on themselves while gently shaking the pan with the other hand.
• Let rest: As soon as no more liquidous egg is running around the pan, kill the heat and gently transfer the scramble to the warmed plate. Let the eggs rest for 1 minute to finish cooking before serving.

SOFT BOILED EGGS

Steps:

• Fill a medium sized saucepan with water and bring to a rolling boil.
• Make sure your eggs aren't fridge cold. By having the eggs at room temperature, it will be less of a shock for the egg reaching the hot water and therefore less likely to crack. You can also use an egg pricker to make a very small hole in each egg before boiling, which will also reduce the chances of it cracking in the heat. Slowly lower the eggs into the water using a spoon.
• Set your timer for 4-5 mins for runny/dippy eggs to serve with soldiers, or 6-7 mins for soft-boiled eggs for a salad. If serving in a salad, plunge the eggs into a bowl of cold water as soon as the timer goes off - this will stop them cooking and cool the shells quickly for peeling.