Boiled egg

What is Boiled egg?

A boiled egg is an egg, most often from a chicken, cooked whole in its shell. The egg can be boiled until the white and yolk are both firm (hard-boiled), or left with a runny yolk (soft-boiled). The texture and flavor change with the cooking time: soft-boiled eggs have a creamy yolk and tender white, while hard-boiled eggs are firm throughout. Boiled eggs can be eaten on their own, sliced into salads, or used in other dishes. They are simple in appearance: smooth, oval, and white or brown, with a yellow yolk inside.

Where does Boiled egg come from?

Eggs have been eaten since chickens were first domesticated. Recipes using boiled eggs date back to ancient times, including the Roman cookbook De re coquinaria, which mentions preserved boiled eggs. The practice of boiling eggs is widespread, and methods have been described in various cultures. Alexander Pope once gave advice on cooking eggs over embers, showing that different techniques have long existed.

How is Boiled egg made?

To make a boiled egg, an egg is placed in boiling water, steamed, or sometimes coddled (cooked below boiling). Cooking time determines whether the yolk is runny or firm. For hard-boiled eggs, the egg is cooked until both white and yolk are solid. For soft-boiled eggs, the yolk remains liquid or partially set. Eggs can also be baked or cooked sous vide for different textures. After boiling, eggs may be cooled in water to stop cooking and make peeling easier.

How and when is Boiled egg eaten?

Boiled eggs are eaten in many ways and at different meals, especially breakfast. Hard-boiled eggs can be eaten warm or cold, sliced for sandwiches or salads, or made into dishes like egg salad or deviled eggs. Soft-boiled eggs are often served in an egg cup, eaten with a spoon, or with strips of toast for dipping. In Southeast Asia, soft-boiled eggs are cracked into a bowl and seasoned with soy sauce and pepper. In weddings in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, decorated boiled eggs are given as gifts.

Kinds of Boiled egg

There are many ways to cook and serve boiled eggs. Hard-boiled eggs can be sliced, molded into long shapes, or used in salads and pies. Soft-boiled eggs vary by region: in Japan, they may be marinated for ramen, or cooked at hot spring temperatures for a unique texture. In Southeast Asia, half-boiled eggs are served with soy sauce. Other variations include salted eggs in China and braised eggs in Jewish cuisine. The method and degree of cooking, as well as added seasonings, create a wide range of boiled egg experiences.

What Boiled egg means

Boiled eggs are part of daily meals and special occasions. In Jewish tradition, braised eggs called haminados are served on the Sabbath. In Malay weddings, decorated boiled eggs symbolize fertility and are given to guests. Boiled eggs also appear in many international dishes, from ramen in Japan to pies in Europe. The egg timer, a common kitchen tool, was named for timing boiled eggs. Boiled eggs are simple but have a place in many customs and cuisines.

Questions people ask about Boiled egg

Good reading and sources

• How to boil an egg, the Heston Blumenthal wayThe Guardian, Article
• Giant Green Pie (Torta Pasqualina)The New York Times, Recipe
• Chicken Relleno: A Philippine TraditionLos Angeles Times, Article

• Boiled egg on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data