Boiled eggs are a very nutritious and simple breakfast in daily life. Many families cook them at home, but boiling eggs is a skill that requires attention to many details. For example, should you use boiling water or cold water to boil eggs?
Should you use boiling water or cold water to boil eggs?
Eggs can be boiled in either boiling or cold water; both methods work and each has its own advantages. You can choose based on your specific situation in daily life.
Advantages and disadvantages of boiling eggs in boiling water
Boiling eggs in boiling water means placing the eggs directly into already boiling water.
Advantages: This method heats the eggs quickly, and they are fully cooked in a short time. It's time-efficient, usually taking only about 5 minutes.
Disadvantages: Due to the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, the eggs may crack. A cracked egg might also result in a poor texture for the egg white.
How to compensate for the disadvantages: Because the eggs heat up quickly, almost all of them will crack when boiled in boiling water. However, if you use a steel needle to poke a few small holes in the eggshell before placing it in the boiling water, ensuring the egg white doesn't leak out, most of the eggs will not crack. Alternatively, you can soak the eggs in cold water first before boiling them in hot water. This way, the eggshells won't crack, and the eggs will also be easier to peel.
Advantages and disadvantages of boiling eggs in cold water
Boiling eggs in cold water is similar to the principle of "boiling a frog in warm water." The egg's temperature increases slowly in the cold water, starting to solidify from the outside to the inside until it is fully cooked.
Advantages: The advantage of boiling eggs in cold water is that the eggs are less likely to crack, and the doneness is more uniform.
Disadvantages: It is more time-consuming. Boiling eggs in boiling water usually takes about 5 minutes, while boiling in cold water takes about 15 minutes.
How to compensate for the disadvantages: You can only try to increase the heat as much as possible during the cooking process to compensate.
Conclusion
In summary, whether you choose to boil eggs in boiling water or cold water in daily life depends on your personal preference. If you are in a hurry, it is recommended to use boiling water. However, to prevent cracking and make peeling easier, it is best to soak the eggs in cold water for a while first. If you are not in a hurry, boiling eggs in cold water is also a good option, as it results in more uniform doneness and prevents the shells from cracking.