Perfectly cooked Jammy Eggs can be yours in just 7 minutes! Whether you're topping avocado toast, adding them to grain bowls, or using them in egg salad, jammy eggs are an easy way to make every dish feel special. Learn how to make soft-boiled eggs with jammy yolks every single time.
How do you like your eggs? We all have our own preferences, but for me, Jammy Eggs are the absolute way to go in almost all scenarios. What's a "jammy" egg, you ask? It's simply an egg that has been boiled just enough that the egg whites are set, and the yolks have a jam-like consistency. Almost runny, but not quite.
You might not think you need a guide for creating the perfect jammy egg, but it takes a lot of trial and error to know how long to cook the eggs and how to stop them from continuing to cook after they're done boiling. Cook them for too little time and you'll end up with runny yolks (and potentially runny egg whites). Cook them for too long and you'll have a hard-boiled egg. (And while I love hard-boiled eggs too, trust me when I say it's so disheartening when you peel open what you think is a jammy egg masterpiece only to see that light yellow flakey center!)
The key to making perfect jammy eggs is paying VERY close attention to your cooking time and ensuring that you immediately transfer the eggs to an ice bath post-boil. Boiling the eggs for exactly 7 minutes gives them just the right consistency, and plunging them into immediately into a bowl of ice water, stops the cooking process instantly. This ensures that the egg whites are firm enough to hold their shape while the yolks remain creamy and runny, giving you that ideal jammy texture.
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Key Ingredients
No surprise here - your main ingredients are going to be the eggs. You'll also need just a few other "ingredients" to make these perfect jammy eggs:
- Eggs. You can use whatever type of egg you like - white, brown, organic, cage-free - it makes no difference. They'll all boil the exact same way.
- A large pot of water. You'll want to fill your pot with enough water to fully submerge the eggs in a gentle boil.
- Ice bath. This is important!! The ice bath helps stop the cooking to ensure that your egg yolks stay nice and jammy. It also makes peeling much easier. (I use an ice bath every time I make boiled eggs for these reasons!)
- Salt & pepper. Totally optional, but some flaky sea salt and black pepper enhance the flavor if you're serving on the eggs on their own. Feel free to omit if you're making these eggs to use in a different recipe.
How To Make Perfect Jammy Eggs in Just 7 Minutes
After testing this method with multiple cooking times, I truly think the best way to make a perfect soft-boiled egg is by using the below method. These 7-minute eggs aren't difficult - you'll just need to watch your time carefully to avoid over or under-cooking the eggs. Here's what to do:
- Prepare the water. You'll want to start by bringing a large pot of water to a raging boil over medium-high heat. Make sure there’s enough water to cover the eggs by at least an inch. Some recipes call for adding the eggs to the cold water and then bringing them to a boil, but that method makes it much harder to know how long your eggs have actually been boiling and you run the risk of overcooking them. Don't add your eggs until your water is rapidly boiling.
- Cook the eggs. Once your water is boiling, use a large slotted spoon to gently lower the eggs into the already-boiling water. Set a timer for exactly 7 minutes and stick close by to make sure you're ready to remove the eggs from the hot water once the timer dings. The eggs will develop set whites and a jammy yolk.
- Prepare the ice bath. While the eggs are boiling, fill a large bowl with ⅔ ice, and top the ice with cold water. The ice bath stops the eggs from continuing to cook and helps achieve the beloved jam-like yolk. (It also makes the eggs a lot easier to peel!)
- Transfer the eggs to the ice bath. Once the timer goes off, use the slotted spoon to carefully transfer the cooked eggs to the ice bath. Let them sit in the cold water for at least 5 minutes.
- Peel the eggs. After chilling, gently tap the eggs on a hard surface and peel under warm water to remove the shell easily. Tip: Try cracking the egg along the air pocket between the shell and egg white for easier peeling. Be careful when peeling the eggs. The centers will be fairly soft and it's easy for your egg to fall apart upon peeling if you're too aggressive or trying to move too quickly.
- Serve. The best part! Slice the eggs in half, and season with flaky sea salt, black pepper, or bagel seasoning. Serve immediately for the best jammy consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make a big batch of jammy eggs using a large saucepan or medium pot. Make sure the water remains at a full boil and transfer the eggs to the ice bath immediately to stop the cooking process.
The ice bath is essential because it stops the cooking process immediately. By transferring the eggs to a bowl of ice water, the rapid cooling ensures the egg whites stay firm while the yolks remain soft and jammy. It also helps make peeling the soft eggs easier by creating a gap between the shell and the egg white. Skipping the ice bath could result in overcooked yolks or harder-to-peel eggs.
You can store peeled or unpeeled jammy eggs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They’re great for meal prepping and can be added to salads, grain bowls, or breakfast tacos throughout the week.
Jammy eggs have a creamy yolk with a softer texture, while hard-boiled eggs have fully solid yolks. For hard-boiled eggs, increase the cooking time to 10-12 minutes. (And, see my guide for making perfect hard-boiled eggs in the instant pot!)
Yes, but egg size may affect the cooking time. For smaller eggs, reduce the time by 30 seconds. For larger eggs, increase the cooking time by 30-60 seconds to achieve the perfect yolk.
How To Serve Jammy Eggs
Jammy eggs are incredibly versatile. Of course, you can easily make a simple breakfast by pairing them up with this oven-baked bacon, and these air fryer breakfast potatoes. But, I love adding them to all sorts of dishes. Here are a few different ways to use them:
- Avocado toast. Top with jammy eggs, a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or sesame seeds.
- Salad topping. Add them to your favorite greens or grain bowls or sushi bowls for extra protein and richness.
- Ramen. I love a good ramen, and jammy eggs are the perfect addition.
- Egg salad. Use jammy eggs to create a creamier egg salad with a bit of lemon juice, soy sauce, or sesame oil for added flavor.
- Sweet potatoes. Do you ever top your roasted potatoes with eggs? It’s a great addition that adds tons of texture and flavor. I love adding a soft-boiled egg to a roasted sweet potato.
- Breakfast tacos. Wrap your jammy eggs in a tortilla with your favorite toppings for a quick and delicious breakfast taco.
- Breakfast charcuterie board. Want an easy way to serve brunch to a crowd? I love throwing together a breakfast charcuterie board, with jammy eggs as the star!
- Add to a breakfast pizza. This smoked salmon pizza with jammy eggs makes a beautiful meal!
If you make this Jammy Eggs Recipe, let me know what you think (and your favorite way to use these delicious eggs) in the comments below. And don't forget to tag me @frontrangefed on Instagram with a pic so I can see your masterpiece!
More Easy Egg Dishes
- 5-Ingredient Chicken Hash Brown Casserole
- Steak Egg And Cheese Bagels
- Pancake Tacos
- Waffle Breakfast Sandwich
- Easy Quiche Florentine
- Huevos Con Chorizo
- Breakfast Flatbread
- Egg Muffins - 3 Ways!
- Perfect Soft And Creamy Scrambled Eggs
Recipe
Perfect Jammy Eggs (Soft-Boiled) In 7 Minutes
Ingredients
- 8 large eggs
- 1 large pot of water
- 1 large ice bath (see instructions below)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large saucepan of water to a rapid boil. Carefully add the eggs to the boiling water.
- While the eggs are boiling, prepare your ice bath. Fill a large bowl with ⅔ ice, and cover it with cold tap water. Set aside.
- Set your timer for 7 minutes. At the 7-minute mark exactly, carefully remove the eggs one by one with a slotted spoon. Transfer each egg immediately to the ice bath and allow the eggs to sit in the ice bath for about 5 minutes.
- Carefully, under running water, peel each egg.
- Slice the peeled eggs in half and sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper (if desired).
Notes
- Be sure to remove the eggs immediately at the 7-minute mark and place directly into the ice bath.
- Peel the eggs carefully, as the centers will still be soft. I like to peel my eggs under running water to make the peeling process easier.
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