Lynne Rossetto Kasper Host of The Splendid Table
produced by Minnesota Public Radio and Tom Voegeli Productions,
distributed by Public Radio International
Boiling Eggs Q: Ruth from Queens wants to know how to boil eggs without having them crack.
LRK: Here's the trick -- don't BOIL the eggs, start them in warm tap water, slow cook them at a simmer
instead of a boil. Shells won't crack and the egg is tender. So, cover the eggs completely with warm tap
water. Cover the pan, put it over medium heat and set a timer for 15 minutes. Once the water gets to a
lively bubble, adjust the heat so it bubbles a little slower. When the timer goes off, you've got hard-boiled
eggs. Eat them hot or run cold water over them to stop the cooking and eat them cold later. Soft-boiled
eggs need only 11-12 minutes. Remember though, soft-boiled eggs could still have active salmonella
bacteria -- for safety sake, please eat them hard-boiled.