An egg timer is one of the most common reasons people search for a timer. Choose the doneness you want, press Start, and leave the screen on while you get on with breakfast.
How to use this egg timer
- Choose a preset above: 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 minutes.
- Follow your preferred method. The British Lion Eggs method covers the egg with at least 2.5 cm of cold water, heats it until nearly boiling, gently stirs, and starts timing then. It also notes that opinion has moved towards boiling the water first. Pick the method that gives you results you like and stick to it, so your timings are consistent.
- Press Start at the moment your method says to start timing.
- When the alarm rings, lift the egg out with a slotted spoon. For hard-boiled eggs, put them in cold water; British Lion Eggs say this makes them easier to peel.
This page is set to Repeat the alarm and uses the bell sound, so it keeps ringing until you press a button. Press Test sound before you start, so you know it is loud enough from the next room.
Why your egg might not match the table
- Size. Smaller eggs cook faster than large, and extra-large take longer.
- Starting temperature. An egg straight from the fridge takes longer than one that has been sitting out. British Lion Eggs notes that the fridge, egg size and even the pan all affect the time.
- Pan and water amount. A larger pan with more water recovers temperature faster when you add eggs.
- Altitude. Water boils at a lower temperature at altitude, so eggs usually need longer.
- Your taste. The best way to calibrate is to boil one egg and adjust by a minute either way next time.
Food safety: follow the safe-handling advice for eggs in your country, particularly for children, older people, pregnant women and anyone with a weakened immune system. Cooking guidance varies, so check the advice for your region.
Other kitchen timers
For other times, the 3 minute, 5 minute and 10 minute timers work in the same way. If you need a lot of timers, open this page in a second tab. You can run more than one at once, in separate tabs.
Boiled egg times
| Time | Result for a large egg | Start timer |
|---|---|---|
| 3 minutes | Very soft yolk, set white | 3 min |
| 4 minutes | Slightly set yolk, set white | 4 min |
| 5 minutes | Medium: firmer yolk and white | 5 min |
| 6 minutes | Hard-boiled with a slightly soft yolk | 6 min |
| 8 minutes | Firmly hard-boiled | 8 min |
These times are the ones published by British Lion Eggs for large eggs, with the egg cooked from when the water is nearly boiling. They are a good starting point, not a guarantee.