BS: The three-minute egg

Subject: BS: The three-minute egg
From: michaelr
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 07:20 PM

This subject came up in another thread, but I think it deserves its own discussion.

When I was a kid, putting an egg into boiling water for three minutes yielded a perfect soft-boiled egg: firm white and runny yolk. That doesn't work anymore. I find I have to boil the little darlings for 5 1/2 to 6 minutes to get the whites to firm up. And I live at sea level.

What is going on here?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 07:22 PM

The eggs are bigger. You got an ostrich now. You used to have a chicken (hen).

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 07:26 PM

BTW--this is further proof that time is speeding up. SEE?!

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: michaelr
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 07:33 PM

Nope, chicken eggs are still the same size they ever were. Has to be a better explanation.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Cluin
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 07:37 PM

Our minutes aren't as potent as they used to be.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 07:39 PM

Are the ones you use today taken straight from the fridge? Maybe in the 'old' days they'd been brought to room temperature.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Bert
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 07:58 PM

It's all those antibiotics they are feeding the chickens.

Seriously, I think Peace has the right answer.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 08:13 PM

OK, michaelr. I have been guessing, and I suspect so have other people here. I have found a site that will simplify this whole thing.
Site that will simplify this whole thing. It makes the process really clear. Really.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 08:18 PM

Global Warming. Don't ask me how Global Warming's responsible. I just figured that since a whole lotta people seem to blame everything else on Global Warming I'd be the first to blame it for three-minute eggs that take five minutes.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 08:18 PM

WARNING regarding that site:

"Accuracy

The model of an egg used to derive the above formula involves several approximations. For a more accurate treatment one would need to note that the thermal properties of the white, yolk and shell are all different, and treat the egg as three concentric, ellipsoids with Dirichlet boundary-conditions at the water-shell interface and Neuman boundary-conditions for the shell-white and white-yolk parts. Changes in its thermal properties when the white changes state from sol to gel, and the latent heat associated with this change would also need to be accounted for."

Just so you know that it all might be off by a bit. Second or two anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 08:20 PM

"Global Warming. Don't ask me how Global Warming's responsible. I just figured that since a whole lotta people seem to blame everything else on Global Warming I'd be the first to blame it for three-minute eggs that take five minutes."

Ridiculous, ABSURD.

michaelr, do you lower the egg into the water with a spatula? If so, what KIND of spatula?

Glad you showed up BWL. This could be the beginning of the end regarding that egg.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 09:15 PM

Okay, Brucie, here's how Global Warming is responsible for three-minute eggs that take five minutes:

Michaelr says he lives at sea-level. But, everyone says that, due to Global Warming, the level of the sea is rising. That ol' sea-level ain't what it useta be. That means michaelr doesn't live at sea-level anymore, but lives below sea-level. So, since michaelr's stove is underwater, it takes him two minutes longer to light it. Simple, huh?

And the proper spatula to use for immersing eggs is not a spatula at all, but a female spoon.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 09:16 PM

Oh. Does the spoon have bumps on the handle?

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 09:25 PM

Michael ~ have you checked the sand in your 3 minute hourglass timer lately?          Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Metchosin
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 09:27 PM

No, but if you tur it sideways it looks pregnant.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 09:27 PM

THAT'S the problem then. Sand in the timer. That would slow anything down.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 09:33 PM

Nope. A male spoon is just a regular large spoon. A female spoon is the same thing, but with holes in it.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Metchosin
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 09:39 PM

Aha! Thanks for that useful bit of information.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 09:44 PM

No bumps then. Gotcha.

Female spoon.

Male spoons.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: michaelr
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 09:53 PM

You guys! This is a serious question which has had me baffled for years, and you rattle on about female spoons, global warming and hourglasses.

I'll have you know that I use a state-of-the-art digital timer wich is synchronized with the atomic master clock in, er, wherever they keep the atomic master clock. And I lower the eggs into the water with a gender-neutral spoon.

I read the scientific article linked to above. Very interesting, but fails to clear up the mystery. Quote: "According to this formula, a medium egg (M~57 g) straight from the fridge (Tegg=4°C) takes four and a half minutes to cook, but the same egg would take three and a half minutes if it had been stored at room temperature (Tegg=21°C). If all the eggs are stored in the fridge, then a small (size 6, 47 g) egg will require four minutes to cook, and a large egg (size 2, 67 g) will take five minutes."

What they're saying is that a three-minute egg would be undercooked NO MATTER WHAT, and a large egg would be cooked in five minutes. This does not square with my independently observed, unbiased objective experience.

More research is needed.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 09:57 PM

LOLOL

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 10:07 PM

"The Method

Firstly, boil enough water in the kettle to cover the egg. While the water is heating up, prepare the rest of the breakfast.

If you are removing the egg straight from the fridge, them prick the rounded end of the egg with a pin. This prevents the egg from cracking when put into the water.

When the water has boiled, pour the required quantity into the pan. Turn on the heat, and wait until the water boils furiously. Now you put your egg into the water, taking care not to burn your fingers. Try not to drop the egg in, as the shell will crack, causing the egg white to spill everywhere in the pan. You can use a slotted spoon if you don't want to get too close to the boiling water.

At this point it might be useful to ask the person who is having breakfast with you, or yourself, 'how you would like your egg?' (which is incidentally also a common chat-up line, used by the unoriginal to the unattainable). There will be a number of responses, but the most common answers deal with how long (approximately) the egg should be boiled for. TIMING SHOULD START WHEN THE WATER COMES BACK TO THE BOIL AFTER YOU PUT THE EGG IN." (Emphasis added.)

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peter T.
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 10:15 PM

As I said on the other thread, one problem is that the egg continues to cook after you take it out of the water. A three minute egg is probably about three minutes 20 depending on how close you are to the table. My mum used to dowse the thing in cold water to stop the cooking (I have no idea if it worked)! It was something she had learned from the family cook when she was a gel.   The important thing I think is to time the perfect egg (what is to you the perfect egg) and then that is your 3 minutes, however long it takes.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Dave Swan
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 10:25 PM

Ahhh, the Eastern trained mind at work. Your three minutes and mine are not necessarily the same, but they are both three minutes. Is that what you're saying?

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: bobad
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 10:35 PM

There is a mathematical formula here http://newton.ex.ac.uk/teaching/CDHW/egg/#formula that simplifies the process.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 11:06 PM

If you are at all like me you are more apt to cook eggs on mornings when the weather is cloudy and rainy. If the sun is out who wants to waste time cooking eggs and fixing a hardy breakfast. We usually assume that water boils at 212 deg. F however unless the temperature is actually measured there can be some variance. Barometric pressure as well as altitude have an effect on the boiling point of water. Low pressure will lower the temperature at which water will boil. Try your three minute egg on a clear sunny day and see if that helps.
Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: heric
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 11:17 PM

It was well established by Don Firth in the other thread that this is an unexpected consequence of the Coriolis Effect. Thusly.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 02:25 AM

Ah! - by 'female spoon' you really meant...







wait for it..








no - wait for it...








really - wait for it....






A HOLY SPOON!

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 05:25 AM

I think I heard Delia Smith recommending putting the egg(s) into cold water, bringing to the boil, so that the egg and water heat up at the same rate, and then simmering for one minute.
This could be an environmentally sound method if it uses less fuel overall - especially if you then use the water to make coffee.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Dave Earl
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 05:58 AM

My Granny taught me to boil eggs (I taught her how to succk 'em)

Put 'em in cold water (not quite covering the egg) bring to the boil and boil for 3 minutes.

Produces eggs the way I like 'em.


Dave

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 07:42 AM

No applause - again!

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 08:39 AM

Peace - that woman spoon you showed us is really a wine strainer, used when decanting wine. Womanly spoons have bigger holes.

Put egg in pan of cold water, put pan on stove. Bring water to boil. Boil for as long as takes to play Mozarts' "Dies Irae" on the CD. Take pan off the heat, drain and immediately run cold water into pan, over egg. This will drasticallly reduce the external temperature and stop the majority of the cooking. Serve immediately.

I was always told that eggy water would give you warts so you should never use it to make tea or coffee with.... or boil your eggs in the kettle. Besides, it makes the coffee taste funny.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 09:56 AM

As with "sunny-side-up" eggs, I question why anyone would want a three-minute soft-boiled egg. Yuck! Eggs whether fried, scrambled boiled, baked, broiled, or barbecued, should be cooked, cooked, cooked until all that nasty runny stuff is beaten into submission and all traces of the yolk's original liquid state have disappeared.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 10:05 AM

"Peace - that woman spoon you showed us is really a wine strainer, used when decanting wine."

I, my good lady, am a muscatel drinker.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 10:19 AM

Oops, sorry Peace it seems I've linked to the same site as you, guess I should check the prior posts to avoid doing that.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: MMario
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 10:20 AM

bee-dubya - you are a provincial heathen. dry egg yolks are evil, evil, evil. An egg yolk should be moist, barely solid; and best when still "fluid" enough to deform under it's own weight.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 10:21 AM

bobad, great minds . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: bobad
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 10:23 AM

Peace you are needed here

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 11:33 AM

The water that has had eggs boiled in it will have absorbed some calcium from the shells. It is therefore 'calcium-enriched', and therefore 'good for you'. They charge extra for bottled water with extra calcium added don't they?

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 11:41 AM

Jaysus, Topsie, do you know where that egg came from?

bobad--I opened that thread earlier and got a chuckle. I KNEW it would eventually attract someone who would bring it to my attention--although I don't know why I a thought that. lol

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: bobad
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 11:43 AM

"Jaysus, Topsie do you know where that egg came from?"

I had the same thought.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 11:47 AM

So windy here, why yesterday I saw a chicken lay the same egg twice.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peter T.
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 12:38 PM

I always thought the only reason to start the egg in cold water and then boil it was to keep it from cracking -- the pin in the egg bum does the same.

I personally think that a four minute egg is better. You need to have a certain amount of liquidity in the yolk, but you want the white firmish and not runny (I agree, yuck yolk). The liquidity in the yolk is so that you can stick your cut pieces of toast in. If you can't do that, the whole boiled egg exercise is pointless -- might as well hard boil them and put them in your lunchbox.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 12:26 PM

Capt,. Bob, I think you mean Hearty Breakfast.

Seamus

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: gnu
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 02:13 PM

My apologies if this has been mentioned above as I did not read the entire thread.

Regarding Peace's post :

***************************************************************
Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace - PM
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 08:13 PM

OK, michaelr. I have been guessing, and I suspect so have other people here. I have found a site that will simplify this whole thing.
Site that will simplify this whole thing (see clicky in Peace's post). It makes the process really clear. Really.
***************************************************************

The use of the result of the derivation is precluded because the boundary condition set with respect to the initial temperature of the water in the pan (indeed, the use of a pan shows that the analysis was done by a geek that never learned to boil an egg properly) is impractical. Even if the egg is at room temperature, when placed in boiling water the shell will usually crack, resulting in a messy pot.

I would suggest that the analysis would be much better served (pun intended) if T-delta were incorporated as a boundary condition, where T-delta = T-egg minus T-water, and such condition set at less than 30 degrees Celsius. Given such a condition, the initial warming, being gradual and mutual, of the egg and water, reduces shell cracking propensity. While T-egg and T-water may vary up to thirty degrees Celsius, I postulate that the result of the revised derivation, given the gradual and mutual warming of the egg and water, will be valid and that T-delta may be considered insignificant and, therefore, ignored.

In other words, if you are putting your eggs in boiling water, you should learn how to cook.

It takes three minutes to boil an egg this way. Extra large take four minutes and fifteen seconds. Jumbo eggs? Scramble them.

You're welcome.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: annamill
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 04:16 PM

No ones mentioned the fire he uses. Maybe his fire is not as hot as it used to be.

Well..its a possibility!!

Love, Annamill

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: lady penelope
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 05:42 PM

AAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 06:29 PM

He's getting tooo old!
He's getting tooo old!
He's getting too old to cut the mustard anymore!

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 08:36 PM

I recently placed 2 room temperature eggs into cold water and then brought them to the boil. I then let them boil for 5 minutes as I wanted hard-boiled eggs. When removing the shells and cutting into the eggs I was surprised to find that the yokes were still runny. Needless to say I wasn't very pleased and wished I had a dog to kick but not to be. My theory is that living in a hard water area means that the shells have become coated in calcium deposits during boiling thus reducing the heat transfer quite markedly. Efficiency has been compromised and my fuel bill has increased due entirely to living in East Yorkshire. My theory is that buying hard-boiled eggs off Ebay might be the solution. But at what price?

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 08:38 PM

True, HPB. And the poor Chinese with Thousand-Year-Old Eggs. Just picture the fuel bill on THAT!

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 09:31 PM

3 Minute eggs work for me---just right consistency. Love them that way---sop up that yokk with a muffin---just great.

Now, has anyone heard the great song on the subject by Modern Man? A gret send - up of Springsteen's BOrn To Run---seems that in NJ it is illegal to serve runny eggs in a restaurant----the gist of the song you can imagine and a great stylistic muscical take-off on Bruce---These eggs are meant to run.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 23 Nov 05 - 12:29 PM

Well, well. Forgot to add that I've recently moved house, moving north by approximately 8 miles. Also having always cooked on a gas hob I'm now having to cope with electric. These changes will have to be added into the equation should anyone out there have the time and money to submit one to solve this problem.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: gnu
Date: 23 Nov 05 - 09:33 PM

Ah... gas... electric... ah... boiling for five minutes does not hard-boil. Hmmmm.

I am just taking a shot in the dark here, but, ah, perhaps boiling your eggs longer would yield hard-boiled eggs? Gas or electric.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 06:38 AM

You're missing the point gnu. 5 minutes used to be spot on for a hard boiled egg but now it's taking longer. Maybe it's a reverse effect of global warming or maybe an excess number of asylum seekers? Who knows? There are,of course, many ways to crack a nut but in this case something's changing the laws of physics. PS., Morrisons sell some really nice honey roasted cashew nuts.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: gnu
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 08:29 AM

Gee... I always boiled them for eight to ten minutes, depending on size (large or extra large). I cooked large eggs 4 minutes starting with cold water last night and they were perfect soft-boiled eggs.

Must be something in the feed.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: GUEST,Ivor
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 09:12 AM

Just want to say thanks for this wonderful - er - whatever you call it,that I've just read through. So entertaining and the best laugh I've had for yonks. As well as informative. (Oh-0h. He's a newcomer)

It's no use saying "They taste best like this". Taste is (say this in a stage whisper) 'a matter of taste'. If somebody likes eggs runny, as Jackie Mason would say, well that's their problem.

Hasn't anyone been keeping careful records over the years of how long they boil their whatchmcallits for ?!?

Best wishes

Ivor       P.S.I s'pose i'll have to make this thing a favourite.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 10:22 AM

Poach 'em. Then you can SEE when they're done.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: bobad
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 10:37 AM

Mama don't allow no poaching around here.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 10:55 AM

Dang.

Eat 'em raw.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 12:00 PM

I've just bought some duck eggs in my local shop. How long do they take to cook?

[Peace and Bobad - If I was as squeamish as you two, I wouldn't be eating eggs at all.]

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 07:47 PM

"Hasn't anyone been keeping careful records over the years of how long they boil their whatchmcallits for ?!?"

I don't like to boil my 'whatchmcallits' - I find that warm water and soap cleanses them adequately.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 08:58 PM

Years ago I was working as a cook at the YMCA camp in Estes Park...I learnd to cook in southren Kansas. Had a man from NYC ask for a 3 minuite egg...took me 20 minutes to explain to him that I had NO idea how long to cook a '3 min egg' at that altitude....not sure he ever did ger it. Settled for 'over medium'.

Where we live, to get 'hard boiled egg's they have to be in the simmering water for at least 12 mins

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 09:02 PM

"[Peace and Bobad - If I was as squeamish as you two, I wouldn't be eating eggs at all.]"

Squeamish? Gawd, topsie, I sucks 'em straight out the hen's arse. Eat 'em shells and all. Bobad isn't quite as cultured as me. He just eats the whole damn hen. Looks funny with all those feathers stickin' out his mouth, but he's eastern Canadian and we expect that from them. Out west here, we got class.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: bobad
Date: 24 Nov 05 - 10:11 PM

Digital Tradition Mirror
Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog

Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog
(Jack H. Clement)

Well, he's not very handsome to look at
Aw! he's shaggy and eats like a hog
And he's always killin' my chickens
That dirty Egg-Suckin' Dog.

Egg-Suckin' Dog
I'm gonna stomp your head in the ground
If you don't stay out of my hen house
You dirty Egg-Suckin' hound.

Now if he don't stop eatin' my eggs up
Though I'm not a real bad guy
I'm goin' to get my rifle and send him
To that great chicken house in the sky.

Egg-Suckin' Dog
You're always a-hangin around
But you'd better stay out of my hen house
You dirty Egg-Suckin' Dog hound.

Recorded by Johnny Cash
Copyright Jack H. Clement
GG
oct97

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 01:44 AM

Inside of a three-minute egg.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: Peace
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 01:46 AM

OK, so it's not a REAL egg, but if it was, that's what it would look like inside after three minutes IMO.

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: gnu
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 06:25 AM

Ah, is that an Omega-3 egg? Siriusly?

Subject: RE: BS: The three-minute egg
From: NH Dave
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 05:14 PM

I've always cooked eggs in the manner I learned from a commercial chef. Place the egg(s) in enough cold water to cover. Bring the temperature in the pan to a boil. Remove the pan and eggs from the heat and let stand for five minutes. Remove eggs from pan, place under tap, and run cold water over them. This stops further cooking, and makes the egg easier to remove from the shell.

Adjust the amount of time you leave the eggs in the hot water until you get the yolk to the degree of runnyness you want.

Dave