Boiled Egg

Go to Work on an Egg? Well if you are old enough to remember that slogan, you will also know that eggs have had a mixed press through the years. There was for a time fear about the cholesterol in eggs, but they definitely have the ‘all clear’ now and a boiled egg is an excellent, healthy breakfast.
A hard boiled egg can also be an excellent addition to a picnic or packed lunch or as a sandwich filling.

Satisfying, easy to prepare, delicious and healthy. This is nature’s fast and pre packaged food at its best! Great start to the day!

The cholesterol in one egg a day, is now no longer considered to have any ill effects.

It is the cholesterol in saturated fats which causes the real danger. Of course if you are in any doubt you can consult or GP or a dietician. High in protein and vitamins, they do give you a full feeling and an egg cooked ‘just right’ is a delicious and easy way to start the day.

However, in spite of the egg often being used as a symbol of the easiest thing to cook,(as in ‘I don’t even know how to boil an egg’ – meaning ‘I can’t cook anything at all’), some people shy away from the task, afraid of failure. It can seem a little tricky, not being able to see inside to see if it is done enough – and of course once it is cracked open – it is too late to change!

It is always a disappointment to open your egg and find there is still gloopy, transparent stuff where the more solid white of the egg should be!
Well happily there are a few ways that you can ensure and egg is perfectly cooked – and actually it is really is easy – once you know how.

But first – A few notes on eggs:-

1. There is no difference between brown eggs and white eggs, in nutrition, taste or anything else
2. The Best Before Date represents a maximum of 28 days after the egg has been laid. It is wiser not to consume an egg after this date.
3. A freshly laid egg will lie horizontally in a glass of water. The more upright it sits, the older it is. This is because the air pocket in the egg gets bigger gradually after it has been laid. If an egg floats, it is likely to be bad.
4. Current advice is that eggs should be stored in the fridge to keep them fresher longer and to reduce the risk of any salmonella growing.
5. Eggs are best stored in an egg box as the shell is porous and can absorp flavours and odours from other items in the fridge.

This method of boiling an egg, as advised by Delia Smith, also minimises energy useage. This method can be used whether you require a soft boiled or hard boiled egg.

I always use free range eggs. These can be bought are much cheaper in local farmers markets and local shops and suppliers than in the supermarkets, so do shop around!

You will need:-
Free Range Eggs – 1 or 2 per person
Saucepan large enough for eggs to be covered with water

This is adapted from Delia Smith’s advice in Delia’s Complete How To Cook: Both a guide for beginners and a tried & tested recipe collection for life

• Put the egg(s) in the pan and cover with cold water
• Bring to the boil and simmer for one minute
• Turn off the heat and leave in the pan for six minutes.
• For a hard boiled egg leave for 10-12 minutes
• Serve immediately with bread or toast
• Season with black pepper and salt to taste

This method must save around 70% of the energy of leaving the heat switched on the whole time and you are less likely to over boil the egg. It is however very important to time the egg, even ideally with a stopwatch – if you have a mobile phone, there is probably a timer or stopwatch facility on there.

And while you are waiting for your egg to cook, you might enjoy seeing Tony Hancock in an original TV ‘Got To Work On An Egg Ad’. Isn’t it a shame that adverts aren’t that simple any longer!

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