Scientists have cracked the code for cooking the perfect boiled egg, a recipe that involves a unique method of steaming eggs to achieve a velvety yolk and soft white. The researchers cooked hundreds of eggs using math and a specialized technique called periodic cooking, which involves transferring eggs in a steamer basket every two minutes between two bowls of water – one boiling and the other lukewarm.
The key to success lies in heating the egg whites until they are fully set while keeping the yolk at a constant temperature. The resulting egg has a firm white and a creamy, spreadable yolk. This technique is slower than traditional hard-boiling, but the added texture and flavor could be worth the extra time.
According to Emilia Di Lorenzo, study author from the University of Naples Federico II, “You can almost spread it, like on bread.” The researchers tested their method with a panel of tasters and confirmed that it produces a distinct blend of textures on the tongue. With this new technique, home cooks may be able to achieve perfect boiled eggs without sacrificing quality, but soaring egg prices due to a bird flu outbreak may make it less accessible for now.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/how-to-cook-perfect-boiled-egg-eeefaa9bcccf668868c3758cd5dee3e6