If you’ve ever had an egg cooked in water or another liquid, then you already have a basic understanding of how to make soft boiled eggs.
However, if you’re new to this method, it can be difficult to decide which type of pan works best with your particular air fryer.
While there isn’t one “best” solution, we’ll go over several different options here that will help you get started on successfully preparing these tasty treats.
How Do You Make Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs?
Soft-boiled eggs are typically made by cooking them in boiling water until they reach 145 degrees Fahrenheit (or 60 degrees Celsius).
At this point, they should remain submerged in the hot water for at least 10 minutes before being removed from heat and placed into cold running water to stop further cooking.
The result is soft-cooked eggs that are perfect for eating as soon as possible after preparation While you can certainly use other liquids besides water when preparing soft-boiled eggs, using water has some advantages.
First, it allows you to control how long the eggs take to cook without having to worry about overcooking them.
Second, it prevents any potential messiness associated with foodstuffs like milk or juice.
The downside to this approach, however, is that it doesn’t allow you to add any additional ingredients that might enhance the flavor of the eggs.
If you want to add herbs or spices to your soft-boiled eggs, you’d need to find another way to prepare them.
For those who don’t mind adding extra effort to their preparation process, though, there are plenty of ways to spice up your hard-boiled eggs.
You could simply cut out the middle man and skip the whole soft-boiling step altogether.
Or, you could turn to air frying instead.
Air frying also gives you more flexibility, since you can easily customize the amount of oil used to fry your eggs, allowing you to avoid the risk of burning them during cooking.
What Is The Best Air Fryer For Making Soft Boiled Eggs?
The best air fryer for soft boiled eggs depends on what you want out of this meal.
For instance, if you are cooking a large amount at once (like when you bake a dozen eggs), then you might need something bigger than most small models.
On the other hand, if you only need a few servings from time to time, then smaller models may work better.
It really just comes down to personal preference.
You also should know that many air fryers come with removable baskets for easy cleaning.
However, some units don’t include this feature, so check before buying.
How Long Do You Cook Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs For?
Soft-boiled eggs are traditionally prepared by cooking them in boiling water until they reach the desired doneness level – usually around 4 minutes for medium yolks (for white eggs).
However, because the air fryer cooks food faster than traditional methods, using a lower temperature also produces softer whites while maintaining a firm texture on the yolk.
For our example recipe below, I recommend starting with 1 minute of steaming time followed by 3 minutes at 350ºF / 175ºC.
You may need to adjust the timing as needed depending on your specific model of air fryer, but following the guidelines above should lead you toward success when trying out this method.
Step 1: Prepare your air fryer basket
- Remove any excess fat from your eggs.
- Place each egg into its own cup.
- Add the eggs to the air fryer basket before heating up your appliance.
Step 2: Heat your air fryer to 350° F / 175° C
- Open the lid of your air fryer, set it down on the countertop, and wait for 5 seconds.
- Close the lid again and let the air fryer heat up to 350° F / 175° C for 30 seconds.
- Set your timer to 1 minute and start counting down.
Step 3: Steam your eggs
- After 60 seconds, open the lid of your air fryer, remove the eggs from the basket, and place them back inside where they were previously placed.
- Wait 15 more seconds, close the lid, and turn off the power switch.
- Leave the eggs in the closed oven for 3 minutes.
- After 3 minutes, check the eggs carefully to ensure the shells aren’t cracked. Once ready, peel the eggs gently and enjoy!
What Temperature Do You Cook Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs At?
The first thing you need to consider is the temperature setting on your air fryer.
There are two main settings available – 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 Celsius) and 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 C).
You should use whichever one fits into your budget, but 350 F is generally recommended as the default choice unless you plan on making a large batch of eggs.
There are also other factors involved in determining what temperature to choose, such as whether you want to keep the yolk runny or not.
We recommend keeping the yolks runny so that they don’t overcook while cooking.
If you would like to add more flavor to your soft-boiled eggs, you might also consider adding some salt and pepper before cooking them.
Also, don’t forget about the fact that most air fryers come equipped with timers, which allows you to set the time required between each stage of boiling.
Tips for Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs
- Use fresh eggs every time you prepare the recipe. The longer the eggs sit, the harder they become.
- Don’t skip out on washing your hands after handling raw eggs.
- For best results, make sure all surfaces of your food processor/air fryer are clean.
- You can always experiment with your own recipes by changing up the ingredients listed above.
How Do You Know When Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs Are Done?
The answer depends on what kind of cooking vessel you use.
For instance, the standard air fryer has two heating elements inside — one element heats up oil and the other heats up steam.
The idea is that both liquids heat up simultaneously, allowing them to mix well together while also preventing food from sticking to the sides of the pan (which would ruin the whole point).
While this setup does work very well, it doesn’t always produce perfectly uniform results.
You see, some food items simply don’t behave like they should, so certain foods may take longer than others to cook.
In addition, the temperatures within the pan aren’t precisely controlled, either.
For example, some areas might boil too quickly, while other areas could end up taking far too long to cook through.
To solve this problem, many people choose to invest in a dedicated hot-air frying basket.
These baskets allow for more precise control over the process by ensuring everything cooks evenly.
They also enable you to cook multiple batches at once, making things much easier during busy mornings.
Another alternative solution comes in the form of silicone molds.
These molds come in various shapes and sizes, but they all essentially serve the same purpose.
When filled with boiling water, the mold allows for even heating throughout the entire container, resulting in perfect soft-boiled eggs every single time.
Of course, you can still achieve similar results using regular pots and pans as long as you follow our instructions below.
Just remember to keep the following tips in mind:
- Use cold water instead of boiling water whenever possible.
- Don’t fill the pot completely full of water.
- Check the water occasionally to ensure it hasn’t evaporated entirely.
When Can I Use Air Fryers for Soft Boiled Eggs?
There really isn’t any hard and fast rule regarding whether or not you can actually use an air fryer to prepare soft boiled eggs.
After all, air fryers are designed for deep frying, right?
So why wouldn’t they work just fine for something else? In truth though, you shouldn’t expect an exact replica of traditional methods when using an air fryer.
Instead, most recipes tend to call for slightly higher temperatures than you’d typically find with a regular stovetop burner.
This means that you’ll need to adjust the settings accordingly.
Otherwise, you risk overcooking your eggs before they’re fully cooked.
To avoid this situation, start off by testing out smaller portions of your recipe first until you figure out exactly how much time each step takes to complete.
Can You Make Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs Ahead Of Time?
Yes! It’s possible to prepare the ingredients for the air fryer soft boiled eggs recipe before actually cooking them.
The biggest challenge in doing so is having all of the necessary equipment ready at hand.
You don’t want to spend any extra money buying things just to find out later that they aren’t needed.
- An air fryer (or similar appliance) – This is by far the most important piece of equipment you need for making air fryer soft boiled eggs. Without it, you won’t be able to cook anything at all.
- A saucepan – You could use a frying pan instead, but using a heat-resistant pot like a saucepan makes the entire process much easier.
- Egg shells – These come in handy because they protect the yolk from overcooking while also preventing the white from getting too runny. They’re not absolutely required, though.
- Potato peeler/knife – For removing the skin from potatoes, this tool comes in handy as well. Make sure it has enough space between each potato slice so that you can easily remove it without tearing the potato itself.
- Spatula – You may not think about it often, but spatulas are essential tools for many kitchen tasks. For example, you might use one to stir sauces, mix batters, or even flip pancakes.
- Baking paper – To line a baking tray with some parchment paper, this simple item can save you lots of hassle in the future. Just remember to grease the paper first.
Once you’ve got everything set up, let’s move onto the actual cooking process.
How Do You Store Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs?
You may think that the obvious answer would be to place them in the fridge after cooking.
However, while this might work well for some dishes, this won’t always be possible when dealing with foods like eggs.
For example, if you are using an air fryer basket to cook your eggs, they won’t fit inside of a refrigerator drawer.
Instead, you should consider storing them in a container that has been lined with aluminum foil.
This helps keep moisture out and prevents any condensation from forming.
You can also use a plastic bag with holes cut into it – again, this keeps moisture away and makes sure nothing gets contaminated.
Plastic containers
One way to safely store air fryer soft boiled eggs is by placing them in a plastic storage container.
These kinds of containers allow oxygen to reach the food, but prevent bacteria from getting at it.
The downside to this approach, however, is that it takes longer than just putting them straight in the fridge.
It also requires more space in terms of shelf life as well.
Aluminum foil liners
Another option involves wrapping the egg in aluminum foil before refrigerating.
The reason why this works so well is because it allows enough room for heat transfer without allowing too much humidity inside of the container.
While this does take a little bit longer to prepare compared to other methods, it still works well.
Plus, it comes with the added benefit of being able to put the remaining egg back into its original container once it’s done cooking.
Bags made specifically for air fryer soft boiled eggs
A third option is to purchase bags designed to hold air fryer soft boiled eggs.
These types of bags come in various sizes, depending on what size egg you plan to bake inside of it.
They also typically contain a small hole that lets excess steam escape during cooking.
Once the egg is finished baking, simply remove it from the bag and enjoy!
How Long Do Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs Last?
This depends on the size of your eggs, but generally speaking, they should keep fresh for 4-6 days at room temperature (up to 5 days refrigerated).
To ensure their safety, store them in the refrigerator after opening.
The longer they sit out, the more likely they are to develop greenish coloring around the edges.
The color doesn’t affect taste, however, so don’t worry too much about it.
Soft boil eggs in a saucepan
For those who want to prepare their own soft boiled eggs without an air fryer, a saucepan works well.
You can use any pan that fits inside your air fryer basket, such as a Dutch oven or cast iron skillet.
First, fill a medium sized pot with enough cold water to cover the eggs by 2 inches.
Bring the water to a rolling boil and add 1/4 cup of white vinegar.
Gently lower the eggs into the boiling water using a slotted spoon, ensuring each egg gets submerged under the surface of the water.
After 10 minutes, remove the eggs from the hot water and place them directly on a plate covered in paper towels.
Let them cool completely before storing them in the fridge.
Soft boil eggs in an air fryer
If you prefer to use your air fryer instead of a traditional frying pan, this is a good way to cook your soft boiled eggs quickly and easily.
First, preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and check the inside of the basket for oil residue.
It’s normal for any food product to leave behind bits of grease during cooking, but if you see anything unusual, give yourself extra time to clean the interior of your air fryer.
Next, pour 1/4 cup of olive oil into the bottom of the air fryer basket.
Place two large eggs in the center of the basket, being careful to space them evenly apart.
Once everything has been set up, close the lid and wait until the eggs have finished cooking.
They should take approximately 8-10 minutes to cook through.
Once the timer goes off, carefully open the door and transfer the eggs onto a cooling rack covered in paper towels.
Leave them alone while they cool down, because they continue to cook once removed from the heat.
When they are cool, store them in the fridge for up to five days.
What Are Some Tips For Making Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs?
There are two main methods used to cook the perfect soft boiled egg.
- You can use a traditional pan and place the entire shell-less egg into boiling water.
- Or, you can take advantage of an air fryer by placing the egg inside of its own tray (or something similar). Air fryers come with trays that allow you to easily add ingredients.
Either way, soft boiled eggs require a specific amount of time to cook properly.
If you don’t know what temperature to set your oven at or how many minutes per side it takes to cook an egg, then you should definitely check out our guide about cooking times.
These charts will tell you exactly when to flip your egg so that it turns golden brown on both sides without getting burned.
The key to soft boiled eggs is to keep them warm until they’re ready to serve.
You should also avoid overcooking them as they won’t taste good after being completely hard.
To achieve this, you need to monitor their progress throughout the process.
Here are some other important things to consider while following along with our recipe below.
1. Using a glass container
When serving up soft boiled eggs, using a glass bowl makes cleaning much easier.
Glass bowls are especially helpful because it allows you to see whether or not the yolks are still runny enough to eat.
However, some people prefer to use plastic containers instead of glass dishes due to the fact that they don’t absorb heat as well.
2. Use a deep saucepan
In order to prevent any cracking from occurring, you want to ensure that the pan you choose has plenty of room around the edges.
A shallow pan will cause the hot oil to hit against the walls of the vessel too quickly, causing cracks to form.
Instead, opt for a deep skillet that has a diameter larger than the width of the egg itself.
As long as you’re able to submerge half of the egg in the oil, then you should be fine.
3. Avoid crowding the egg
The more space you give each egg, the better.
For example, you may find that you only need three eggs in total during your meal.
In such cases, you’d want to spread the eggs out evenly across the surface area of the pan.
Doing so ensures that all of the eggs receive proper exposure to the heated oil, preventing any potential issues from arising.
Additionally, having too many eggs crowded together will lead to uneven heating.
The bottom portion of the egg will always take longer to cook than the top.
So if you put four eggs in a single frying basket, then the first ones to finish will likely be the bottommost ones.
4. Set the right temperature
As mentioned above, you must maintain a specific temperature range for successful air fried soft boiled eggs.
Ideally, you want to start off at 425 degrees Fahrenheit (218 Celsius) before lowering the temperature down slightly once the eggs begin to cook.
After a few minutes, drop the temperature again.
And finally, lower the temperature even further to approximately 375 degrees F (193 C) once the eggs reach desired doneness.
This temperature range prevents the eggs from overcooking while still allowing them to develop coloration and taste fresh.
When setting the temperature, it’s crucial to remember that the exact same temperatures work differently depending on the size of your air fryer.
Generally speaking, smaller air fryers will yield harder-cooked foods compared to larger models.
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 4 Eggs large.
- 4 Toast
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer for 2 minutes at 275°F (135°C).
- Place the eggs in the air fryer basket directly from the refrigerator (or tray).
- Cook for 9 minutes on the air-fry setting.
- Put the eggs in a dish of cold water for 1-2 minutes, no longer than 2 minutes. You can add some ice cubes to the chilly water.
- Carefully crack the eggshell a few times around the top of the egg with a spoon. You can also roll them while softly pressing down with your palm. The shell should then come off in huge chunks.
- Place the egg in the egg holder after peeling the top section of the shell.
- Remove around 1/2 inch of the egg white from the top of the egg to expose the yolk. Dip the toast soldier gently into the egg and enjoy the warm goodness. Yum!
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.