salgud wrote:
> Keep in mind, it has a lot to do with where you live, particularly
the
> altitude. I live in Denver, 5280 ft high, and water boils at 202 deg
F,
> not 212, as it does at sea level. Makes some difference when cooking
> things like eggs. I imagine the other posters are at sea level or
close
> to it. If their methods work, go with it.
> If not, it's really simple to figure out how long to boil them, or
let
> them sit, if you prefer that method. I did it up here, once, and now
> know how long it takes here (about 13 min in boiling water).
> Put at least 4 eggs into the boiling water. Use either method to cook
> them (heat on/water boiling, or heat off/water cooling). 2 min before
> the prescribed amount of time, depending on which method you're
using,
> take an egg out and crack it and slice in in half. If it's done, you
> now know your time. If not, sprinkle a little salt on it and eat it.
> That should take about a minute, when you take the next one out and
> test it. Repeat as necessary. Now you know how long it takes to boil
> eggs where you live.

That's a very sensible approach for dealing with local conditions. The
one exception I would take to it is that I believe you're much better
off starting the eggs in cold water rather than boiling the water
first. The reason is the same as when boiling potatoes, you want to
cook the outside and inside of the thing as evenly as possible. By
starting them in cold water you give the center more time to be
penetrated gradually by the rising temperature. -aem