This Is the Absolute Best Way to Make Perfectly Jammy Eggs

Meghan Splawn
Meghan Splawn
Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.
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updated Jun 17, 2019
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jammy set hard boiled eggs
Credit: Meghan Splawn

As someone who doesn’t find deviled eggs appealing in the slightest, I’ve started serving soft-boiled eggs with jammy yolks in their place — at every party and playdate, and for easy afternoon nibbles, too. To my delight, kids and grown-ups go crazy for the simple snack. I finish them off a few different ways: usually a sprinkling of flaky sea salt or a swipe of mustard. (Hat tip to Alison Roman for the suggestion.)

Soft-boiled eggs can be seem like drudgery to master — especially for anyone who has tried but failed at the gorgeous jammy yolks (raises hand). I asked Kitchn editors for their secrets and came away with my new favorite method for achieving soft-boiled eggs just the way I like them, every single time.

What Is a Jammy Egg, Anyway?

Jammy eggs are soft-boiled eggs with a thickly set, spreadable yolk. The yolk is firmer than in a poached egg (which has a runny yolk), and looser than in a hard-boiled egg. The appeal is a gently set yolk that acts as a sauce for the egg white — making it a snack all on its own. Here’s my favorite way to get that golden yolk in your life.

Credit: Kelli Foster

Your Instant Pot Is the Secret to the Best-Ever Jammy Eggs

Cooking the eggs in my Instant Pot is my absolute favorite method because it requires just a little bit of water and is completely hands-off. For yolks with a slightly runny but still-thick yolk, cook them for two to three minutes at HIGH pressure, do a quick release of pressure, and immediately dunk them into an ice bath for five minutes before peeling and eating. Find the full step-by-step here: How to Cook Eggs in an Electric Pressure Cooker.

Don’t Have an Electric Pressure Cooker? We Love the Boiling Method, Too.

You don’t need anything more than a pot and a timer for the boiling method, but it does require your full attention for about 10 minutes. First, you’ll bring a pot of water to a boil. Lower the eggs into the pot, cover it, and remove it from the heat. Let the eggs cook for six to seven minutes, depending on if you want them slightly runnier or slightly firmer. Then, transfer the eggs to an ice bath to cool for at least five minutes before peeling.

Credit: Lauren Volo

How to Serve Jammy Eggs

  • Sprinkled with smoked salt and topped with a dash of sherry vinegar.
  • Smeared with hummus.
  • Smeared with a brush of mustard and sprinkled with freshly ground black pepper.
  • Sprinkled with everything bagel seasoning.
  • Sprinkled with za’tar or dukkah.
  • Topped with smoked salmon and sour cream.
  • Sprinkled with rosey harissa.
  • Splashed with hot sauce or a pile of kimchi.
  • Topped with pesto, chimmichuri, or green goodess.
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