
Here's how to cook the perfect boiled egg, according to scientists
As egg prices soar in the United States due to the bird flu outbreak, many are contemplating how to make the most of their yolks.
Luckily for those people, scientists say they have unlocked the secret to the perfect boiled egg — meaning fewer undercooked whites and less wastage.
But this is no quick affair. Instead, the eggheads' method involves two pots, a steamer basket and a total cooking time of 32 minutes.
The Italian researchers said the perfect boiled egg had a velvety yolk paired with a soft, yet solid white.
But achieving that balance could be a challenge because the yolk cooked at a lower temperature than the white. Hard boiling an egg could yield a chalky yolk, while cooking low and slow could produce jelly-like, undercooked whites.
Researchers cooked hundreds of eggs and used math to tackle the runny conundrum. One equation dealt with how heat travels between a hot surface and an egg; another captured how the egg's contents morph from liquid to solid with a gel-like state in between.
Their final recipe involved transferring eggs in a steamer basket every two minutes between two bowls of water — one boiling and the other lukewarm at 30 degrees Celsius — for a total of 32 minutes before cooling under running water and peeling.
'You could definitely do this at home with half a dozen eggs or so," said Gregory Weiss, a chemist at the University of California, Irvine, who was not involved with the research.
In the method proposed by the researchers, dubbed periodic cooking, the egg whites heated and cooled until fully set. The yolk, on the other hand, held firm at a constant temperature and cooked until creamy.
'You can almost spread it, like on bread,' said study author Emilia Di Lorenzo from the University of Naples Federico II.
To confirm they had cooked up something new, the researchers tested the chemical makeup of the prepared eggs and served them to a panel of eight tasters alongside traditional boiled eggs.
The research was published on Thursday in the journal Communications Engineering.
This new technique could mean more time in the kitchen compared to a standard hard-boiled egg, said food scientist Joanne Slavin from the University of Minnesota. But the blend of textures on the tongue could be worth the extra time.
'This is a slower process to get a better outcome,' said Slavin, who had no role in the study.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Hidden city' from Book of the Dead found beneath Egypt's Giza pyramids
Team of Italian researchers claim to have unearthed evidence of a hidden structure dating back tens of thousands of years Scientists have made a 'groundbreaking' discovery of an underground city beneath Egypt's iconic Giza pyramids, potentially rewriting the history books. Italian researchers Corrado Malanga, Filippo Biondi, and Armando Mei claim they've found evidence of a hidden structure around 2,000 feet below the surface, suggesting a vast subterranean complex linking the pyramids through a network that could be tens of thousands of years old. They discovered 'vertical cylinders' with chambers, pipes, and a water system leading to cube-shaped structures, after recently detecting massive underground structures under the Khafre pyramid, stirring controversy in the archaeological community. However, renowned archaeologist Dr Zahi Hawass has dismissed the initial claims, citing limitations in ground-penetrating radar technology and a lack of peer-reviewed evidence, with many experts calling the findings speculative, reports the Mirror US. Dr Hawass said: "All this information is completely wrong and has absolutely no scientific basis." Despite scepticism, the research team insists their findings are legitimate, supporting theories of an advanced civilisation possibly wiped out by a cataclysmic event mentioned in various Egyptian texts, including the Book of the Dead. The lost city could potentially house 'the fabled Hall of Records', a long-speculated library that could reveal new insights into Ancient Egyptian society and mysteries such as Atlantis. Traditional beliefs hold that the Giza pyramids, thought to be 4,500 years old, were built solely by the ancient Egyptians. However, the discovery of an 'underground network' suggests they could date back 38,000 years, surviving a cataclysmic event that wiped out many past civilisations. If these claims are confirmed, it would revolutionise our understanding of human history and the origins of Egypt's most iconic structures. Yet, this discovery has sparked as much curiosity and enthusiasm as it has doubt within the archaeological community. This is another significant discovery in Egypt, following finds like the tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II and a 3,400 year old New Kingdom settlement. More secrets from the ancient world are gradually emerging, reshaping the rich and complex history of one of humanity's greatest marvels.


Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Truth behind popular energy drink that is 'flagged as cocaine' in drug tests
A viral claim suggesting that Celsius energy drinks can cause false positives for cocaine in drug tests has sparked widespread confusion. The controversy began when a Detroit Tigers sports reporter tweeted on June 8 that Major League Baseball (MLB) teams are advising players to avoid the popular drink. 'Celsius has an ingredient known to flag as cocaine in MLB drug testing, and although it's not officially banned, it's strongly discouraged,' they wrote in a now-deleted post. The post quickly spread across social media, likely due to how popular Celsius has become in the US. It is third-largest energy drink company in the nation. But the drug testing body from MLB has since come out to say the claims are not true. The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) said: 'We are not aware of any specific ingredient in Celsius that would cause a positive drug test result, nor have we communicated such concerns to any MLB club or player.' Still, it comes as a time when Americans are becoming increasingly concerned about ingredients in their food and drink. Celsius drinks contain about 1,810 mg of taurine, far exceeding the typical daily intake of 40–400 mg. Taurine may promote the growth of bacteria linked to colorectal cancer, which are often more abundant in affected individuals' guts But there is no scientific evidence supporting the notion that Celsius ingredients could be read as cocaine in a drug test. Drug tests for cocaine detect a specific metabolite called benzoylecgonine, a substance not found in Celsius or any of its listed ingredients. Celsius contains common energy drink ingredients like caffeine, green tea extract, and guarana seed extract, as well as artificial sweeteners. These are not classified as banned substances, and there is no scientific evidence that they can trigger a false positive for cocaine. Celsius, however, is not on the list of certified energy drinks for professional athletes. Products like C4 and Red Bull do carry the NSF certification and are commonly recommended to athletes for added assurance. Obtaining NSF Certified for Sport status involves rigorous testing, including lot-by-lot analysis for banned substances, label accuracy, and manufacturing audits. Celsius may not pursue this certification due to the significant cost, time, and effort required, especially if their target market includes non-athlete consumers who don't prioritize NSF certification. has reached out to Celsius for comment but has not received a response. However, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has not banned Celsius specifically, but it does enforce strict limits on caffeine intake for student-athletes. 'Some collegiate athletes may have questions about whether one ingredient in CELSIUS products – caffeine derived from guarana extract – raises any issues under NCAA rules,' Celsius stated on its website. It states that a urine caffeine concentration above 15 micrograms per milliliter will trigger a positive result, typically the equivalent of consuming 500 mg of caffeine within a few hours of competition. A single can of Celsius contains 200 to 270 mg of caffeine, meaning two cans consumed in a short time frame could easily exceed the NCAA threshold. These limits are in place to reduce health risks from excessive stimulant use, including jitteriness, rapid heart rate, and dehydration. Celsius energy drinks contain guarana, taurine, and L-carnitine, none of which are banned by the NCAA or US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). However, guarana is a concentrated source of caffeine, and excessive consumption could push athletes over the NCAA's caffeine threshold. A 12-oz can of Celsius typically contains about two eight-ounce cups of coffee. The FDA recommends healthy adults limit caffeine to 400 mg daily (roughly two cans of Celsius), but individual sensitivity varies. For some, even one can may cause jitters or other effects. Caffeine's half-life of three to five hours means repeated consumption can lead to accumulation. Celsius has faced a class-action lawsuit over alleged misbranding, such as misleading claims about preservatives.


Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Scientists uncover second 'hidden city' beneath Egypt's Giza pyramids
Scientists who claimed earlier this year to have found a massive subterranean city under the Pyramids of Giza now say they have unearthed a second city. The team of Italian researchers, who claimed they found huge underground structures below the Khafre pyramid in March, now say they've found more evidence of a second 'hidden city'. These new subterranean structures, apparently found underneath the Mankaure pyramid, could 'prove' the existence of a massive subterranean complex which links the three Giza pyramids thousands of feet below the surface. The announcement sparked controversy amongst archaeologists and Egyptologists, who said the unverified claims are 'a total scam' and argued the technology used isn't able to penetrate deeply enough into the ground. The Pyramids of Giza, along with the Great Sphinx, are located west of Egypt's capital Cairo, and the methods used to build the huge structures are still shrouded in mystery thousands of years on. Filippo Biondi, co-author of the research, told MailOnline their data shows a 90% probability that the Menkaure shares the same pillars as Khafre. 'Objective analysis of the tomography data, which, as experimental measurements, strongly indicate that the structures we identified beneath Khafre are also present under Menkaure,' Filippo said. 'We firmly believe that the Giza structures are interconnected, reinforcing our view that the pyramids are merely the tip of the iceberg of a colossal underground infrastructural complex. 'This network likely consists of a dense system of tunnels linking the main subterranean structures. 'The measurements reveal pillar-like structures with consistent characteristics. 'Given that Menkaure is smaller than Khafre, we believe the number of pillars is likely even but fewer than those under Khafre.' It's estimated there are eight pillars under Khafre pyramid, which are estimated to be more than 2,000ft long and feature spiral-like structures. The researchers say finding similar pillars underneath Mankaure pyramid support their theory that a 'megastructure' hides thousands of feet underneath the sands. When asked about the purpose of the hidden structures, Filippo said: 'At this stage, we're still gathering information to thoroughly study the matter, but we can confidently say that the operation of this structure likely involves the natural elements: air, water, fire and earth. More Trending 'Discoveries like these under Menkaure challenge us to rethink our understanding of ancient Egyptian history and humanity's past, opening new perspectives on our origins and capabilities.' Archaeologists estimate the three Pyramids of Giza are about 4,500 years old, but Filippo and his team theorise these pillar structures could have been built by a lost ancient civilisation about 38,000 years ago. They suggest a highly advanced prehistoric society was wiped out by a global cataclysm, possibly caused by a comet impact, around 12,800 years ago. But some have drawn comparison to conspiracy theories that it was in fact aliens who built the pyramids. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: You can finally binge all 4 episodes of 'fantastic' historical drama for free MORE: TUI relaunches UK flights to forgotten year-round sunshine destination after 3 years MORE: Man has entire street evacuated after pulling pin on WWII grenade from antique market