Thanks to these valuable tips, you can finally learn how to cut the top off an egg easily and enjoy yummy soft-boiled eggs without making a mess or embarrassing yourself at the next get-together!
Eggs are a true delight and a cherished ingredient throughout cuisines.
They’re one of the tastiest foods of all time and can be prepared in so many different ways. Eggs supply us with pivotal vitamins and nutrients that promote overall health too.
Below, learn more about how to better your egg cutting skills and how to enjoy a soft-boiled egg by cutting its top properly and getting to that delicious yolk as easily as a breeze.
We’ll demystify the cutting the top off a raw egg in case you need the eggshells for planting or you want to prep amuse-bouche for your eccentric guests!
Table of Contents
Why Do You Need to Cut the Top Off an Egg?
Cutting the top off an egg is important when we’re dealing with soft-boiled eggs or raw eggs.
An egg slicer is ideal to cut the perfect egg slices from hard-boiled eggs; however, it’s not recommended for soft-boiled eggs because it will only cause a mess from the liquidy egg!
Moreover, hard-boiled eggs can easily be cracked and peeled by hand without fearing any yolk coming out whereas soft-boiled ones still have a very soft yolk and a softer white that need to be handled with care.
One way is to keep the egg upright and open it horizontally by cutting off its top horizontally.
Cutting the top off an egg isn’t just important when you’re eating it; sometimes, people need to open up the top of a raw egg when they need the shells for something or if they want to prepare an amuse-bouche.
These appetizers are sometimes served in their eggshell while only the top is cut off and eaten directly from the shell. Since it’s practically liquid, one needs to be savvy enough to cut off only the top, without smashing the rest of the shell.
How to Cut the Top Off a Soft-Boiled Egg?
Soft-boiled eggs offer a unique culinary enjoyment.
They have firm egg whites, yet the yolk remains creamy, silky, and liquid. It tastes like something between melted cheese and butter and many say it’s the best thing ever!
They make an excellent breakfast or a topper for soup and salads. Or, they’re great as a quick snack on a busy day. However, many people “fear” soft-boiled eggs because they’re not sure how to properly remove the shell without damaging the egg white.
One of the best ways to do it is to cut the top off the egg easily and properly. You can use a teaspoon or a bread knife to make a small crack on the top and then peel it off as you’re eating it or at once with a spoon.
You can use an egg cup that will keep the egg steady.
You put the egg into the cup with the larger end down. Cracking the soft-boiled egg from the top, rather than in the center, lowers the risk of damaging the white. There is also another way to open soft-boiled and raw eggs and it’s with a special kitchen tool known as an egg cracker.
Here’s how it works:
This either stainless steel or plastic tool is placed on top of the egg and it’s pulled up by its handle and then released. The downward pressure makes a round crack on the top and helps you open the egg with the least damage possible.
How to Cut Off the Top of a Raw Egg?
Whether it’s to serve some dish or to use the eggshell for something without damaging it, opening a raw egg without making a mess is often thought to be impossible. But, similarly to the case with soft-boiled eggs, raw eggs can be opened with the least damage to the shell.
In addition to using an egg cracker, you can also use a sharp and small knife with a pointy tip. Hold the egg in your hand or even better, place it in an egg cup, and start cutting it on the top horizontally.
Make sure you apply enough pressure to actually slice through the shell, but don’t exaggerate it to prevent cracking the shell. This video shows how to do it, step by step:
Is It Safe to Eat Soft-Boiled & Raw Eggs?
Many people worry about eating soft-boiled and raw eggs due to bad bacteria, especially salmonella.
But, if the risks are understood and the eggs are properly taken care of, they’re generally safe for consumption, although The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises against raw egg consumption or foods that contain raw eggs such as mayonnaise or homemade Caesar salad dressing.
Still though, due to their richness in protein and abundance in other nutrients, raw egg whites have long been a popular choice of athletes and bodybuilders. Soft-boiled ones are okay, as long as the yolk isn’t too runny (around five to seven minutes of cooking).
However, consuming raw eggs doesn’t offer any additional advantages over consuming them boiled. And, though the raw eggs may have slightly higher amounts of nutrients, the ones in cooked eggs are easier for the body to process and absorb.
If you want to consume raw eggs, prep them before consumption and if the dish is going to be stored, keep it in the fridge at 5 degrees C or lower to prevent the growth of bacteria.
The yolk and whites can get infected through the porous shell and people who contract salmonella experience flu-like symptoms and they usually go away within four to seven days, without any treatment.
However, raw eggs should be avoided with people who have weakened immunity like the elderly, kids under the age of five, and pregnant women because food poisoning can be more serious.
Final Thoughts
Despite the risks associated with raw egg consumption, many people can’t get enough of a runny yolk or a raw egg appetizer.
Handling soft-boiled and raw eggs are tricky so it needs to be done properly to prevent making a mess or destroying the egg white.
One of the best methods to open a raw or soft-boiled egg is to do it at the top. If you want to know how to cut the top off an egg easily, rest assured; there are three useful ways you can do it; use a spoon to crack it, invest in a special device known as an egg cracker, or opt for a pointy knife if you consider yourself savvy enough with it.
