Air-Fryer Dippy Eggs: Quick, Easy, Perfectly Cooked

Air fryers are a convenient way to make dippy eggs without the hassle of boiling water. The process is simple: set your air fryer to the desired temperature and duration, place the eggs inside, and then transfer them to an ice bath when done. The result is a perfect soft-boiled egg with a runny yolk and firm whites, which can be enjoyed as is or paired with toast, salads, ramen, or seasoning.

Preheat the air fryer to 270-300°F

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the process of making dippy eggs. While some sources state that preheating is not necessary, others recommend preheating your air fryer to a temperature between 270-300°F. This temperature range is ideal for cooking eggs, as it will mimic the simmering pot of water used in traditional boiling methods.

Preheating your air fryer ensures that your eggs will cook evenly throughout the cooking process. Depending on your desired outcome, you can adjust the temperature and cooking time to achieve the perfect level of doneness for your dippy eggs.

It is important to note that all air fryers are different, and you may need to experiment with the temperature and timing to find what works best for your specific air fryer. Additionally, the size and fullness of your air fryer basket, as well as the size of the eggs, can also impact the cooking time.

By preheating your air fryer to the recommended temperature range of 270-300°F, you can be confident that your dippy eggs will turn out perfectly every time.

Cook eggs for 6-15 minutes

Now it's time to cook your eggs! Place them in the air fryer basket and set the timer. The cooking time will depend on how runny you want your yolks to be and how firm you like your whites.

For very runny yolks and slightly firm whites, cook your eggs for 6-8 minutes. If you want your whites to be more firm but your yolks to remain slightly runny, increase the cooking time to 8-10 minutes.

If you prefer your eggs with firmer yolks, cook them for 10-15 minutes. This will give you yolks that are slightly soft to firm, but not runny, and whites that are fully cooked.

Remember, every air fryer is different, so you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly to get your desired outcome. It's a good idea to keep a close eye on your eggs the first time you make them in your air fryer, and experiment to find the perfect cooking time for your preferred level of doneness.

Prepare an ice bath

Preparing an ice bath is an important step in making dippy eggs in an air fryer. It is crucial for achieving the perfect texture and making the peeling process easy. Here is a detailed guide on how to prepare an ice bath:

• Fill a Bowl with Ice: Start by grabbing a bowl that is large enough to hold the number of eggs you are cooking. Fill the bowl halfway with ice cubes. The ice bath needs to be very cold to effectively cool the eggs, so don't skimp on the ice!
• Add Cold Water: Once you have a sufficient amount of ice, fill the bowl with cold water. The water should be added until the bowl is about three-quarters full. You want to ensure that the eggs will be fully submerged in the ice water.
• Prepare the Ice Bath in Advance: It is important to have the ice bath ready before you start cooking your eggs. As soon as the eggs are done in the air fryer, you will need to immediately transfer them to the ice bath to stop the cooking process. This step is crucial for controlling the doneness of your eggs.
• Submerge the Eggs: After cooking your eggs in the air fryer, carefully place them in the prepared ice bath. Make sure the eggs are fully submerged in the ice water. Leave the eggs in the ice bath for at least 2-3 minutes, or until they are warm to the touch. This step will cool the eggs and make them easier to peel.
• Peel the Eggs: Once the eggs have cooled down, you can start peeling them. Gently tap each egg on a hard surface to create small cracks all around the shell. Start peeling from the wider end of the egg, where there is usually an air pocket. The shell should come off easily, leaving you with a smooth, peeled egg. You can also try rolling the egg between your hands while gently pressing down to help loosen the shell.
• Don't Leave Eggs in the Ice Bath for Too Long: While the ice bath is essential for cooling the eggs and facilitating easy peeling, you don't want to leave the eggs in the ice bath for too long. If they remain in the ice bath for more than 3 minutes, they may become too cold.

Preparing an ice bath is a simple yet crucial step in making dippy eggs in an air fryer. By following these steps, you will be able to achieve the perfect texture for your eggs and make the peeling process a breeze.

Peel the eggs

Now for the fun part: peeling the eggs!

First, you'll want to prepare an ice bath for your eggs. Fill a bowl with ice and add cold water, making sure the bowl is at least halfway full. You can also add a few ice cubes to the water. This ice bath will stop the eggs from cooking any further and make them easier to peel.

Once you've had your eggs in the ice bath for a couple of minutes, you can start peeling. Gently tap the egg on a hard surface to create small cracks all around the shell. Start peeling from the wider end, where there is usually an air pocket. The shell should come off easily, leaving you with a perfectly smooth egg. You can also roll the egg between your hands while gently pressing down. The shell should then slip off in large pieces.

If you're having trouble peeling, try using the thin membrane that separates the egg white from the shell. Peeling the membrane is a great way to get the shell to come off in bigger pieces rather than small, annoying fragments.

After you've completely peeled off the shell, run the egg under some water to get rid of any remaining shell fragments.

And that's it! You now have a perfectly peeled, soft-boiled egg.

Serve with toast, ramen, or salad

Now that you've made your dippy eggs, it's time to think about what to serve them with. Here are some ideas:

Toast

You could spread some avocado on toast and top it with your dippy egg for a nutritious breakfast. For extra flavour, sprinkle on some salt, pepper, or smoked paprika, or add a dash of truffle oil, soy sauce, or fresh herbs like chives or dill. Alternatively, you could add a smear of butter, cream cheese, or cottage cheese. If you're feeling extra indulgent, why not try garlic bread toast?

Ramen

Dippy eggs are a classic topping for ramen, adding richness and flavour to the broth.

Salad

Add sliced soft-boiled eggs to your salad for an extra protein boost. The runny yolk can act as an extra dressing.

Frequently asked questions