Boiled eggs are a staple in many households, but there's more than one method to cook them. I put the air fryer against the hob to see which was faster, easier, and most mess-free.
Hob Method: Traditional but Tricky
I started with the most conventional approach: boiling water in a kettle, then transferring it to a saucepan over medium heat. It took a few minutes for the water to reach a rolling boil. I gently lowered a room-temperature egg into the water and set a timer for six and a half minutes, aiming for a jammy yolk—not too firm, not too runny. One common issue is eggs cracking during boiling, but this time mine emerged intact.
Air Fryer Method: Unconventional but Promising
Next, I tried the air fryer technique from TikTok's Food With George. I preheated the air fryer to 140°C for two minutes, then placed the egg directly in the basket and cooked for nine minutes. Placing an egg in the basket felt strange, and I feared it might explode, but it didn't. For those worried, an air fryer liner can be used.
The Verdict: Air Fryer Wins
Both eggs were plunged into an ice bath for a couple of minutes to stop the cooking process. Peeling was equally tedious for both methods—neither offered an advantage there. I prepped toast with mashed avocado and sliced each egg. The hob egg was slightly harder than expected, while the air fryer egg had a softer, jam-like texture that I preferred. Despite the longer cook time (9 vs 6.5 minutes), the air fryer method required less overall time because there was no need to boil water or wait for it to bubble. Plus, there was less washing up. If you've never tried air fryer boiled eggs, I highly recommend it—it's speedy, straightforward, and delivers that ideal soft, jammy centre.
