How to Make a Perfect Ramen Egg

Ramen Eggs (aka soft boiled eggs) are the perfect addition to any ramen noodles bowl, and they’re even scrumptious on their own as a quick snack. Keep reading to learn how to make a perfect ramen egg at home!

Beautiful, silky ramen eggs seem to have taken over as one of the most delicious (and photogenic) additions that ramen-lovers can add to their homemade concoctions. However, making the perfect soft boiled egg can be tricky business. 

To assist you on this culinary endeavor, we put together a quick guide for making the perfect ramen egg, so that it will take you less time to cook your egg than it will take to find the perfect Instagram filter for it! 

What is a “Perfect Ramen Egg“?

Eggs can obviously be eaten in a variety of delicious ways; fried, scrambled, poached, even raw.

However, when it comes to the most delicious bowls of ramen, the eggs swimming on top are no ordinary eggs. Ramen eggs are not hardboiled (though you can do that too!) and they’re not raw. These eggs are unique in their design: they are soft-boiled- so the yolk is never fully cooked- leaving you with a jammy, creamy center that’s perfectly suited for being dunked into a bowl of ramen broth.

If you are keen on the idea of crafting your own popular jammy-centered eggs especially made for ramen, keep reading below!

Making the Perfect Ramen Egg; Tips & Tricks

While there are certainly many different ways that you can make a soft boiled ramen egg, there really are no “wrong ways” to do it. 

Want some tips and tricks? You got it!

  • Some recipes call for eggs that are room temperature (instead of refrigerated eggs) but “room temperature” can vary depending on where you are. Having said that, we recommend grabbing your eggs straight out of the fridge.
  • Larger eggs tend to work well for this type of recipe (the more the better, right?) but any kind of egg will taste absolutely incredible. 
  • The perfect ramen egg has a “jammy” center, that’s soft but not too runny. Our team has found that the perfect amount of time to boil an egg for ramen is 6.5 minutes.
  • When your eggs have had their time in the ice bath, gently crack the entire surface and begin to peel, starting from the wider end, which contains the air pocket. This will make it easier to remove the shell and cause less damage to the surface of the egg.
  • Use immediately or store in the fridge, unpeeled, for up to 24 hours.

If You Opt for Marinated Eggs:

If you have the time, you can marinate your eggs in advance for a little extra flair.

You can play around with different marinades- there are hundreds of recipes online- to find what you like best, but a great go-to is a simple marinade of soy sauce, minced garlic and mirin (a sweet Japanese rice wine). 

We recommend that you leave your eggs soaking in the mixture overnight in the fridge, but if you’re short on time, 2-3 hours will work just fine. The longer you let your eggs marinate, the stronger the taste will be. 

How to Make a Perfect Ramen Egg

Bring a pot of water to boil. There should be enough water in the pot to cover your eggs by about one inch.

While you’re waiting for your water to boil, fill a separate bowl with half ice and half water.

When your water is boiling- like, really boiling- carefully drop your eggs in and immediately set a timer for 6.5 minutes. BEWARE OF SPLASHES!

When the time is up, remove your eggs from the boiling water and gently place them in the bowl of ice water. (This will stop the cooking process, and ensures that your eggs reach their desired consistency without getting too “done.”) 

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After about 5 minutes, or when the eggs no longer feel hot to the touch, remove and peel.

Peel your eggs, slice them in half, and add to your warm bowl of Mike’s Mighty steamed ramen noodles!

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Perfect Instant Pot Soft Boiled Eggs 

If you have an instant pot, you already know how great this kitchen appliance can be. But did you know that you can also use your instant pot to make soft boiled eggs? Prepare to be amazed. When it comes to Instant Pot Soft Boiled Eggs, there are two methods; one is for low pressure and one is for high. 

Pro tip: try experimenting with one egg at a time, until you find what method you like the best! Finding the perfect technique for cooking soft boiled eggs in the Instant Pot requires very little effort, and is absolutely worth it. 

Instant Pot Soft Boiled Eggs: Low Pressure Method

  1. Pour COLD water into your Instant Pot (use 1 cup for the 6 quart and 1.5 cups for the 8 quart) and put the eggs on the trivet/basket. Close the lid and make sure the valve is set to “sealing.” 
  2. Set Cook Time for 3 minutes. While they cook, prepare a bowl of ice water on the side.
  3. When the timer beeps, release the pressure by knocking the valve (with a wooden spoon or tongs) to vent. 
  4. Carefully remove the eggs from the instant pot with a slotted spoon and transfer them to the ice water. Let them sit for about 5 minutes, or until the eggs have cooled off.
  5. Peel, and enjoy your PERFECT soft boiled eggs!

If you would like your ramen eggs set a little harder than soft boiled eggs- but not quite as firm as hard boiled- follow these instructions: 

Instant Pot Soft Boiled Eggs: High Pressure Method

  1. Same as above, but use High Pressure for 1 minute. 
  2. Cook for 3 minutes on high pressure.
  3. Let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes.
  4. Remove the eggs from the pressure cooker and place in an ice-water bath.
  5. Remove from the ice bath once cool enough to handle, about 3-5 minutes.
  6. Use immediately or store in the fridge, unpeeled, for up to 24 hours.

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After you’ve mastered the art of making the perfect ramen egg, you’ll want to experiment with different ramen toppings! One of our favorite things about ramen is how customizable it is! 

We have over a hundred ramen recipes on our blog, but here are a few of our favorite recipes that incorporate soft boiled eggs:

Spicy Chicken Ramen

Garlic Sesame Noodles

Ginger Pork Ramen

Loaded Veggie Ramen

Creamy Sriracha Ramen

Creamy Spicy Miso Ramen


We’d love to see your culinary creations for ourselves, so tag us on Instagram so we can see your perfect ramen eggs!

"Mike's Mighty Good has permanently changed my lunch game. Never knew an 'instant soup' could be so good."

Charles W. "Chuck" Bryant of the Stuff You Should Know Podcast