Eggs should be placed in boiling water; a soft-boiled egg (firm white and runny yolk) needs 3½ - 4 minutes. However, the timing depends on the size of the egg and how fresh it is. Fresh eggs need to boil a little longer and a large fresh egg takes all of 5 minutes to be soft-boiled. In France soft-boiled eggs are called oeufs mollets. They are most often peeled, placed in ramekins and covered with a sauce. To peel a soft-boiled egg place it in the palm of your hand and tap it lightly all over with the back of a spoon. Peel carefully under gently running cold water. The shell should come off with the inner membrane.