How long should you boil an egg for so the yolk is runny but not snotty?

Before you begin get a small bowl ready to put them in, and a teaspoon & a knife and butter, salt and pepper. After you put the eggs on you can worry about your toast. Read this through a couple of times before you begin.
You can make perfect soft-boiled eggs every time, this way.

Start them in cold water, about 1 inch deeper then the eggs. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat so the water is gently rolling, just above a simmer. Set the timer for 3 minutes and 5-10 seconds. The time will vary slightly depending on the size of the egg. You may need to experiment a little to find the exact firmness you want, but don’t add more than 5 to 10 seconds each time until you get it the way you want it.

When the timer goes off, be prepared with a teaspoon or slotted spoon to take the eggs from the water and moving quickly run a little cold water over the egg to cool the shell so you can handle it, but keep the egg hot. Crack the egg with the knife and separate into two pieces. With a teaspoon, scoop out the egg into your bowl scraping closely to the shell and do the next egg. Add your flavorings, butter etc.

Egg timers are available in the housewares sections of most stores. There are several different types. I like the one that looks like a plastic egg and changes color according to the “doneness”. But, I mostly use the timer on my microwave because the other one wears out eventually.

Bon Appetit’