Step 1: The Boiling Stage. Put up a pot of water to boil — you'll need one big enough for water to flow freely around the number of eggs you'll be cooking. Once the water's boiling, use a large spoon to gently lower the eggs into the water. Lower the heat to maintain a simmer and set a timer for 12 minutes. Now, don't stress...if you let the water boil a little too much or drop below a simmer or fish out your eggs 14 minutes later, it's okay. More From How to Cook 20 articles