If the ideal boiled egg has a meltingly soft centre and firm white, scientists have developed what they say is the perfect method. Alas, it takes 32 minutes.

Scientists say they've cracked the code for boiling the perfect egg.It's a recipe you can test for yourself — though the timing isn't ideal with soaring egg prices in the United States from a bird flu outbreak.

Italian scientists claim to have found the scientifically best way to make a hard-boiled egg. After trying it for ourselves, we can confirm that the egg was delicious.