Fill the pan with cold tap water. Cover the eggs gently with at least one inch (3 cm) of water and add a pinch of salt. Steady the eggs with your hand as you fill the pan with water, to keep them from breaking.
Cold water helps to keep the eggs from over cooking. Never drop eggs directly into a pot of hot water, or the shells will crack and the egg will run.[2]
Salted water helps to make the egg white firm-up more quickly, and helps to plug leaks if the shell cracks during the cooking process.[3]