--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the test of a cook is how she boils an…" description: "\"the test of a cook is how she boils an egg. My boiled eggs are fantastic, fabulous. Sometimes as hard as a 100 carat diamond, or again soft as a feathe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/nancy-mitford-7161_baby_the-test-of-a-cook-is-how-she-boils-an-e_767467.jpg" --- # the test of a cook is how she boils an egg. My boiled eggs… ![“the test of a cook is how she boils an egg. My boiled eggs are fantastic, fabulous. Sometimes as hard as a 100 carat diamond, or again soft as a feather bed, or running like a cooling stream, they can also burst like fireworks from their shells and take on the look and rubbery texture of a baby…” quote by Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/nancy-mitford-7161_baby_the-test-of-a-cook-is-how-she-boils-an-e_767467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/nancy-mitford-7161_baby_the-test-of-a-cook-is-how-she-boils-an-e_767467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/nancy-mitford-7161_baby_the-test-of-a-cook-is-how-she-boils-an-e_767467.jpg) > “the test of a cook is how she boils an egg. My boiled eggs are fantastic, fabulous. Sometimes as hard as a 100 carat diamond, or again soft as a feather bed, or running like a cooling stream, they can also burst like fireworks from their shells and take on the look and rubbery texture of a baby octopus. Never a dull egg, with me.” [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A cook’s skill is shown by the variety and quality of boiled eggs, ranging from hard as a diamond to soft as a feather, each with unique texture. **In simple terms:** Great cooks make diverse, perfect eggs. Key Takeaway Master egg boiling techniques. Themes creativity cooking skill Mood playful whimsical Type culinary descriptive When to use this quote - breakfast service - culinary training - food writing Key Concepts culinary arts texture metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply this creativity elsewhere? - What does egg texture teach about patience? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on eggs may overlook other dishes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Boiled eggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boiled-eggs/) [Cooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) [Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diamond/) [Fabulous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fabulous/) [Fantastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantastic/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Octopus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/octopus/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) ## Related quotes > [An egg boiled very soft is not unwholesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/an-egg-boiled-very-soft-is-not-unwholesome/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [It turns out that Molly wasn't her mother's daughter in that respect. Charity was like the MacGuyver of the kitchen. She could whip up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/it-turns-out-that-molly-wasn-t-her-mother-s-daughter-in-that-respect/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [I worked as a waiter when I was 15 and got a chance to appreciate good, simple food. There's nothing better than a boiled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-worked-as-a-waiter-when-i-was-15-and-got-a-chance-to-appreciate/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Soon they were all sitting on the rocky ledge, which was still warm, watching the sun go down into the lake. It was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enid-blyton/soon-they-were-all-sitting-on-the-rocky-ledge-which-was-still-warm/) [Enid Blyton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enid-blyton/) > [Jess:"Sasha? I need some tissue to pack my nose with." Sasha:"Is that hygienically sound?" Jess:"Sasha..." Sasha:"Fine, but if you get toxic shock up your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/jess-sasha-i-need-some-tissue-to-pack-my-nose-with-sasha-is-that/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [There's no law that decrees when not to whinge, but you reach a certain age - 80 seems about right - when you're expected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-freud/there-s-no-law-that-decrees-when-not-to-whinge-but-you-reach-a/) [Clement Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-freud/) > [My career is pretty much over. I'm out in the Valley eating soft-boiled eggs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-conway/my-career-is-pretty-much-over-i-m-out-in-the-valley-eating-soft/) [Tim Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-conway/) > [Truth! Freedom! Justice! And a hard-boiled egg!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/truth-freedom-justice-and-a-hard-boiled-egg/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I never met a chocolate I could not eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/i-never-met-a-chocolate-i-could-not-eat/) [Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/) > [Ever notice how these European trains always smell of eau de cologne and hard boiled eggs?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/ever-notice-how-these-european-trains-always-smell-of-eau-de-cologne/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I'm as fixed in my opinion as the man who thought he was a hard-boiled egg.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-canfield-fisher/i-m-as-fixed-in-my-opinion-as-the-man-who-thought-he-was-a-hard/) [Dorothy Canfield Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-canfield-fisher/) > [Home is where the heart is, I thought now, gathering myself together in Betty's Luncheonette. I had no heart any more, it had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/home-is-where-the-heart-is-i-thought-now-gathering-myself-together-in/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I always have hard-boiled eggs with me to eat egg whites for protein. Even when I travel, I bring eggs with me so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-jaret-winokur/i-always-have-hard-boiled-eggs-with-me-to-eat-egg-whites-for-protein/) [Marissa Jaret Winokur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-jaret-winokur/) > [“You always had an eye for the fellow with a decent helping of sausage and hard-boiled eggs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-always-had-an-eye-for-the-fellow-with-a-decent-helping-of-sausage/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I'm all for rational enjoyment, and so forth, but I think a fellow makes himself conspicuous when he throws soft-boiled eggs at the electric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse-2/i-m-all-for-rational-enjoyment-and-so-forth-but-i-think-a-fellow/) [P. G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse-2/) ## More by Nancy Mitford > [“My dear Lady Kroesig, I have only read one book in my life, and that is ‘White Fang.’ It’s so frightfully good I’ve never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/my-dear-lady-kroesig-i-have-only-read-one-book-in-my-life-and-that-is/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [Children should be like waffles--you should be able to throw the first one away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/children-should-be-like-waffles-you-should-be-able-to-throw-the-first/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [Do you always laugh when you make love?' said Fabrice. I hadn't thought about it, but I suppose I do. I generally laugh when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/do-you-always-laugh-when-you-make-love-said-fabrice-i-hadn-t-thought/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [“Linda's presentation of the 'facts' had been so gruesome that the children left Alconleigh howling dismally, their nerves permanently impaired, their future chances of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/linda-s-presentation-of-the-facts-had-been-so-gruesome-that-the/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [The trouble is that people seem to expect happiness in life. I can't imagine why; but they do. They are unhappy before they marry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/the-trouble-is-that-people-seem-to-expect-happiness-in-life-i-can-t/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [“She was filled with a strange, wild, unfamiliar happiness, and knew that this was love. Twice in her life she had mistaken something else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/she-was-filled-with-a-strange-wild-unfamiliar-happiness-and-knew-that/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [You've no idea how long life goes on and how many, many changes it brings. Young people seem to imagine that it's over in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/you-ve-no-idea-how-long-life-goes-on-and-how-many-many-changes-it/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [“There they are, held like flies, in the amber of that moment...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/there-they-are-held-like-flies-in-the-amber-of-that-moment/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [“Women are divided into two categories: those who can deal with the men they are in love with, and those who cannot. Sophia was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/women-are-divided-into-two-categories-those-who-can-deal-with-the-men/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [When the loo paper gets thicker and the writing paper thinner, it's always a bad sign, at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/when-the-loo-paper-gets-thicker-and-the-writing-paper-thinner-it-s/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [There are worse things than poverty, though I can't for the moment remember what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/there-are-worse-things-than-poverty-though-i-can-t-for-the-moment/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [One thing about tourists is that it is very easy to get away from them. Like ants they follow a trail and a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/one-thing-about-tourists-is-that-it-is-very-easy-to-get-away-from/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [What is so nice & so unexpected about life is the way it improves as it goes along. I think you should impress this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/what-is-so-nice-so-unexpected-about-life-is-the-way-it-improves-as-it/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [In France that is the one rule, never make trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/in-france-that-is-the-one-rule-never-make-trouble/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [The English lord marries for love, and is rather inclined to love where money is; he rarely marries in order to improve his coat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/the-english-lord-marries-for-love-and-is-rather-inclined-to-love/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) [Explore all 94 Nancy Mitford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) ## More Baby quotes > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [“I looked down into my baby’s beautiful green eyes and ached inside. She looked up at me with wide-eyed innocence. I kissed her warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/i-looked-down-into-my-baby-s-beautiful-green-eyes-and-ached-inside/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) > [I've retired my sneakers for stilettos, baby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivica-a-fox/i-ve-retired-my-sneakers-for-stilettos-baby/) [Vivica A. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivica-a-fox/) > [I didn't expect to be so comfortable handing my child off to a nanny without getting any of her information. As soon as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-so-comfortable-handing-my-child-off-to-a-nanny/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [And I gave you my all, now baby be mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/and-i-gave-you-my-all-now-baby-be-mine/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) Sheila Kamerman > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [I'm so happy baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/i-m-so-happy-baby/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [Weezy F. Baby. F. is fo' finisha:)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/weezy-f-baby-f-is-fo-finisha/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Baby, I love you. We argue about the stupidest shit then we turn around and laugh about it. I'm obsessed with you and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay/baby-i-love-you-we-argue-about-the-stupidest-shit-then-we-turn-around/) Lindsay > [My dad's Israeli. He was born in Baghdad to Iraqi Jews. Then, at age two, his parents wanted to move to their homeland and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-yamin/my-dad-s-israeli-he-was-born-in-baghdad-to-iraqi-jews-then-at-age-two/) [Elliott Yamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-yamin/) > [Michael Jackson has a new baby boy; no word yet who the father is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/michael-jackson-has-a-new-baby-boy-no-word-yet-who-the-father-is/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I always wondered why babies spend so much time sucking their thumbs. Then I tasted baby food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/i-always-wondered-why-babies-spend-so-much-time-sucking-their-thumbs/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [If all fooles had babies, wee should want fuell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/if-all-fooles-had-babies-wee-should-want-fuell/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [My baby girl Bella is growing up so fast I remember when she was soo tiny, it shows how much she has been loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal/my-baby-girl-bella-is-growing-up-so-fast-i-remember-when-she-was-soo/) [Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal/) [Browse all 5,822 Baby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "the test of a cook is how she boils an egg. My boiled eggs are fantastic, fabulous. Sometimes as hard as a 100 carat diamond, or again soft as a feather bed, or running like a cooling stream, they can also burst like fireworks from their shells and take on the look and rubbery texture of a baby octopus. Never a dull egg, with me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nancy Mitford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/the-test-of-a-cook-is-how-she-boils-an-egg-my-boiled-eggs-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Baby" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/the-test-of-a-cook-is-how-she-boils-an-egg-my-boiled-eggs-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/nancy-mitford-7161_baby_the-test-of-a-cook-is-how-she-boils-an-e_767467.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/nancy-mitford-7161_baby_the-test-of-a-cook-is-how-she-boils-an-e_767467.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/nancy-mitford-7161_baby_the-test-of-a-cook-is-how-she-boils-an-e_767467.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“the test of a cook is how she boils an egg. My boiled eggs are fantastic, fabulous. Sometimes as hard as a…” — Nancy Mitford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nancy Mitford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "the test of a cook is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/the-test-of-a-cook-is-how-she-boils-an-egg-my-boiled-eggs-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/the-test-of-a-cook-is-how-she-boils-an-egg-my-boiled-eggs-are/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```