Inventor sees the light with egg-boiler

A British inventor has created the perfect way to boil an egg – without using water.

Simon Rhymes has designed the Bulbed Egg Maker (BEM) which uses high powered light bulbs to cook the egg and then lops the top off at the right height for dunking toast soldiers.

The 23-year-old thought up the innovative idea while studying project design at Bournemouth University, from which he graduated in July, and has now formed his own company to market it.

He said: “I thought that boiling an egg was rather labour-intensive for the rewards you get.

“I read that light bulbs gave off so much heat it might be more energy -efficient to leave lights on in the house to heat it rather than using central heating.

“I started to experiment and cooked an egg under a table lamp and that took about half an hour.

“Then I came across the halogen lights and adapted them to put in the BEM. I experimented with about 600 eggs. I got sick of testing them but now I can produce the perfect boiled egg every time.”

The egg is lowered into the 30cm (12in) machine, which has four halogen bulbs.

In six minutes it produces an egg with a yolk runny enough for toast soldiers - the time can be altered for a softer or harder result.

Once the egg is done, the top is cut off at a circumference of 40mm (1.5in), which Mr Rhymes says is wide enough for soldiers.

Mr Rhymes said he has patented the design and is now seeking investors and manufacturers for the product.

He said: “Hopefully, the machine will become a common household item like a toaster.”