China Douyin ‘Egg Master’ gains 4 million followers with egg-boiling method precise to the second

The story began with a post showing a perfectly boiled egg made by a user’s father. In the comments, an account named "Egg Master" shared a photo of his own boiled egg, describing it as flawless.

"This is the result of boiling the egg in rolling water for 9 minutes and 12 seconds, then immediately soaking it in cold water," the account wrote, as reported by Znews.

The unusually exact timing, down to the second, quickly sparked skepticism. The account soon followed up with another comment addressing the doubts. "Do not doubt it. I eat 40 boiled eggs a day, continuously for five years," the person said. "When it comes to boiled eggs, I know every moment, every second."

A slice of bread with avocado spread and boiled eggs. Photo from Pexels

The confident claim prompted many users to test the method and confirm it with photos of soft-boiled eggs with smooth, custardy yolks. As the recipe spread, the "Egg Master" account was given nicknames such as "Egg-Boiling Immortal" and "Master of Yolk Control."

The user was even able to identify why others failed, simply by examining photos, whether due to excessive heat or delays in cooling eggs in chilled water. Even without posting any content, the account quickly went viral attracting millions of followers on Douyin within three days and forming a fan community called the "Egg Army."

Following strong encouragement from followers, "Egg Master" uploaded a first instructional video on Dec. 4. The account’s growth continued at pace, surpassing four million followers within 10 days, averaging more than 400,000 new followers per day.

The channel focuses entirely on egg-based cooking, offering practical and easy-to-follow tips. Popular videos include side-by-side comparisons showing how egg yolks change at different boiling times, measured precisely with a stopwatch.

The content has since expanded beyond boiled eggs to other dishes, including Japanese-style rolled eggs, techniques for frying eggs without breaking the yolk, and steamed egg custard with a melt-in-the-mouth texture. Engagement in the comments remains high, with users regularly sharing photos of their results after following the instructions.

Douyin Vice President Zhi Ying said users cannot manipulate the platform’s algorithms to "manufacture internet idols."

He added that the success of accounts like "Egg Master" does not come from chasing trends, but from persistence, meticulousness, and taking even the simplest task to a level of absolute mastery.