I had a method for soft boiled that starts with cold water half the height of the egg I think it was 6 mins and they are perfect
When I was a kid, my mom would make soft-boiled eggs like this: Put 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar into a bowl. Cut up a slice of toast into cubes, about 1/2 inch and add to bowl. Empty soft-boiled eggs from shells into bowl, salt & pepper, mix it all up. YUM
People way over cook them...and you get that gray ring. Yuk