Which method is required for achieving a soft yolk when cooking eggs?

Cooking eggs "over easy" is a technique specifically designed to achieve a soft yolk while ensuring that the egg white is fully cooked. This method involves frying the eggs on one side until the whites are set, then gently flipping them to cook the other side briefly. The key is to leave the yolk runny, which is the hallmark of a soft yolk.

The other options do not achieve the desired outcome of a soft yolk. Cooking eggs hard would result in a fully cooked yolk, which is not soft at all. Whisking eggs thoroughly would actually make them scrambled rather than keeping the yolk intact, thereby removing the ability to achieve a soft yolk. Frying eggs without flipping them would cook the yolk on only one side, likely causing it to either remain raw or to cook unevenly, depending on the cooking time and heat applied. Thus, cooking eggs over easy is the preferred method for achieving a soft yolk.