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Food

Poached eggs

(97 Posts)
GrannyIvy Tue 29-Apr-25 07:29:18

I really struggle to cook the perfect poached egg. I gave up trying for many years but decided to attempt this again recently.

I had one of those little double eggs baskets you hook on the edge of a saucepan but after several failed attempts have bought a pan with four egg poacher sections from John Lewis.

First attempt forgot to put lid on and the top of the egg wouldn’t set and then were not softly poached and stuck to pan.

Second attempt difficult to know when cooked kept lifting the lid and after 5 mins our eggs were not soft and runny but again hard. I sprayed low cal oil in egg poacher prior to putting egg in and eggs did come out easily.

Third attempt last night, 4 mins eggs looked cooked, were difficult to remove despite greasing egg poacher and first one collapsed underneath before it hit the plate. Both were underdone.

Before I give up again and return to fried eggs can anyone help me? How long do you poach an egg for? Should you grease egg basket?

Any help gratefully appreciated

Madmeg Mon 05-May-25 16:38:00

Small saucepan, dash of vinegar, bring to boil. Crack eggs one at time into cup to ensure yolks not broken, tip into pan. Cook for a few minutes till done as you like them.

Never used any sort of gadget - my mum neither. She stood by the back door to beat her cake mixture, whip cream or egg whites for a meringue (both with a fork!) and wouldn't have given you tuppence for a food mixer!

Polwal Mon 05-May-25 16:43:27

Boil water..turn down to simmering ..stir water so it's swirling ..crack egg in . I've mastered this after cooking a poached egg nearly every day for my dad.

Allira Mon 05-May-25 17:12:55

AliSut1959

My lovely daughter-in-law sent me a video of an Italian chef cooking the egg in a Pyrex style bowl in about 250 ml water (max) for about 1 minute on full power (900w - 1000w) in the microwave. You may have to cook for a bit longer if you want your egg yolk a bit more cooked. It all depends on your microwave oven. Once you’ve got the timings cracked (no pun intended!) it is so quick and easy to get a perfect poached egg.

I am never going to try cooking one in the microwave again 😁

There was egg in every tiny crevice.

Allira Mon 05-May-25 17:16:02

Astitchintime

I poach eggs in a frying pan with around 2 cm of water in it, cover once cooking. Perfect every time

Yes, I've seen DD do them like that. My mother had an egg poacher, rather like this but an older version.

WelshPoppy Mon 05-May-25 17:17:33

I used to use the plastic cups poachers but wasn't keen on the outcome then I saw this method somewhere on the Internet, tried it and never had a bad one since.

Cracks eggs into small container (separately). Bring water and white vinegar to the boil in a shallow pan/small frying pan. When at a rolling boil switch off heat, empty the eggs into the water, cover pan for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and serve.

Michelleartist Mon 05-May-25 17:22:54

Hello everyone, I'm a grandmother artist-writer, a Canadian living in the US near Niagara Falls. I thought all you fans of poached eggs might enjoy a photo of a new painting I completed called "Spring Season Opener". Eggs poached in simmering water 3 min, drained, floaty bits trimmed off, placed on poached asparagus which is sitting on a buttered toast! Enjoy! (my art website is www.michellemarcotte.com

grandMattie Mon 05-May-25 17:31:23

I poach eggs in the microwave.
Put just enough water to cover the egg in a smallish bowl. Break the egg into it, microwave for one minute at a time. Job done.

Allira Mon 05-May-25 17:33:58

grandMattie

I poach eggs in the microwave.
Put just enough water to cover the egg in a smallish bowl. Break the egg into it, microwave for one minute at a time. Job done.

Well, I don't know where I went wrong!

Not enough water? Do you start off with cold or hot water?

SuperTinny Mon 05-May-25 18:01:53

keepingquiet

I use paper poachies from the Co-op- not perfect but good enough. I love poached eggs!

Me too....

V3ra Mon 05-May-25 18:12:41

I am never going to try cooking one in the microwave again 😁

There was egg in every tiny crevice.

Allira I always understood you should pierce the egg yolk, to avoid it exploding in the microwave, but I haven't seen anyone else mention this in this thread?

Allira Mon 05-May-25 18:56:10

Oh, thank you V3ra

It was a mighty bang for such a small object!

cc Mon 05-May-25 19:21:48

We have poached eggs every other day. I use a smallish non-stick sauté pan which I fill with water, bring the water to a very gentle simmer and then break the eggs directly into the water. You can break them into a cup first if you find this easier. Reasonably fresh eggs will stay in one piece.
You can fish them out easily with one of these:
images.dunelm.com/30247321.jpg?$standardplayerdefault$&img404=noimagedefault

brittaniagirl Mon 05-May-25 19:45:26

Use the freshest of eggs, otherwise they spread-boil water to rolling then turn down to light simmer and let sit for a few mins lifting with slotted spoon to see if done. Can cook eggs but never cooked a successful Yorkshire pudding in 40 years

PamQS Mon 05-May-25 23:56:46

I add vinegar to the water - just a few drops - and drop the eggs in when it comes back to the boil.

I think I used to try and take them out too soon, so they'd fall apart - you need to wait till they look like poached eggs!

I was given some silicone egg poaching cups and they took forever, I think the metal egg-poaching pans are probably a bit quicker.

Menopauselbitch Tue 06-May-25 00:25:14

Line a mug with clingfilm, crack egg into it, twist, drop in boiling water for 3 mins, lift and snip

Chrissy19 Tue 06-May-25 09:10:06

I have always used a poaching pan and just ensure I keep a close eye on the eggs whilst they are cooking. I put plenty of butter in the cups and make sure it covers all the surface to avoid the eggs sticking. Once the water has come to the boil I turn the temperature down so that it is just simmering, put the lid on and a few minutes later check if the surface of the eggs has set. A visual check is usually sufficient to see if the eggs are cooked, but a gentle touch will confirm that they are ready.

Shirls52000 Tue 06-May-25 09:17:03

I love a poached egg but always do them by just breaking the eggs into a pan of boiling water

Magz57 Tue 06-May-25 09:19:05

I microwave poached eggs all the time and have never had one explode on me. Have had a split but it’s never the yolk just pockets of air in the whites.
Crack egg into small bowl of boiling water. 45 seconds on microwave. Depending on how runny you like your yolk and obviously that size of the egg you can experiment with a few more or less seconds

Renata1079 Tue 06-May-25 09:41:28

I crack two eggs into a small circular pan of boiling water, and use a slim silicone spatula close to the sides of the pan to gently stir the water around and around for a few seconds (avoiding the eggs). The stirring stops the egg whites from flowing in the water too far away from the eggs. I then put the pan lid on (glass in my case, like Fairislecable, so I can watch the progress of the eggs) and heat for about 1 min 30 seconds - or just under 2 mins.

I take the eggs out with a perforated spoon. So simple. I've thrown away all my silly egg poaching gadgets! My adult children always say the eggs are lovely.

1summer Tue 06-May-25 09:56:44

Lizzies

Faierynan

I was told by someone running the kitchen in a B and B to bring a pan of water to the boil, drop the egg in, bring it back to the boil and immediately turn the heat of, lid on and time for exactly three minutes. Serve. I have never had a badly cooked egg since doing it this way.

This is what I have started doing! I read it somewhere and I have had more poached eggs this year than the last decade!

Used this method for years, except I use a small frying pan as easier to get out. But I cook for 5 minutes ( I always use large eggs so this might make a difference).

Maidmarion Wed 07-May-25 18:27:11

Apparently the freshness of the eggs is a crucial part of this! I’m still useless at poached eggs but my daughter in USA is ace… perfect every single time lol!!!!!