Basic Poached Eggs Recipes

EASY POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• In a 12-inch straight-sided skillet, heat 2 inches water over medium until bubbles cover the bottom and sides of pan. Crack each large egg into a separate small bowl (do not use eggs with broken yolks). When a few bubbles have broken the surface of the water, gently pour each egg into the pan, leaving room between them.
• Cook eggs, undisturbed, until white is just set and yolk is still runny, 3 to 4 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to gently release eggs from the bottom of pan, if necessary.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove eggs from water. If using immediately, blot the bottom of the spoon on a paper towel to remove excess water before serving.

BASIC POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• Fill a medium bowl with iced water; set aside. Fill a large wide saucepan with about 4 inches of water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, so water is barely simmering. Break 1 egg at a time into a small heatproof bowl. Gently tip bowl into water, letting egg slide into the water. Using a spoon, cover yolk with some of the egg white; repeat with remaining 3 eggs. When eggs begin to become opaque, carefully transfer eggs using a slotted spoon to iced water to stop cooking. Trim edges with a small knife or scissors to create a uniform shape.

EASY POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• Heat the water: Fill a saucepan with several inches of water. Heat the water on high until it reaches a boil and then lower the heat until the water is at a bare simmer (just a few bubbles coming up now and then).
• Crack the egg into a small bowl and gently slip it into the water: Working with the eggs one at a time, crack the egg into a small bowl or cup. Place the bowl close to the surface of the hot water and gently slip the egg into the water. If you want, use a spoon to push some of the egg whites closer to their yolks, to help them hold together. Add all of the eggs you are poaching to the pan in the same way, keeping some distance between them.
• Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let sit for 4 minutes: Turn off the heat and cover the pan. Set a timer for 4 minutes. At this point the egg whites should be completely cooked, while the egg yolks are still runny. Note that the timing depends on the size of the eggs, the number of eggs in the pot, and if you are cooking at altitude, so adjust accordingly. If you are at altitude, want firmer egg yolks, or are poaching more than 4 eggs at once, you may need to cook them longer. If you try 4 minutes and the eggs are too cooked, reduce the time.
• Remove the eggs with slotted spoon: Gently lift the poached eggs out of the pan with a slotted spoon and place on a plate to serve.
• Strain the thin whites with a fine mesh sieve: Place the raw egg into a fine mesh sieve over a bowl. The very thin egg whites will drain out through the sieve.
• Gently add to hot the water: Then gently ease the raw egg into your pot of simmering hot water.
• Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and poach for 4 minutes: Notice how there is much less stray egg whites with this method? Turn off the heat and cover the pot (or just lower the heat to low), and poach for 4 minutes until the whites are cooked through. (You may need to add more time if cooking at altitude or poaching more than 4 eggs at once.) Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon.

PERFECT POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• Heat the water: Add enough water to come 1 inch up the side of a narrow, deep 2-quart saucier. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 2 teaspoons white vinegar and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile, crack 1 very fresh cold large egg into a custard cup or small ramekin. Use the handle of a spatula or spoon to quickly stir the water in one direction until it's all smoothly spinning around.
• TIP: Use this whirlpool method when poaching a single serving (one or two eggs). For bigger batches, heat the water, salt and vinegar in a 12-inch nonstick skillet and do not stir.
• Add the egg: Carefully drop the egg into the center of the whirlpool. The swirling water will help prevent the white from "feathering," or spreading out in the pan.
• Let it poach: Turn off the heat, cover the pan and set your timer for 5 minutes. Don't peek, poke, stir or accost the egg in any way.
• Lift it out: Remove the egg with a slotted spoon and serve immediately. Alternatively, move the egg to an ice bath and refrigerate up to 8 hours. Reheat in warm water just before serving.

POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• Fill a large saucepan with about 4 inches of water. Add salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. Break one egg at a time into the water. Using a spoon, gently spoon the egg whites over the yolks.
• When the eggs begin to become opaque, remove them from the saucepan with a slotted spoon. Drain on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. The eggs may be made a day in advance, and stored in cold water in the refrigerator. To reheat, place in a saucepan of simmering water until heated through.

EASY MICROWAVE POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• Pour water into a microwave-safe cup or bowl; add vinegar. Cracks eggs into the cup.
• Cook eggs in the microwave for 1 minute 20 seconds. Drain.

PERFECT POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• Fill a large pan with water, add a splash of malt vinegar and bring it to the boil
• While the water's boiling, crack each egg into a ramekin - this makes it much easier to get them in quickly
• Once boiling, use a whisk to swirl the water round quickly, tip both eggs in, set your timer to 2 minutes and leave well alone! Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and serve...