Easy Poached Eggs (2024)

How to make perfect poached eggs. I learned this foolproof method years ago and never looked back. It’s so easy, anyone can do it!

Easy Poached Eggs (1)

Poached eggs are one of those things I think people are scared to make at home, and I’m here to tell you that you can! Not only that, but once you try our easy method for poaching eggs, you’ll want to do it again and again!

Use this poached egg recipe to make eggs for a healthy breakfast or dinner. I love them with eggs Benedict, avocado toast, grits, and pasta, and served simply with buttered toast or these homemade English muffins.

How to Make Poached Eggs

To make poached eggs, you will need a wide pot, eggs, a bit of salt, and some vinegar (optional, I’ll explain below).

Fill your pot at least 4 inches deep with water and bring to a gentle simmer. Add a generous pinch of salt and a little bit of vinegar. The salt helps season the eggs, and the vinegar helps the egg whites stay together while they poach. The vinegar is optional, but I use it when I poach eggs. (We only use 1 tablespoon, which isn’t enough to flavor the eggs.)

Easy Poached Eggs (2)

Break each egg into a clean ramekin or cup as the water heats up. I don’t recommend cracking your eggs directly into the water.

Check your pot of water and adjust the heat so that it is just barely simmering. I like to see little bubbles at the bottom of the pan, with a few actually making their way to the top to burst.

Carefully slide your eggs, one at a time, into the water, and then set a timer for 3 to 4 minutes, depending on how runny you want your yolk (3 minutes is completely runny like our photos, while 4 minutes has some firmer yolk with a soft center).

Easy Poached Eggs (3)

Use a slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the water. Let them sit on paper towels for 20 seconds to firm up and blot away excess water. Season with salt and pepper, and enjoy!

Easy Poached Eggs (4)

Using a fine mesh strainer:If you have trouble with wispy white bits around your eggs as they are poaching, use this simple trick! Before poaching, crack your egg into a fine-mesh strainer held over a bowl. The thinnest, runniest part of the white will go through the strainer, leaving behind the thicker white that sets nicely when poached. Your poaching water will be cleaner, and your eggs will have a more well-defined shape.

Easy Poached Eggs (5)

Make Ahead Poached Eggs

You can poach eggs ahead of time (perfect for brunch or an easy breakfast)! To do this, poach the eggs as directed in our recipe, then carefully transfer them to an ice water bath to cool quickly. Refrigerate the eggs in a covered container submerged in the water for up to 3 days.

When ready to serve, fill a pot or cup with very hot (not boiling) water and add your chilled poached eggs. Leave them for about 30 seconds, and then serve.

Easy Poached Eggs

Save

Email

  • PREP
  • COOK
  • TOTAL

This is our easy recipe for poached eggs. You can poach as many eggs as you need to. If you poach multiple eggs at a time, try not to crowd the water. It might be better to make more than one batch. Fresh eggs work best for this since they hold their shape better than older eggs. Think of the vinegar as a fail-safe. It helps to firm the whites and keep their shape. If you do not want to add it, you can still make poached eggs without it.

1 (or more) eggs

You Will Need

1 fresh egg (or more)

1 tablespoon white vinegar or rice wine vinegar, optional

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, optional

Directions

    1Line a small baking sheet or plate with paper towels or a clean dish towel.

    2Fill a wide saucepan at least 4 inches deep with water and bring to a boil over high heat.

    3Lower the heat to low and bring the water to a very gentle simmer. Bubbles should form at the bottom of the pan, but only a few will actually break on the surface.

    4Add the vinegar and salt to the water (optional).

    5Crack the egg into a small bowl and carefully slide it into the water. Set a timer for 3 to 4 minutes (3 minutes for completely runny yolks). After 20 seconds, use a spoon to carefully push the egg white up over the yolk, making it more compact.

    6Transfer the poached egg with a slotted spoon to the lined baking sheet or plate and leave for 15 to 20 seconds before serving.

Adam and Joanne's Tips

  • Cook time: 3 minutes is completely runny, while 4 minutes has some firmer yolk with a soft center.
  • Watery egg whites: If you have trouble with wispy white bits around your eggs as they are poaching, use this simple trick! Before poaching, crack your egg into a fine-mesh strainer held over a bowl. The thinnest, runniest part of the white will go through the strainer, leaving behind the thicker white that sets nicely when poached. Your poaching water will be cleaner, and your eggs will have a more well-defined shape.
  • Nutritional information are estimates.

Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1 egg / Calories 71 / Total Fat 5g / Saturated Fat 2g / Cholesterol 185mg / Sodium 62mg / Carbohydrate 0g / Total Sugars 0g / Protein 6g

AUTHOR: Adam and Joanne Gallagher

Easy Poached Eggs (2024)

FAQs

What are three tricks to making the best poached egg? ›

9 Tips for the Perfect Poached Egg At Home
  1. Start with fresh eggs. The fresher the eggs, the better! ...
  2. Wait a sec: Give the water a moment to stop boiling. ...
  3. Use vinegar. ...
  4. Use a small bowl. ...
  5. Swirl the water. ...
  6. Don't crowd the pot! ...
  7. Avoid cooking the egg for longer than 3 minutes. ...
  8. Try a soup ladle.

Do I need vinegar to poach an egg? ›

Add a generous pinch of salt and a little bit of vinegar. The salt helps season the eggs, and the vinegar helps the egg whites stay together while they poach. The vinegar is optional, but I use it when I poach eggs.

What is the TikTok poached egg hack? ›

I love eggs, Betty. Add equal parts of water and vinegar to a bowl, then crack in your eggs, leaving them for at least 10 minutes. They'll form a soft layer on the outside. so when you boil them, you don't get all those splugy bits, resulting in the best poached egg you've ever had.

Can you poach an egg with just hot water? ›

GET THE CORRECT WATER TEMPERATURE

The water should not be boiling, but more than simmering so that the movement in the water can be seen.

Why is vinegar often put in the water used to poach eggs? ›

The other way is to increase the acidity of how you're cooking it. "Vinegar is an inherently acidic material, so if we add a few drops of vinegar into that boiling water that is going to increase the rate of denaturing and it's going to make that happen faster and help the poached egg hold its shape better."

How to poach an egg in a preppy kitchen? ›

Crack one egg into a small cup. Lower the cup into the water, gently easing the egg out of the cup. Poach the egg for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the desired doneness. (A longer cook time will result in a firmer white and less runny yolk.)

What happens if you poach an egg without vinegar? ›

Do you need to add vinegar to poach eggs? Adding a splash of vinegar to the water sets the whites faster, so you have fewer wispy bits. However, if you follow the other tips this extra step usually isn't necessary.

How long should you poach an egg for? ›

A really soft poached egg should take around 2 minutes and a soft-to-firm one will need 4 minutes (it depends on the size of the egg and whether you're using it straight from the fridge). To check if it's done, carefully remove your egg from the pan with a slotted spoon and give it a gentle prod with a teaspoon.

What's the secret to poached eggs? ›

The main trick I use when I make poached eggs is to use water that is barely simmering. Fewer bubbles means less agitation of the water that can break up and disperse the egg whites. I crack the egg into a cup first, then, when the water is at a bare simmer, gently slide the egg into the water.

How to add flavor to poached eggs? ›

In a shallow dish, combine the vinegar, paprika and garlic powder and whisk until dissolved. Carefully crack the eggs into the dish with the vinegar and let stand 5 minutes. Meanwhile, fill a wide pot approximately 3 inches deep with water. Bring the water to a simmer and season to taste with salt.

Can you poach an egg in a microwave? ›

Fill a microwave-safe coffee cup, glass, or microwave-safe liquid measuring cup with 1/2 cup of cold tap water. Crack 1 egg into the cup. Place a saucer on top of the cup so that it covers the opening completely. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then see if the egg white is cooked through.

How do you poach an egg in one minute? ›

How to Cook 1 Minute Poached Eggs
  1. Step 1: Fill a Coffee Cup Half Full With Water.
  2. Step 2: Next Crack the Egg Into the Water.
  3. Step 3: Sit a Plate on Top of the Cup.
  4. Step 4: Place the Cup and Plate Into the Microwave. Set the timer for 1 minute. ...
  5. Step 5: Scoop Out the Egg Using a Slotted Spoon.
  6. Step 6: Done!

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Allyn Kozey

Last Updated:

Views: 5449

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Allyn Kozey

Birthday: 1993-12-21

Address: Suite 454 40343 Larson Union, Port Melia, TX 16164

Phone: +2456904400762

Job: Investor Administrator

Hobby: Sketching, Puzzles, Pet, Mountaineering, Skydiving, Dowsing, Sports

Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.