The Julia Child Method
Ms. Julia Child, the Queen Bee of cooking, had her own method for poaching eggs. Her method calls for parboiling the egg for 10 seconds in the shell before breaking it into the cooking water.
Why? The parboiling preserves the shape of the egg and prevents the wispy white strings from becoming entangled in the water. Because the egg is already warm and cooking, it sets up much faster, which means you won’t have to worry as much about it sticking to the pan’s bottom or sides.
- Using a safety pin or a straight pin, gently poke a small hole in one of the ends of the egg. This is to release any air that is trapped in the egg.
- Using a slotted spoon, lower the egg down into a medium saucepan full of boiling water. Boil for 10 seconds. Then remove with slotted spoon, and let cool until you can handle it (it should only take a minute or two).
- Reduce the heat of pot to where the water is just simmering, then break the egg into the water. Set an egg timer for two minutes for soft eggs or four minutes for hard.
- Lift the egg out of the pan using a slotted spoon, drain on a plate covered with paper towels.
Tips
- Because your egg has already been warmed in the shell, it doesn’t take quite as long to cook. You’ll have to play with the timing to get it just right for you.
- No need to add vinegar to the water with this method; parboiling the egg in the shell should take care of the wispy whites issues.
Poaching Eggs Cups
This is where we start talking about gadgets! Poaching eggs cups first appeared on the scene a few years ago, and they’re a fantastic invention for people who don’t have the space in their kitchen for a full poaching eggs pan but still want an easy and fuss-free way to poaching eggs.
Most poaching egss cups are silicone, and I’ve heard they can also be used to cook eggs in the microwave, though I’ve never tried it. They’re available at most kitchen supply stores. Mine are from EZE Homegoods, and they’re bright and colorful, making me happy.
Bring a medium saucepan full of water to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer, then place an egg poaching cup into the water.
- Coated with multi-layer nonstick for ultra-durability; made using top rated material 3003 aluminum alloy, used for professional grade saucepans
- Two layered nonstick interior is exceptionally durable, double coated, and scratch resistant; sturdy heat resistant bakelite handle is strongly riveted to the pan to create a comfortable grip. Delivers scrumptious results, whether you’re making sauces, gravies, boiling pasta, or simply reheating leftovers
- Dishwasher safe; for hand cleaning, first use a paper towel, wooden or plastic spatula to remove any loose food from the pan; then use a sponge, or paper towel sprinkled with a few drops of dish-washing soap to wipe the surface clean
- Always let the cookware cool before washing or putting under water in the sink or dishwasher
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Gently break an egg into the cup.
Place the lid over the pot. Set an egg timer for three minutes for a soft egg or five minutes for a hard egg.
When the timer is up, remove the lid then scoop out the egg cup using a slotted spoon or a ladle. Use a spoon to remove the egg from the cup.
- Sturdy stainless steel ladle neatly scoops soups, sauces and gravy
- Dual-sided pour spouts make serving easy for right-and left-handed users
- Angled design keeps liquid in the ladle when scooping
- Soft, comfortable, non-slip grip, even when wet
- Polished design for kitchen-to-table appeal
- Dishwasher s
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Tips
- Silicone is not a great conductor of heat, so these actually might take longer to get your egg to the right doneness. Also, because of this, you’ll need to use a pot with a lid to trap in steam and heat.
- Poaching eggs cups are great if you want to do multiple poaching eggs at once!
- Some silicone is more non-stick than others, so you might want to err on the side of caution and spray your cups with cooking spray before adding in the egg. I have no problem with eggs sticking in my cups.
Poaching Eggs Pan
When I was a kid, my parents had poaching eggs pan, and we had poached eggs on toast every week for breakfast! An egg poaching pan makes it simple to make a large batch of perfectly poached eggs at once. If you enjoy poached eggs (and don’t mind being a “cheater”), an egg poaching pan is a must-have.
In the kitchen, I’m not usually a fan of unitaskers, but my egg poaching pan is the best pan for me . Two for Mama, two for Daddy, and one for our adorable egg-loving toddler, the five spots are ideal for our small family. There are also smaller and larger poaching pans available.
- Fill the bottom of your egg poaching pan with water, then replace the cups. If using a steel pan, spray the cups liberally with cooking spray (not necessary if you have a nonstick one). Bring the pan to boil over high heat.
- Once the pot is boiling, break eggs into the sprayed cups.
- Place lid over pan, and then set a timer for three minutes for soft eggs or five minutes for hard eggs.
- Remove the lid, then using a spoon, lift the egg out of the cup.
Tips
- An egg poaching pan is great for checking doneness, because just a simple shake of the pan can tell you how done your egg is. Really jiggly? Not done yet. Just the yolk looks jiggly? Perfect!
- Once the timer is up, make sure to lift the eggs out of the poaching water immediately —they will continue to cook if left in the pan.
Last but not least, here’s my best recommendation for egg poaching pan!
- ★ Perfect Egg Poacher: This 4-cup egg poacher set comes equipped with a durable 10-inch 18/8 stainless steel pan, tempered glass lid, removable tray, four non-stick Teflon-coated egg cups, and a silicone spatula to poach your eggs to perfection. Each egg poacher cup can hold up to one large egg.
- ★ Strong & Dependable: Large and sturdy, the stainless steel pan allows the eggs to cook in 2 cups of water, while steam passes through the small holes in the insert. The see-through glass cover makes it easy to keep track of your eggs. The stay-cool handle prevents overheating and allows gripping without any pain or hassle!
- ★ Make Egg-cellent Dishes: Cook a delicious breakfast or brunch or get creative with egg-inspired dinner dishes. All four of the Teflon cups are deep enough to be used like miniature sauté pans allowing you to prepare custom egg creations for you and your family, seasoned to your liking.
- ★ Great Pan for Everyday Use: Once you’re done poaching your eggs, you can remove the insert and use pan for all your other cooking needs. Product Dimensions: Approx. 4” tall with lid on, 8” diameter across the bottom of pan, and 7” handle.
- ★ Scoop & Clean with Ease: The silicone spatula makes egg removal quick and easy. Order your egg poacher set tod
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Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.
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