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.)

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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).

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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!

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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

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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 is the trick for poached eggs? ›

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.

How to poach eggs for dummies? ›

Crack the egg into a small bowl or cup. Carefully slide the egg into the simmering water. Use a spoon to gently nudge the egg whites towards the yolk, forming a neat oval shape. Let the egg cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the whites are set and the yolk is cooked to your liking.

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.

How do you poach an egg cheat? ›

  1. The Sydney-based mum told followers to crack an egg in a quarter-filled cup of water, poke the whites around the yolk with a fork and pop it in the microwave for 45 seconds.
  2. The result is a perfectly-cooked poached egg, which pairs perfectly with a slice of sourdough toast and some fresh avocado.
Feb 1, 2022

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.

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!

Should you poach an egg in boiling water? ›

The poaching water should just barely simmer; rapid boiling will cause the eggs to break up as they cook. Poached eggs can be made ahead of time and held for up to two days. Undercook them slightly so the yolks remain runny when reheated. Refrigerate in enough water to cover the eggs.

What is the poached egg hack? ›

Add a teaspoon of white vinegar to a small saucepan of cold water and bring to boil. Turn heat off and stir the water to form a swirl, and add the egg, it helps to keep the white intact, rather than it separating. Place a lid on the saucepan and leave for 3-4 minutes.

What is the best method of poaching eggs? ›

Barely Simmering Water Makes the Best Poached Eggs

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 poach eggs without them falling apart? ›

Simply bring a pot of water to a boil and add vinegar, salt, and pepper — then use a whisk to create a strong whirlpool. Crack your egg directly into the swirl, then let it poach for 90 seconds to two minutes. The whirlpool keeps it together and gives it a nice round shape.

What are the tips for poaching? ›

The key to proper poaching is to make sure your liquid's not too hot. Unlike braising, where you're looking for a vibrant simmer, poaching liquid should be just shy of that. You should see tiny, tiny bubbles on the bottom of your pot or around the edge of the pan, but no bubbles should break the surface.

Why does vinegar make poached eggs better? ›

"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."

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