Following on from seeing the egg-timer solution in the first world problems post, lets see what STW solutions there are to that great first world problem, how to cook the perfect poached egg without it devolving into a frothy mess?

We’ll take fresh eggs as a given.

My preferred method is to sit the eggs in a bowl of hot water (not boiled, from the hot tap), for a couple of minutes to pre-warm and then crack into a deep sided frying pan with inch deep gently simmering water.

cling film. wrap it up in cling film then 3.5 mins no eggy mess in pan and perfect poachy egg

Remove from fridge 30 minutes before poaching.

Use proper egg poacher from T K Maxx.

Free range eggs, wholemeal bread and proper English butter.

Edit: poached eggs on toast is the food of the gods. 8)

I bring to boil salted (sea salt) water then turn heat down until it’s not boiling anymore then spin in a circular motion (whirlpool) with a whisk, wait until less aggravated, crack the egg into the middle and wait until cooked. If the egg needs a little more encouragement to cook, I turu up the heat again.

cling film method works well, you can snip the film shut with the plastic clips used for food bags

the chefs method is to add a little vinegar to the water and then spin the water to create a small whirlpool (not a raging torrent), break a fresh egg into a cup and then gently slide the egg into the centre of the pool. The water should be very gently simmering having been previously brought to the boil

+1 cinnanom girl, the food of gods.

What’s a ‘proper egg poacher pan?’ Surely a sauce pan is a ‘proper’ egg poaching pan?
Following this thread as I’ve never quite mastered proper poached eggs.

Heathens! Not sure I agree with this new-fangled use of plastic-y stuff betwixt the egg and the water, cheating surely? I always thinks eggs from poached egg pans don’t taste as good but maybe it’s just in my mind.

Practice and a steady hand! I can now poach 4 eggs in one pan at the same time. Just boil some water, keep the heat on and gently crack the egg in to the water.

I have got a microwave poacher which makes rubbish poached eggs, however it gets used every week day for breakfast eggs.

Boil the egg for 20 seconds before cracking into the gently boiling water and simmering for 2 minutes.

http://direct.asda.com/ASDA-Non-Stick-Egg-Poacher—20cm-Fry-Pan/001416409,default,pd.html?utm_source=ggle-shop&utm_medium=css&utm_term=001416409&utm_content=Home&utm_campaign=ad&cm_mmc=ad-css-_-ggle-shop-_-Home-_-001416409&istCompanyId=71f4ae42-94c5-4821-aa58-05eff6da2486&istItemId=xtaatrii&istBid=t

those egg poacher things are just shaped egg fryers..

Use proper egg poacher

Er don’t do that.

those “poached egg pans” are not making real poached eggs they’re just fried in small cups

a real poached egg has to be submerged in water!

Just drop a fresh egg in a bit of hot/simmering water, wait until the prefered consistancy then eat.

Say no to gadgets, bags and definetly no to vinager.

a real poached egg has to be submerged in water!

My water is like chalk, no thanks!

They’re not fried in those pans and the temperature’s too low, but they’re certainly not poached. Poached is much, much, much, much nicer.

Hot fat in a frying pan, crack egg into the hot fat.

http://www.b3ta.com/features/howtopoachanegg/

No they’re not – fried eggs are, well, fried. the poachers steam them, and steam is water in a slightly different format.

I used to consume a vast quantity of poached eggs when we had chickens.

the trick is to use really really fresh eggs… then you don’t need any tricks at all. Just break the egg into simmering water.

I used to use a frying pan full of simmering water, and break 6 eggs into it. The eggs stay perfectly self contained, just pick them out when they’re cooked to your liking 🙂

DTH (doubt that helps)

Dave

water is like chalk

Move north to where water is not chalky and poached eggs are submerged.

No they’re not – fried eggs are, well, fried. the poachers steam them, and steam is water in a slightly different format.

Not if the steam heats up the bottom of a non stick pan. The pan frys the egg – thats what a “poacher ” does.

To be poached they have to be in contact with liquid water.

Christ I’m having poached egg on toast tonight.

A pair of poached eggs on dry cured bacon a few days ago. Shame I only had cheapo brown bread, really they needed some yummy home made soda bread like me mammy used to make.

Saucepan with ‘whirlpool’ method here. Seems to work just fine.
Tried the vinegar thing in the past, didn’t really notice any difference, eggs seem to stay together without it.

I think I shall try the shallower frying pan method next time, and report back !

we have some silicon things that float in water that perform the cling film job

Back up a bit…..Eggs in a fridge????

we have some silicon things that float in water that perform the cling film job

Explain how you break an egg into some cling film without it going every where please

Explain how you break an egg into some cling film without it going every where please

Get some microwaveable clingfilm
Get a cup
Push the cling film into the cup, and crack the egg into the cling film
You should be able to tie the clingfilm around the top of the egg,
Drop egg into boiling water, and poach normally

Mmmmm duck eggs, even better than hens eggs.

Never spent ages scrubbing pan after poaching an egg.

Never spent ages scrubbing pan after poaching an egg.

Glad to have answered your question.

Glad to have answered your question.

Much thanks my friend

Much thanks my friend

Don’t mention. Happy to oblige!

This is all very interesting, but does anyone know how they get the boiled egg into the centre of a pork pie?

I suspect witchcraft

How long in the water for a cling filmed eggy?

This is all very interesting, but does anyone know how they get the boiled egg into the centre of a pork pie?

They separate the yolks and whites, then use a syringe to inject them into the pork.

Sorry toys but that pic looks like prison food! 😯

Whooooaa! Don’t forget Heinz Ketchup on the side!

and must be accompanied with a cup of tea. Any other beverage would be perverse in the circumstances.

This is all very interesting, but does anyone know how they get the boiled egg into the centre of a pork pie?

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVYESxgpzcs[/video]