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How To Make Perfect Poached Eggs
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5 from 1 vote

Perfect Poached Eggs

Poached eggs form the foundation of many popular dishes like Eggs Benedict. Here's how to make the perfect poached eggs.
Prep Time6 minutes
Cook Time4 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American, French
Servings: 1
Calories: 63kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • water
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 egg

Instructions

  • Prepare the water- Fill a wide pan or pot with water to a depth of at least 3 inches. Add about a tablespoon of vinegar and a small amount of salt (about 1 ½ teaspoons salt per ½ gallon of water). Bring the water to a gentle simmer- you should see small bubbles periodically rise to the surface.
  • Prepare the egg- Crack the egg into a ramekin or cup.
  • Put the egg in the water- Gently pour the egg from the cup into the poaching liquid. The egg will drop to the bottom of the pot and then rise to the surface.
  • Cook the egg- Poach the egg for 3-4 minutes. A properly poached egg should have a fully coagulated egg white with a yolk that’s partially set (slightly thickened but still flowing).
  • Remove the egg from the water- Remove the egg with a slotted spoon and blot on a paper towel to remove any excess water. Trim the edges with a knife if they’re ragged.
  • Serve- Serve poached egg on toast or as desired.

Notes

Some people like to use the whirlpool method where you swirl the water with a slotted spoon to form a vortex before dropping an egg into the center.  This may help the egg hold its shape as it cooks.  This method is hard to do if you're cooking multiple eggs but if you're just poaching one egg, you can add this step. 

Nutrition

Calories: 63kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 61mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg