Can someone give me quick instructions on how to poach an egg, please?

[ScummyMummy]

I really fancy one but have forgotten how to make them, if I ever knew. Do I need a special pan? tia.

[Satine]

I just use a frying pan - put water in until it's a couple of inches deep, heat until tiny bubbles are just appearing on the bottom of the pan, turn heat down to keep at this temperature and break eggs into water. Cook for about 2 or 3 minutes, depending how well done you like them, then remove and drain. hth!

[ScummyMummy]

Thanks Satine I'm going to go for it now!

[tarantula]

put boiling water in pan and put on heat, bring back to a gentle boil, swirl round with a spoon to create a whirlpool effect (not strictly necessary but helps keep egg together if not as fresh as it should be and lets face it most supermarket eggs arent), drop egg in and cook on a gentle heat for couple of minutes.

[Mytwopenceworth]

if you dont have a poacher, break egg into little round pot and put in microwave for a few seconds (this stops it spreading out as it can if you just break it into boiling water), then transfer into pan of shallow boiling water.

or boil water in pan and use spoon to create little whirlpool and break egg into whirlpool

i hate poached eggs that dont have nice neat edges, but im a bit anal!!!!!

[basketcase]

As satine says, get the heat up first and then put in your eggs. I get mine boiling vigorously and then take off heat, wait for bubbles to die a little and pop eggs in - makes sure the pan is hot enough to continue cooking the eggs and probably habit more than good sense. I also use a Delia tip - swirl the water into a little vortex and then drop in your egg in the centre. This helps to wrap the egg white round the yolk and keep a nice "plump" poachy rather than one that sinks or spreads out a bit.

[basketcase]

oops - posts crossing loads of whirlpool advice there

[Mytwopenceworth]

x post! great minds think alike tarantula!!

[piffle]

a drop of malt vinegar in the pan also stops the egg from breaking aprt

[ScummyMummy]

Thanks guys- will have to try all methods as my first attempt has just been an unmitigated failure! White and yolk parted company and both failed to set. My children watched with some scorn do I am determined to do better next time.