Best Poached Eggs Method Without A Pan

[BrandyandBabycham]

I bought a microwave maker but DD tried it & the egg was like a bullet! Poached eggs are one of my all time comfort foods but I don’t know a good way to make them without a poaching pan. Vinegar rings a bell!

Open pan of rapidly boiling water (at least 5cm depth of water), a teaspoon of vinegar into the water, crack eggs into pan, keep water at rolling boil for a couple of minutes, turn heat off leave for a couple more minutes, scoop out and drain on kitchen paper.

@BrandyandBabycham without a pan.

Do you mean without an actual poaching pan or without a saucepan? If the former, I use poaching pods (like these. Grease the inside and you're good to go. I never managed to get the hang of swirling the water! Always lost the whites.

Buy some Poachies. They’re like teabags then you crack the egg into. 5 minutes in simmering water and the egg is perfect every time.

Saucepan, GENTLY simmering water - barely any bubble (a rolling boil will shred the eggs) lower vvv fresh eggs in, shape with spoon, poach for 4 mins.

Done! No swirling/vinegar/precooking/gadget nonsense.

Definitely Poachies.

Not to alarm you, but dh who has been poaching eggs in a mug in the microwave for 20+ years had one explode in his face earlier in the year. Resulted in extensive burns to his face and small ones to his corneas, luckily he had the presence of mind to whip his contacts out as it melted them as well 😱. According to the staff in A&E it’s quite a common occurrence.

Second @2tired2bewitty - I blew my microwave door open poaching an egg in. Got the fright of my life. Luckily didn’t get any burns. Hope your husband is on the mend, witty

Silicon poaching moulds will be your friend here, eggs in moulds, drop into pan of hot water, easy

Not environmentally friendly, but I pop some clingfilm in a mug and crack the egg into the mug, use one of those bag clips to clip it shut and cut off any excess. You need to make sure no air is trapped in the clingfilm, four minutes for a medium and 4.5 for a large egg for a soft white and runny yolk on a roaring boil.

@2tired2bewitty

Not to alarm you, but dh who has been poaching eggs in a mug in the microwave for 20+ years had one explode in his face earlier in the year. Resulted in extensive burns to his face and small ones to his corneas, luckily he had the presence of mind to whip his contacts out as it melted them as well 😱. According to the staff in A&E it’s quite a common occurrence.

You have to prick the yolk first to prevent this.

He did prick the yolk, it wasn’t the egg that exploded so much as the small amount of now superheated water underneath it that exploded when he moved the mug - the chap in eye A&E explained the physics in some detail!

His eyes have healed now thank you @Furrybootsyecomfy and the scarring is mostly disguised by the lockdown hair growth!

I was always told not to put a spoon straight into a cup that had been in the microwave if I was holding the cup as often the hot liquid ‘erupts’

It's just a matter of time and patience and a wide opening flask. Microwaving is an awful way to cook eggs - it's too aggressive.

Plus a very fresh egg. You need the firm white which breaks down over time.

Boiling water in a wide opening thermos flask. The type designed for soup/pasta and often come with an integral spoon.

Crack the egg into a teacup and then carefully pour off all the very liquid white.

Then gently pour the egg into the flask.

Seal the flask and 10 mins later a lovely poached egg.

@2tired2bewitty your poor husband, that's very frightening! I've recently started microwaving "poached" eggs in small tea cups, but will definitely go back to boiled eggs now! Can never manage to poach them in a pot.

Small saucepan, get water boiling then turn down to simmer. Crack 2 eggs and drop in from as low as you can. Turn hob back up. As soon as water starts bubbling, turn hob off and leave eggs for about another 45 seconds. Serve with slotted spoon.

No swirling, no vinegar, just rely on the eggs cooking before the water messes them up.

We use the clingfilm method mentioned by a pp above - my 12 year old is a pro! You can do several together more easily too, get them ready and pop in at the same time.

So a flak like this:

Thermos Stainless King Food Flask, Red, 470 ml https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DGPPY20/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_EvXiFbYRCM2FR

Duh! Flask not flack...

I'm do them in the microwave. Water and a splash of white vinegar, than crack and egg in. Then I cook for 30 seconds at a time. When done strain off the Water and any random bits of white

Put boiling water from the kettle into a frying pan. Get back up to boiling.

Crack egg into a cup/whatever.

Turn heat off and watch until the bubbles stop. Slide egg into water, put lid over pan and go and make your toast/asparagus/whatever. Come back after five minutes and remove egg with a slotted spoon and gently dab against kitchen roll.

Poachies again here but I have found you need to reduce the recommended cooking time.

Thanks all. Where can I buy poachies?

@2tired2bewitty

Not to alarm you, but dh who has been poaching eggs in a mug in the microwave for 20+ years had one explode in his face earlier in the year. Resulted in extensive burns to his face and small ones to his corneas, luckily he had the presence of mind to whip his contacts out as it melted them as well 😱. According to the staff in A&E it’s quite a common occurrence.

WHAT?! I started poaching eggs in the microwave after Mumsnet recommended it recently. Are you trying to kill us @MNHQ?

That sounds terrifying but I'm glad he's ok now.

Try somewhere like B&M,s or Home bargains ,I have bought them from there before .