Why can't everyone poach eggs?

[winteroversummer]

You often hear people say that they can't do poached eggs. Why? I dont understand. There's lots that I can't do in a kitchen but poaching an egg is literally cracking it into swirling water, isn't it? Just cracking an egg. What about it do people find hard? Why does my husband needs six eggs to go wrong before getting one good poached egg?

And poached eggs definitely have a creamier texture when poached than when boiled and peeled

I’m a still water person. Works much better. Always the freshest of eggs.

I can do a full roast dinner for numerous people, make curries, bolognaise, chilli, amazing salads, my own sauces, lasagnas, full english breakfasts, rice dishes, meat dishes, pasta dishes. You want it I'll make it.

Can't poach an egg for shit.

I do 4 in a big pan every week. Never swirl, doesn’t work for me. Always add vinegar. Add eggs one at a time quickly. Always come out fine!

Egg must be fresh
I use a frying pan and boiling water, no vinegar
Some people use a buttered biscuit cutter to hold the egg together
Remember those lidded pans with two layers, you put water in the bottom and then the eggs on the little dimples in the top layer,

Love a poached egg with marmite

I’m not great at poached eggs, but can make a brilliant sponge. I don’t think ds has ever poached an egg, but he gets perfect rice every time 🤷‍♀️
And now I fancy poached eggs…

Where do you buy your eggs from? If you're getting them from a supermarket, try a farm shop or ideally a neighbour with hens. We only poach eggs maybe two days old at most, and supermarket eggs can be weeks old.

To be fair it does appear to be a knack and one that apparently I was born with. Bear with me because this is so far from a humble brag I promise. I'm genuinely bloody awful at loads of things that everyone else can do.

For example I am the only person I know who can screw up supernoodles. Don't ask me how but I do. I also cannot for the life of me make smooth gravy....even from granules which appears to completely go against natural law as I have no idea what the hell I'm doing to screw such an easy thing up. Finally it took 39 years for me ever to cook a good fried egg that did not resemble a disturbing modern art piece (and that was only because DP mum taught me a trick). Seriously I can't make pancakes , custard or hollandaise sauce

For some wierd reason I make poached eggs perfectly every time. Exdh talks about them all the time (to be fair that probably tells you all you ever need to know about our marriage ) but yep perfect poached eggs everytime and I have absolutely no idea why.

No swirling, no vinegar, just a frying pan and fresh eggs

I've never had the knack. I'd rather just boil than constantly practise though.

Getting flashbacks to very soggy toast under poached eggs as a child

Delia's method. Don't swirl, no vinegar, still water.

Thought I was a pretty reasonable cook, but this has made me realise I can do none of the Big Four (poach an egg, steam rice, bake a sponge, wow with Yorkshires!). Hanging my head in shame and wondering how 3 DC survived.....

Scones are another one
My mum can cook or bake anything but scones? Nope. Rock cakes
She silently fumed when I tried and they came out perfectly

Good for you op

If your poached eggs are making your toast soggy then rest on kitchen roll briefly.

I just put cling film in a cup, crack the egg
In, tie up the cling film and add to boiling water. No mess and perfect every time

@AnneLovesGilbert I can't make a decent sponge

I end up with a mess if I don't swirl but I also only ever do one egg at a time. Mine usually take roughly 90 seconds and only ever use fresh eggs.

@hmb255

I just put cling film in a cup, crack the egg In, tie up the cling film and add to boiling water. No mess and perfect every time

I’m trying this

@ToadstoolBubbleMaker

Poaching eggs at home is impossible. I always order eggs poached when I'm out for breakfast as it's the only time I can have them made properly.

This!!

DS can do poached eggs, he learnt at school in Y6. I can’t. Like the OP’s husband, I’ll waste a box of eggs before giving in.

I think everyone has something they can do perfectly everytime and something they can never do.
My poached eggs are always perfect. No vinegar, no swirl. But I cannot make pancakes or omelettes.

DS2 makes perfect scones. Ever single time. People say they are tricky. He makes them look as easy as toast.

I use a small pan 2/3 of water
Add fresh eggs when bubbling turn heat down a bit
They don’t need long. No swirling or vinegar required. Love poached eggs, fresh farm eggs are the best with that lovely yolk tastes delicious

Pancakes for me don’t work
Can do crepes
But thicker pancakes never work
Frustrating coz I really like them and would like to be able to make them

We have a silicone poacher DP found in Poundland. Game changer. Crack egg into mould, add mould to boiling water and wait 2-3mins

I have tried three different types of silicone poachers. The eggs come out rubbery. Every single time.

I'm taking notes.
I can manage a scruffy looking one but I can't manage the perfectly swept over whites that you get when done properly - I've trying spooning the water over the egg whilst it cooks but it just shreds the white.
Also, the frying pan tip - I thought it had to be a deep pan of water?