Poached Eggs

[BroccoliSpears]

I don't want a silly shaped poacher. I know it's perfectly possible to poach eggs in a pan of water. I just can't do it, that's all.

What's the secret?

Freshest of fresh eggs and vinegar in the water. No matter what you try with old eggs, the white will just waft around in a ghostly and annoying fashion!

swirling the water round just before you drop in eggs (so whirlpool effect) helps.

Also make sure it is really really boiling (not just slight rolling boil) so egg sets quite a bit as soon as it hits water.

HAving eggs warmed to room temp beforehand (so out of fridge for a while) helps as well.

exactly what Scootergrrrl said

I just do them exactly like I would do fried eggs, but with water instead of oil. I don't even bother with vinegar, but others swear by it.

It's much easier in a frying pan than a pan shaped pan

fresh fresh eggs. Water just off a rolling boil. Swirl it into a gentle whirl pool just before you GENTLY drop the egg in. Crack egg straight into water - cracking it into a cup first makes it spread./

(scooter slips greenglassgoblin a fiver for agreeing with her) I've had DD saying "No, Mummy that's not right" all bloody day about everything from porridge to putting her tights on. SOMEONE agrees with me!

Squonk - how much water in the frying pan? [intrigued]

Fresh eggs, rolling boil, vinegar - duly noted.

sorry - I disappeared

About half an inch

Yes frying pan, I use an inch of water, with pinch of salt and splash of vinegar, get it boiling, break egg in gently, and then I spoon a bit of water over the top of the egg to cook the top of the yolk. Give it 3-4 mins for soft-ish and get it out with a slotted spoon.