Question from a poached egg virgin

[MrsFogi]

So I've checked out a couple of old conversations on "how to poach an egg" and now I feel ready to have a go. But....(dumb question coming up......)does a poached egg look different depending on the method you use (putting the egg in a cup in water, just popping it in the water etc). If so, which method produces the best looking poached eggs?

If you haven't got an egg poacher, make a whirlpool in the simmering water and slide the egg into it to retain a round shape. Tbh I can't be arsed to do that, raggedy poached eggs taste just as good!

always find that if you put them in a cold pan of water with enough water to cover them(allowing for some of it to boil off and still covering them)..

and bring them to the boil...once they have reached boiling when the water really bubbles, keep for 1 minute approx...then take them out with a spoon...serve on egg cups, with buttery soldiers, fresh salad leaves and fresh tomatoes on the side..

if you cook them for 2 minutes after boiling I always find they are hard boiled (it has to be very precise...and am always mucking them up)..

ohf*....you said poached not boiled..

poached..put egg into a small cup. Meanwhile bring a pan of water to the boil with a tbsp of vinegar (find Dufrais white wine vinegar rather than proper vinegar best as you can't taste it...it's supposed to stop them going all over the place or something)..

when boiling carefully lower your cup into the hot water letting the egg slide out slowly...cook for about 2 minutes..

when removing with a spoon be careful to let all the water drain first as quite often we have poached egg on soggy toast...a little care is all it needs...(sorry about first post).

i don't bother with the whirlpool either

does that make us poached egg sluts then lou?

get an egg poacher, you can pick them up for £4/5. Much easier than whirlpool thingamajigs and mine come out just perfect . Lou and SM are just showing off! Have had a real taste for them since being pg and have them about twice a week at the mo. Yum!

Ive got little ring thingies that you pop into the pan and stop the egg going everywhere. Cant remember where I got them from tho (probably one of those pound shop places) but they only cost about 20p each and it means you can do three at once. whrilpool works too tho.

i always add a drop of vinegar to the water too

yes, another thing i am sluttish about

mind you, not only can i not be bothered to make a little whirlpool, i can't be bothered to make poached eggs in the first place. Just eat em raw, it's much quicker.

snotty eggs? no thanks

oh perlease