Best Nifs Perfect Poached Egg Recipes

NO-WORRY POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• Put the vinegar in a small or medium saucepan (depending on how many eggs you are making). Gently crack the eggs into the vinegar. Holding the saucepan handle, rock or swirl the pot gently so the vinegar redistributes between the eggs. This will help start the coagulation of the whites.
• Bring a teakettle filled with water to a boil and then gently pour the water down the inside side of the pan until you have enough water to covering the eggs by about 2 inches.
• Cover and set a timer for 5 minutes. This will help set the eggs. Uncover, turn the heat on high and quickly bring to a boil. As soon as the water is boiling, turn off the heat. Push any foam that has risen to the top to the side and immediately remove the eggs with a slotted spoon. The whites will be set but the yolk will still be runny. For harder cooked eggs, boil for another 1 to 2 minutes.

PERFECT POACHED EGG

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with at least 3 inches of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce temperature to low--the water is ready when you see bubbles at the bottom of the pot, but there should be no bubbles breaking the surface of the water.
• Crack egg into a small-mesh sieve, allow it to drain, and then transfer the egg to a small bowl or ramekin in order to avoid a runny egg white. This step will give you a better-shaped poached egg with tighter whites.
• When water is at the right temperature, stir in about 1 tablespoon white vinegar which helps the egg white coagulate. Using a spoon, swirl the water in the center of the pot into a vortex or whirlpool, and carefully add egg to the center. Cook until egg white is set, but the yolk is still soft and runny, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Do not overcook.
• Transfer the egg to a paper towel to remove excess water using a slotted spoon. Serve immediately.

PERFECT POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• Heat the water: Add enough water to come 1 inch up the side of a narrow, deep 2-quart saucier. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 2 teaspoons white vinegar and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile, crack 1 very fresh cold large egg into a custard cup or small ramekin. Use the handle of a spatula or spoon to quickly stir the water in one direction until it's all smoothly spinning around.
• TIP: Use this whirlpool method when poaching a single serving (one or two eggs). For bigger batches, heat the water, salt and vinegar in a 12-inch nonstick skillet and do not stir.
• Add the egg: Carefully drop the egg into the center of the whirlpool. The swirling water will help prevent the white from "feathering," or spreading out in the pan.
• Let it poach: Turn off the heat, cover the pan and set your timer for 5 minutes. Don't peek, poke, stir or accost the egg in any way.
• Lift it out: Remove the egg with a slotted spoon and serve immediately. Alternatively, move the egg to an ice bath and refrigerate up to 8 hours. Reheat in warm water just before serving.

EASY POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• Heat the water: Fill a saucepan with several inches of water. Heat the water on high until it reaches a boil and then lower the heat until the water is at a bare simmer (just a few bubbles coming up now and then).
• Crack the egg into a small bowl and gently slip it into the water: Working with the eggs one at a time, crack the egg into a small bowl or cup. Place the bowl close to the surface of the hot water and gently slip the egg into the water. If you want, use a spoon to push some of the egg whites closer to their yolks, to help them hold together. Add all of the eggs you are poaching to the pan in the same way, keeping some distance between them.
• Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let sit for 4 minutes: Turn off the heat and cover the pan. Set a timer for 4 minutes. At this point the egg whites should be completely cooked, while the egg yolks are still runny. Note that the timing depends on the size of the eggs, the number of eggs in the pot, and if you are cooking at altitude, so adjust accordingly. If you are at altitude, want firmer egg yolks, or are poaching more than 4 eggs at once, you may need to cook them longer. If you try 4 minutes and the eggs are too cooked, reduce the time.
• Remove the eggs with slotted spoon: Gently lift the poached eggs out of the pan with a slotted spoon and place on a plate to serve.
• Strain the thin whites with a fine mesh sieve: Place the raw egg into a fine mesh sieve over a bowl. The very thin egg whites will drain out through the sieve.
• Gently add to hot the water: Then gently ease the raw egg into your pot of simmering hot water.
• Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and poach for 4 minutes: Notice how there is much less stray egg whites with this method? Turn off the heat and cover the pot (or just lower the heat to low), and poach for 4 minutes until the whites are cooked through. (You may need to add more time if cooking at altitude or poaching more than 4 eggs at once.) Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon.

SKILLET POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• Fill a large skillet, ideally one with straight, tall sides, with water to a depth of 1 1/2 inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Using a slotted spoon, carefully place the whole, uncracked eggs in the water and roll them around for 15 to 20 seconds, so they're evenly warm. Take them out of the skillet. Add the vinegar to the boiling water.
• Crack the eggs into the boiling water one at a time, spacing them apart (if they're too hot to the touch, wait a few seconds until they feel OK to handle). Adjust the heat to keep the water steadily and lightly boiling. Let the eggs poach until the whites are opaque and firm, and the yolks are set to your desired doneness, 3 to 6 minutes. Gently nudge the yolk with the spoon to check for doneness: Very runny yolks will wobble like a water balloon; standard runny yolks will feel soft but set; firm yolks will feel solid.
• Transfer to paper towels with the slotted spoon and gently pat dry. Butter toast and layer with ham and cheese, if using. Place poached eggs on top, season with salt and pepper, and top with another pat of butter, if you like.