Nothing is better than a perfectly cooked poached egg for breakfast, and there is a simple fuss-free way to do it without having to worry about something going wrong.
It can be tricky to cook a poached egg without it falling apart if you are using a pan of water on the stove as most people get the temperature or timing wrong.
There are lot of advice online on the best way to cook a poached egg such as cooking it with a few drops of white vinegar or using a specialised pan to help the egg keep its shape, but it turns out there is a much easier way.
Chef Joel Mielle, a professionally trained French chef, restaurant owner and founder of the cooking blog Recipe 30, has shared that the best way to cook a poached egg is the microwave.
He said: “I can poach two eggs using this method faster than the bread takes to toast. Because it cooks using the microwaves plus the heated water, there’s a two-way cooking process. So it’s fast!”
It may seem bizarre, but cooking a poached egg in the microwave is a simple way to make one without having to worry it overcooking it or the whites spreading out, which will result in an unappealing mess.
A microwave provides a more consistent heat source meaning you will get a perfectly shaped poached egg each time without waiting to long or having to use lots of cooking equipment.
How to make a poached egg in the microwave
You will need:
- One egg (room temperature)
- Half a cup of room-temperature water
- Salt
- Mug or bowl
- Paper towel
- Bread or muffin (optional)
- Chives (optional)
- One teaspoon of butter (optional)
It is best to use as fresh eggs as possible with this cooking method as older eggs may take longer to cook and have mixed results.
Also, room temperature eggs work best to take the eggs out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking if you have the time.
Method
Fill a cup or bowl halfway with water from the tap, sprinkle a little bit of salt in the water and then gently crack an egg into the container.
Poke the egg yolk with a fork and then place the container in the microwave. Cook for approximately 60 seconds, then remove the container from the microwave.
How long the poached egg takes to cook will depend on the type of microwave you own so it may be best to cook it for less than 60 seconds the first time you cook it and then cook it at 10-second intervals to figure out the perfect time for your microwave.
Chef Joel said: “Microwaves have different wattage strengths, therefore it may take a little less or a little longer. The one I used was 1200 Watts.
“Perhaps start with a lower wattage first and increase it from there. Experiment, turn it off and check after 45 seconds, then continue so you don’t overcook it.
Once cooked, scoop the egg out of the cup with a tablespoon and then place on a paper towel. Your poached egg will then be ready to eat.
If you wish, Chef Joel suggests eating your poached egg on a piece of toast or with a toasted muffin.
Simply place some bread or a muffin in the toaster, butter it once ready and then add your poached egg along with some chives for a delicious breakfast.
Chef Joel said: “ Enjoy perfect poached eggs. Take notes of timing and settings so you have perfect eggs each time. Happy breakfast!”
