Poached Eggs: How To Recipe

Learn how to poach an egg perfectly with the tips in this How-To recipe.

Poached eggs truly are something special! The best part is cutting into them and watching that beautiful yolk ooze out – OOHHH AHHH! It provides an instant sauce to whatever you eat them with. Funny story – I actually didn’t like eating eggs until I was pregnant with my second son. Suddenly I had such strong cravings for egg breakfast sandwiches. Ever since then, I have grown to love eggs and they have become a regular part of my diet.

Not only are poached eggs incredibly delicious but they are also one of the healthiest cooking methods since shorter and lower heat cooking methods help retain most of the nutrients in the eggs. Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods, providing virtually all the vitamins and minerals you need (a true “superfood”). You can learn more about the health benefits of eggs HERE. Just remember that not all eggs are equal – try to buy the best you can (pastured eggs tend to be richer in nutrients).

I must admit that poached eggs have always seemed a little intimidating. Therefore, I have always leaned towards soft boiled eggs for my oozy yolk fix. However, with a few tips and a little practice, I now find them easy to make and enjoy at home.

Let’s make some poached eggs!

How To Make Poached Eggs

In a few easy steps, you will be enjoying a perfectly poached egg:

• Bring a large pot of water to a bare simmer: Fill a large pot with at least 3-4 inches of water and bring to a bare simmer. I don’t add any vinegar or salt to the water since I feel like it changes the texture of the egg whites.
• Crack the egg into a fine mesh sieve: Crack the egg into a fine mesh sieve set over a bowl to remove the really liquidy whites (this prevents the wispy pieces).
• Transfer to ramekin: Transfer the egg into a ramekin. If making more, continue this process using a separate ramekin for each egg.
• Pour egg into water and cook: Gently position ramekin over the pot of barely simmering water and pour in. Cook for 3 minutes for cooked whites and a runny yolk. Note: you may have some floating egg white foam which you can just skim off the top with a slotted spoon.
• Remove poached egg: Once the egg is done, remove with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towel.
• Enjoy!: Sprinkle over some salt and pepper and dig in!

Tips For Perfect Poached Eggs

Here are a few tips to make sure that your poached eggs turn out great:

• Make sure that your water is barely simmering: There will be less of a chance of breaking up the egg whites.
• Use a fine mesh sieve: The egg will have a firmer white and a more watery white. This watery white causes the white wispy bits when cooking. When you use a fine mesh sieve, the watery part will pass through and get strained out. Note: really fresh eggs will have less watery whites
• Give your poached eggs a trim: If you want your poached egg to look really perfect, you can cut off any ragged looking bits with some kitchen scissors.

Can You Make Poached Eggs Ahead Of Time?

Yes – you can poach eggs ahead of time! This can be super helpful if you need to make a lot of them. Once the poached egg is cooked, place them immediately in an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Store them in a sealed container of water in the fridge for a couple of days. To reheat, place some boiling water in a bowl and add the poached egg for about 30 seconds or until warmed through. If you need to reheat a larger quantity, bring a large pot of water to a bare simmer and lower each egg into the pot. Turn off the heat and leave them for 30-60 seconds or until warmed through. Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towel and serve.

Ways To Eat Poached Eggs

• Serve with toast! This is one of the most basic pairings but super delicious and satisfying. Or get super fancy by popping a poached egg on top of avocado toast.
• Eggs Benedict: Another obvious choice and one of my favourites. This delicious Hollandaise Sauce brings it all together. For a bit of a twist, try this Rosti Eggs Benedict recipe.
• Top a salad: Poached eggs are amazing on top of hearty salads like this Roasted Asparagus with Egg and Parmesan Salad
• Breakfast Sandwich or Hash: Poached eggs are a welcome addition to an epic breakfast sandwich or breakfast hash.
• Top a rice bowl: There is nothing better than watching that gooey yolk flow out and sauce up the contents of a rice bowl.

More Egg Tutorials

Looking to master some other egg cooking methods? Then check these out…

• Soft Boiled Eggs
• Hard Boiled Eggs (both stovetop and Instant Pot methods)
• Scrambled Eggs
• Fried Eggs (this is a crispy version – try this recipe instead if you prefer soft whites)

What’s your favourite way to serve poached eggs? Let me know in the comment section.

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