Whether you have them for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, poached eggs are a versatile ingredient for home-cooked meals. Unlike boiled eggs, the white is cooked to a softer texture with the yolk ranging from hard to jammy, or golden and runny. No matter how long they are cooked for, a problem faced when cooking any kind of poached eggs is keeping the whites intact.
It has a tendency to go astray and appear wispy, without any uniform shape, especially when cooked freely in a saucepan full of boiling water. But there’s no need for silicone pods or other unusual cooking equipment, said Henry O’Connor, egg expert and creator of Better Eggs. He suggested that for most home cooks, the solution is found in the cupboard. “Most people swirl the water, drop in the egg, and hope for the best,” Henry explained.
The egg expert continued: “Adding a teaspoon of white wine vinegar before you start changes everything.
“The acidity helps the egg white coagulate faster, so it wraps neatly around the yolk instead of spreading out and breaking apart.”
It’s a tip that’s widely known, yet many home cooks try to avoid it. But famous chefs, including Tom Kerridge, swear by the vinegar method.
However, unlike many recipes, Tom doesn’t just pour vinegar into the boiling water. Instead, Tom always recommends cracking your egg into a small cup or ramekin first.
This gives you complete control when adding it to the water, prevents rogue shell fragments from slipping in, and—crucially—allows you to pour gently so your perfect vortex isn’t spoiled by splashing.
Henry’s method echoes Tom Kerridge’s tip. He said: “The result? Silky, perfectly formed poached eggs – with soft, runny centres and no scraggly bits floating around the pan.”
“Think of the vinegar as a helping hand,” Henry said. “It doesn’t change the taste if you use just a splash, but it makes a huge difference to the look and texture. It’s what most professional kitchens do, yet few people try it at home.”
After cracking the egg into a vinegar-splashed ramekin, gently slide it into barely simmering water – not boiling.
“If the water’s too hot, the egg cooks unevenly and the yolk can firm up too quickly,” said Henry. “Gentle heat and that dash of vinegar is the key to poaching success.”