For millions of Brits, a flawlessly poached egg atop buttered toast stands as the quintessential morning indulgence. Whilst this provides both a wholesome and tasty breakfast choice, all too often something goes wrong during cooking, reports the Daily Record.
When attempting egg poaching, most individuals rely on the conventional method of breaking the shell and depositing the contents into bubbling water on the stovetop. Even when we successfully complete that step without the usual stress of witnessing our egg fall apart in the saucepan, we’re subsequently faced with the challenging task of retrieving it whilst making sure the whites don’t break. However, culinary specialist Mary Ann, more commonly known as the Frugal Chef on YouTube, sahred her fool-proof technique for perfecting this breakfast staple.
To begin, she suggests pouring half a cup of room-temperature water into a ramekin, then adding a pinch of salt before cracking your egg directly into it. Whilst Mary prepared hers for 60 seconds, she emphasised that exact timing differs depending on personal preference and microwave make.
She said: “Every microwave is different-mine is one minute and it’s perfect. So if you want to start playing with this, I’d suggest beginning at 45 seconds and then adding a few more seconds as needed so it doesn’t overcook.”
She emphasised the importance of promptly removing the egg from the water after microwaving, stating: “If you leave it in the warm water, it’ll continue cooking-so take it out as soon as you can.”
Meanwhile, on the We’re Not Getting Any Younger podcast, Tom Kerridge revealed his method for crafting the perfect poached eggs, beginning by gently swirling water that’s “just below simmering” with a spoon.
The chef then shared his preferred technique, saying: “Using a small coffee cup, add a little splash of white wine vinegar or distilled malt vinegar, then crack the egg into the cup of vinegar.”
For the final step of his method, he added: “Pour the egg from the cup into the swirling water-that way, it helps the egg hold its shape.”
According to Healthline, there are several health benefits to incorporating eggs into our diets: “Choosing pasture-raised or organic eggs, or a quicker cooking method, may result in more nutritious eggs. When frying eggs, opting for high-heat cooking oil can help reduce harmful free radicals.”
