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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast & Brunch

    How to Make Perfectly Poached Eggs

    September 30, 2022 • Updated: October 7, 2022 • by Renée B. • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    2-panel collage with pin text strip. (1) One poached egg sitting atop a small bed of sweet potato hash. Garnished with rosemary (2)

    This easy egg poaching technique allows you to cook multiple eggs at once, reduces feathering to a minimum, and results in a perfect poached egg with a runny yolk and no raw white remaining.

    Overhead shot of a bowl of sweet potato hash with two poached eggs on top. One egg yolk is broken and runny..
    Jump to:
    • What is the Best Egg Poaching Technique?
    • What Makes this Still Water Poaching Method Work
    • How to Poach a Perfect Egg
    • FAQs & Expert Tips
    • Poached Egg Recipes
    • How to Poach an Egg

    What is the Best Egg Poaching Technique?

    Egg Mold Cups: Nope

    I never really liked poached eggs as a kid. But then again, I wasn't eating real poached eggs: I was eating little rubber UFO-shaped pucks posing as poached eggs. My mom poached our eggs in a little aluminum poaching pan, and (like many cooks of her era) she cooked them until they were “good and done”; more suitable for skipping across a pond than eating.

    I have since tried using silicone poaching cups as well. Some folks think these updated egg molds are absolutely awesome, but in my experience, they create a weird rubbery crust on the egg white, which is not the texture I'm looking for. (Same goes for oven-poaching in molds and muffin tins.)

    Stovetop Maelstrom: Nope

    When I started cooking for myself, I somehow knew that poached eggs could be better than the ones my mom made. However, when I first tried to poach an egg, I got some poor advice: “Create a swirling pool of boiling water and slide the egg into the middle.”

    Unsurprisingly, sliding a raw egg into a pan of boiling, swirling water did not yield the results I hoped for. At all. The roiling water churned with lacy white egg-feathers, and the egg itself emerged an unnatural shape.

    Still Water: Yes!

    It was years before I attempted to poach an egg again, and it was only then I discovered how astonishingly easy it is to cook a velvety soft poached egg (without creating a maelstrom on your stove top). All you need are a few simple tricks!

    This easy still-water poaching technique allows you to cook multiple eggs at once, reduces feathering to a minimum, and results in a perfect poached egg with a runny yolk and no raw white remaining.

    P.S. If you are someone who uses and loves the swirling-water or egg mold poaching method - Yay you! Keep doing what works for you! This post is for the rest of us.

    Overhead shot of salmon eggs Benedict, with hollandaise poured over top, garnished with fresh herbs.

    What Makes this Still Water Poaching Method Work

    When you poach an egg, you are essentially adding a liquid to a liquid and hoping that one of the liquids sets up before it mixes with the other. When done incorrectly, you can end up with a pot full of egg-white feathers and foam instead of a soft egg yolk surrounded by smooth, firm white.

    There are four ways to reduce this feathering:

    Use Fresh Eggs

    You will get much better results with fresh eggs. In fresh eggs, the yolk is firm and sits up high, and the white is thick and closely surrounds the yolk. Older eggs have thinner, more watery whites, and a flatter yolk that breaks more easily.

    TIP: Use older eggs for soft- and hard-boiled eggs. They are easier to peel when cooked than fresh eggs are.

    Add Vinegar

    This is science in action! Adding a small amount of vinegar to the poaching water helps the proteins in the egg white to denature (i.e., unwind) more quickly and link up to form a network of proteins, thus setting the egg white. The quicker the proteins denature the less feathering there will be. (Want to learn more? Check here.)

    Just do it - it works.

    Use a Sieve

    For about a couple of dollars, you can buy what I consider the key to perfectly poached eggs. A small kitchen sieve (i.e., tea or cocktail sieve) allows you to strain off any watery white from the egg, and also gives you the perfect vessel from which to gently roll the egg into the simmering water.

    Small strainer with handle beside a small white bowl and a single egg.

    Simmer, Don't Boil

    The water must be simmering in order to be hot enough for the egg to immediately begin to cook when it submerges, but it shouldn't be boiling so hard that the bubbles move the egg around the pan.

    In fact, you don’t want anything to move the egg in the pan, especially for the first minute. That’s means no shaking, no stirring, and for Pete’s sake, no swirling!

    How to Poach a Perfect Egg

    Fill a medium saucepan or deep skillet with 2 inches deep with water. Add 2 teaspoons of vinegar for every quart of water used.

    Bring the water to a rolling boil and then reduce heat so that it's just barely simmering. There should still be bubbles on the bottom of the pan, but the surface of the water should look relatively calm.

    Crack an egg into a small wire sieve and allow watery albumin to drain off. (Don’t worry; the white and yolk will stay intact inside the sieve.)

    An egg being strained in a small wire strainer over a bowl.

    Holding the egg in the sieve just above the water, gently roll the egg out of the sieve and into the water. After the egg hits the water, leave it alone.

    You can put about four into the pan at the same time, but be sure they all have enough room.

    2-panel collage: (1) Sliding the egg into the water using a small strainer, (2) egg poaching in simmering water.

    In the beginning of the poaching process, the egg will slide to the bottom of the pan and may stick a bit. After the egg poaches for a minute, use a slotted spoon to unstick it from the bottom of the pan if necessary.

    Allow the egg to poach about two minutes, and then use a slotted spoon to lift it up out of the water. Gently poke it with your finger to see if it is done to your liking.

    Poached egg on a slotted spoon.

    If the egg is ready, remove it to a plate. If it needs to cook longer, simply lower it back into the water for another minute and check it again.

    That’s it. It seems like it should be more complicated, but it isn't. Try it a couple of times and you too will be poaching like a pro.

    FAQs & Expert Tips

    How long should you poach eggs?

    Poaching times depend on the size of the egg and its temperature (refrigerated or room temp) going into the water.

    Generally, for a very soft yolk, poach the egg about 2 minutes; Medium soft ~3 minutes; Firm ~4 minutes.

    Can you taste the vinegar in the poached eggs?

    No. Using a ratio of 2 teaspoons vinegar per quart of water, the vinegar is imperceptible in the cooked eggs.

    Eggs provencal on a plate, garnished with fresh basil, egg yolk dripping out after being cut with fork.

    Poached Egg Recipes

    • Huevos Rancheros (Mexican Rancher's Eggs)
    • Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash
    • Smoked Salmon Benedict
    • Eggs Provençal with Fresh Tomatoes

    For more recipes and cozy living tips, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for all of the latest updates.

    Overhead shot of a bowl of sweet potato hash with two poached eggs on top. One egg yolk is broken.

    How to Poach an Egg

    This easy egg poaching technique allows you to cook multiple eggs at once, reduces feathering to a minimum, and results in a perfect poached egg with a runny yolk and no raw white remaining.
    Print Pin Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Ingredient
    Cuisine: American, International
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegetarian
    Prep Time:5 minutes
    Cook Time:3 minutes
    Total Time:8 minutes
    Servings: 4 eggs
    Calories: 72kcal
    Author: Renee
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 medium saucepan or deep skillet
    • 1 small wire sieve
    • 1 slotted spoon

    Ingredients

    • 4 large eggs more or less, as desired
    • 1 quart water or more
    • 2 teaspoons vinegar white, red, or cider vinegar

    Instructions

    • Fill a medium saucepan or deep skillet with 2 inches deep with water.
      Add 2 teaspoons of vinegar for every quart of water used.
      Bring the water to a rolling boil and then reduce heat so that it's just barely simmering. There should still be bubbles on the bottom of the pan, but the surface of the water should look relatively calm.
    • Crack an egg into a small wire sieve and allow watery albumin to drain off. (Don’t worry; the white and yolk will stay intact inside the sieve.)
    • Holding the egg in the sieve just above the water, gently roll the egg out of the sieve and into the water. After the egg hits the water, leave it alone.
      You can put about four into the pan at the same time, but be sure they all have enough room.
    • In the beginning of the poaching process, the egg will slide to the bottom of the pan and may stick a bit.
      After the egg poaches for a minute, use a slotted spoon to unstick it from the bottom of the pan if necessary.
    • Allow the egg to poach about two minutes, and then use a slotted spoon to lift it up out of the water. Gently poke it with your finger to see if it is done to your liking.
    • If the egg is ready, remove it to a plate.
      If it needs to cook longer, simply lower it back into the water for another minute and check it again.

    Notes

    Use Fresh Eggs: You will get much better results with fresh eggs. In fresh eggs, the yolk is firm and sits up high, and the white is thick and closely surrounds the yolk. Older eggs have thinner, more watery whites, and a flatter yolk that breaks more easily.
    Use a Strainer: The key to perfectly poached eggs is using a small kitchen sieve (i.e., tea or cocktail strainer) to strain off any watery white from the egg. The strainer is also a perfect vessel from which to gently roll the egg into the simmering water.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1egg | Calories: 72kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.4g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 186mg | Sodium: 83mg | Potassium: 69mg | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 270IU | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.

    Originally published December 2, 2014. Post has been updated with new content, images, and instructions to improve reader experience.

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    About Renée B.

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

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    1. Stevo says

      February 04, 2016 at 5:56 am

      Renee - You truly are a Good Hearted Woman! Now I can make perfectly poached eggs! Your technique works great! Thank you so much. - Stevo

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        February 04, 2016 at 6:46 am

        My pleasure, Stevo!

        Reply
    2. Lila Rose says

      January 01, 2016 at 12:53 pm

      My mother would always fix me poached eggs when I visited and they were always perfect. I have never been able to cook them like she did and now maybe I can. Thank you for sharing this and I will try it maybe for dinner tonight. I can eat eggs any time. Thank you again, precious daughter. I am so proud of what you are doing with your blog.

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        January 01, 2016 at 12:57 pm

        Thanks, Mom. As always, we had Huevos Rancheros for New Years Day brunch today - wish you were here. ♥

        Reply
    3. kelsey says

      December 03, 2014 at 7:07 am

      oh yum! that egg looks perfect! i do like a good poached egg and this guide is super helpful!
      http://www.ladiesinnavy.com

      Reply
    4. Keryn Campbell says

      December 02, 2014 at 8:20 pm

      What fabulous advice. I love poached eggs so will definitely be giving this a try.

      Reply
    5. Lauren says

      December 02, 2014 at 7:35 pm

      I will have to give this another try. I had a delicious egg benedict on a waffle this weekend. It was fantastic and I want to try and make it at home. That means I need to get the poaching to work.

      Reply
    6. Lindsey K. says

      December 02, 2014 at 3:17 pm

      The vinegar is key, and I knew about that one, but the sieve is GENIUS! I've always used little cups to gently place the eggs, but that didn't solve the wispy watery whites problem, hahaha 🙂

      Reply
    7. Jenni says

      December 02, 2014 at 1:30 pm

      That is a perfectly poached egg for sure! I love the sieve idea. I recently tried and LOVED a tip I saw somewhere... you stir the water to make sort of a tornado (simmering, not boiling and with vinegar) and then drop the egg right there in the middle. Works great!

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        December 02, 2014 at 5:03 pm

        The swirling water thing did not work at all for me, but if it works for you, great! I subscribe to the "calm waters" theory of poaching - the less turbulence the egg undergoes, the better.

        Reply
    8. Bill Volckening says

      December 02, 2014 at 12:58 pm

      I will have to try it. Thus far, mastery of the perfect poached egg has eluded me.

      Reply
    9. Jenni Kupelian says

      December 02, 2014 at 10:02 am

      Okay, this has eluded me for years, THANK YOU.

      Reply
    10. Rachel says

      December 02, 2014 at 9:12 am

      This is perfect!! I haven't ever really perfected this, but I am now inspired to try again. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    11. Pech says

      December 02, 2014 at 9:00 am

      Ooo I am liking this series!

      Reply
    12. Marlynn [UrbanBlissLife] says

      December 02, 2014 at 8:45 am

      This is an EGGcellent tutorial! 😉 It really is a great visual how-to. I admit that when I get rushed or lazy, I don't do everything you're supposed to in order to get great poached eggs, and the result shows. I love poached eggs on pretty much everything: salads, pastas, breakfast hash. Love your theme this week!

      Reply

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