
Poached eggs are simple to cook if you use one kitchen item instead of a pan
The perfect poached egg is something many people find elusive. Getting the yolk cooked to a runny perfection and the white firm but not rubbery, all the while praying it doesn't fall apart in the pan adds a level off stress to what should be a simple meal.
If you cook yours in a pan with boiling water, there is another easier option, according to one expert. And she said that you can ditch the pan and swirling water and instead make them in a common kitchen item which many of us will already have.
Best of all, she said it takes two minutes and you will have the perfect poached egg on your plate.
Cindy, a food writer and founder of Salt and Serenity, has shared that you don't need any fancy equipment to make a perfectly tender and unbroken poached egg, as it can be done in a microwave, reports The Express.
She said: 'Poached eggs are not something I ever made at home until a few weeks ago. They always seemed so complicated to make.
"Swirling the simmering water into a vortex and then gently lowering the egg into this seemed like a recipe for disaster.
'But then I started seeing people making them in the microwave all over Instagram. I wondered if it could really work."
Cindy said it took her a few attempts, but now she has nailed it. She added: "It took me over a dozen eggs until I finally cracked the code! (a little egg humour there).'
Making a poached egg in a microwave is surprisingly easy and only takes two minutes.
The key is using a mug or bowl so it can easily keep its shape, and the microwave gently cooks it so you get a soft and springy poached egg without any fuss.
Here's Cindy's guide to a microwaved poached egg.
How to make a poached egg in the microwave
You will need:
One large egg
180ml of boiling hot water
One teaspoon of vinegar
Method
To begin, boil a kettle. Pour the boiling water into a heatproof bowl or mug. Then, add one teaspoon of vinegar.
You can use any vinegar flavour you like. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which helps the proteins in eggs bind together so they will keep their shape while cooking.
Tap the egg with a spoon to crack it and add it to your heatproof mug or bowl. Cover the top with a plate and place it in the microwave at around 80 percent power to cook for 30 seconds.
How long it takes to cook a poached egg will depend on the type of microwave you own, and you may need to experiment with the timing to discover what works best for you.
Make sure to also not put the microwave on full power, as this can set the yolk too quickly and lead to undercooked whites.
After the 30 seconds are up, take the egg out of the microwave and use a spoon to gently turn the egg so the yolk is surrounded by the whites.
Then, simply cook the egg for 10 more seconds, and if it is not completely set, cook it at five-second intervals until it is cooked.
Once the egg is ready, drain the water and place it on paper towels to soak up any excess moisture.
You will have a springy and perfectly shaped poached egg that is simple to cook without any chance of it breaking apart.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Poached eggs are simple to cook if you use one kitchen item instead of a pan
If you're a fan of eggs this way, one expert said there's an easy method to make them perfectly The perfect poached egg is something many people find elusive. Getting the yolk cooked to a runny perfection and the white firm but not rubbery, all the while praying it doesn't fall apart in the pan adds a level off stress to what should be a simple meal. If you cook yours in a pan with boiling water, there is another easier option, according to one expert. And she said that you can ditch the pan and swirling water and instead make them in a common kitchen item which many of us will already have. Best of all, she said it takes two minutes and you will have the perfect poached egg on your plate. Cindy, a food writer and founder of Salt and Serenity, has shared that you don't need any fancy equipment to make a perfectly tender and unbroken poached egg, as it can be done in a microwave, reports The Express. She said: 'Poached eggs are not something I ever made at home until a few weeks ago. They always seemed so complicated to make. "Swirling the simmering water into a vortex and then gently lowering the egg into this seemed like a recipe for disaster. 'But then I started seeing people making them in the microwave all over Instagram. I wondered if it could really work." Cindy said it took her a few attempts, but now she has nailed it. She added: "It took me over a dozen eggs until I finally cracked the code! (a little egg humour there).' Making a poached egg in a microwave is surprisingly easy and only takes two minutes. The key is using a mug or bowl so it can easily keep its shape, and the microwave gently cooks it so you get a soft and springy poached egg without any fuss. Here's Cindy's guide to a microwaved poached egg. How to make a poached egg in the microwave You will need: One large egg 180ml of boiling hot water One teaspoon of vinegar Method To begin, boil a kettle. Pour the boiling water into a heatproof bowl or mug. Then, add one teaspoon of vinegar. You can use any vinegar flavour you like. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which helps the proteins in eggs bind together so they will keep their shape while cooking. Tap the egg with a spoon to crack it and add it to your heatproof mug or bowl. Cover the top with a plate and place it in the microwave at around 80 percent power to cook for 30 seconds. How long it takes to cook a poached egg will depend on the type of microwave you own, and you may need to experiment with the timing to discover what works best for you. Make sure to also not put the microwave on full power, as this can set the yolk too quickly and lead to undercooked whites. After the 30 seconds are up, take the egg out of the microwave and use a spoon to gently turn the egg so the yolk is surrounded by the whites. Then, simply cook the egg for 10 more seconds, and if it is not completely set, cook it at five-second intervals until it is cooked. Once the egg is ready, drain the water and place it on paper towels to soak up any excess moisture. You will have a springy and perfectly shaped poached egg that is simple to cook without any chance of it breaking apart.


Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Banish patio weeds in 24 hours 'permanently' with one kitchen item
Weeds can be a problem in any garden, as they can get into the cracks and crevices of your patio slabs, making them difficult to remove - but one woman has an easy solution Weeds, much like moss, can wreak havoc in gardens by invading the nooks and crannies of your patio slabs, making them a nightmare to get rid of. The battle against weeds can often feel like a losing one. Gardeners may spend hours on end kneeling down, clearing paths and patios of these pesky intruders, only for them to make a swift comeback. While white vinegar is a common go-to for tackling patio weeds, there's another household hero that gardeners can turn to, which is less likely to harm surrounding plants, flowers and grass. Instagrammer @thatmamarealtor, also known as Jessica Nakamura, swears by baking soda for the task at hand. She shared her technique in an Instagram video, which she captioned: "This is an easy way to permanently get rid of the weeds between your patio stones." It comes as a warning was made over savage garden invaders that can 'destroy' your plants Opening her video, Jessica said: "If you need a simple way to get rid of the weeds between your patio try using baking soda." In her clip, Jessica liberally sprinkles baking soda over the weedy areas of her patio and then sweeps it into the cracks with a broom. The following step involves dousing the area with water from a garden hose. Jessica asserts that within "24 hours", the weeds will be dead and can be removed "so easily" and "won't grow back". For those dubious about the effects of baking soda on their patio weeds, Jessica later returned to the comments section a month after to update whether the weeds had resurfaced and if the baking soda had impacted the adjacent lawn. She exclaimed: "One month later, patio is still weed-free and grass is still green." Also known as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda proves to be a formidable weed killer due to its high salt content. When weeds are bombarded with too much salt, they can't survive, leading to dehydration and preventing them from regrowing, reports the Express. After the above-ground parts of the weed die off, it becomes a doddle to yank the plant out by its roots - significantly reducing the chances of it making an unwelcome comeback in your garden. While a heightened salt concentration in the soil can also spell trouble for nearby non-weed plants, this issue can be swiftly resolved with a good drenching or a downpour, which will rinse away any lingering baking soda. By using baking soda instead of white vinegar, gardeners can ensure that patio weeds are permanently vanished without the need for harsh chemicals that can damage plants and flowers.


Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Householders warned over lesser-known tree pruning law to be aware of in August
If you are looking to do some cutting back during the warmer months, make sure you're aware of one obscure rule Cutting back trees and overhanging branches is a common job in the summer months in order to get your garden looking ship shape. But householders have been warned that not adhering to one law could see them land in bother. The little-known rule applies to trees at the boundaries of your property which, while providing privacy and offering a home or shelter for birds and animals such as squirrels, can cause issues if not carefully managed. If you want to cut back branches from a neighbour's tree which are overhanging into your garden - this is completely legal providing you are standing in your own garden while you carry out the job. However, once you've pruned back any offending branches, an obscure law is that you must then offer these cuttings back to your neighbour, reports The Express. Good neighbourly etiquette dictates that it is a good idea to tell your neighbour if you intend to take care of the branches. The rule, which many will be unaware of, are backed up by various official bodies. The Church of Scotland Law Department states: "The neighbour is entitled to cut them back (unless protected), although the lopped branches must then be offered back to the owner of the tree. "The branches should not simply be dumped on the owners' land without prior discussion, and it may be necessary to dispose of unwanted branches elsewhere." As Kirklees Council outlines: "If a tree or hedge is unprotected, you can prune branches that overhang your land and the roots growing beneath your land. "You do not need the owner's permission, but you must not trespass onto their land. "You must offer to return the cut branch wood and any fruit which is attached or has fallen onto your land." And this is backed by the Royal Horticultural Society which adds: "Your actions are classed as 'abating a nuisance' which does not require permission. "Only in situations where you need access to their land to undertake the work would permission be required. "Once branches are cut off they should be offered back to the tree owner. If the owner doesn't want them then you will be responsible for disposing of the prunings; you can't simply throw them over the boundary into your neighbour's garden." Taking away tree branches, could see you charged with theft. Technically, it's not your property to take even if it overhangs your garden. Of course fruit on trees can be valuable, and back in the day many will have used tree branches for firewood - and this law still persists from a time when trees could be a valuable resource. The Theft Act makes it a criminal offence to pick fruit, flowers or even branches from a tree that is not on your property. While it's unlikely you'll be thrown in the slammer for a few branches, if you cut down a neighbour's branches or take fruit/flowers from their trees, they are legally entitled to ask you to return them.