This site uses only a few technical cookies necessary for its operation. By continuing to browse, you accept their use.
To find out more...
To find out more...
Poached eggs
Poached eggs are cooked, without the shell, in barely simmering (nearly boiling) water. White should be firm and yolk soft, that's the difficulty. This recipe teaches you how to succeed with three important points.
334 K 3.7/5 (38 reviews)
2 hours 40 min.
Average
0.60 €
4 Poacheds eggs
2 IngredientsLast modified on: January 8th 2013
For 4 Poacheds eggs, you will need:
- 1
4 eggs - 2
2 tablespoons white (spirit) vinegar - Total weight: 230 grams
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 40 min.
Resting: 2 hours
Cooking: 3 min.
All in all: 2 hours 40 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - ⌛ 2 hours
1st important point: Remove 4 eggs from the fridge at least 2 hours in advance, you should use eggs at room temperature for the cooking time indicated below to work.
Stage 2 - ⌛ 10 min.
Bring a pan of unsalted water to boil. When boiling, pour in 2 tablespoons white (spirit) vinegar, and reduce heat to a simmering water.
That is the 2nd important point: your water should not be salted (salt disturbs the cooking of egg white), and simmering, not boiling, because big bubbles boiling produce irregular and ugly poached eggs.
Prepare a bowl of cold water.
That is the 2nd important point: your water should not be salted (salt disturbs the cooking of egg white), and simmering, not boiling, because big bubbles boiling produce irregular and ugly poached eggs.
Prepare a bowl of cold water.
Stage 3 - ⌛ 1 min.
Break the first egg into a cup.
Stage 4 - ⌛ 1 min.
Slip egg smartly into simmering water...
Stage 5 - ⌛ 1 min.
...and immediately gather the white around egg yolk to prevent egg spreading out too much.
If you have difficulty doing that, try this tip: with a tablespoon give one or two turn to the pan to make a small vortex in the water, then add egg and the vortex will do the gathering job for you.
If you have difficulty doing that, try this tip: with a tablespoon give one or two turn to the pan to make a small vortex in the water, then add egg and the vortex will do the gathering job for you.
Stage 6 - ⌛ 3 min.
Leave cook for 2 minutes and 30 seconds (3 minutes maximum). This cooking time is the 3rd important point for a perfect result.
Stage 7 - ⌛ 1 min.
After this time, remove egg from hot water and put it immediately into the bowl of cold water to stop the cooking.
Leave it in, and continue with all eggs.
Leave it in, and continue with all eggs.
Stage 8 - ⌛ 2 min.
With scissors, trim off any irregular lumps and trails of egg white to get as round and even an egg as possible.
Stage 9 - ⌛ 1 min.
Then put on a cloth to dry.
Stage 10 - ⌛ 20 min.
Do this with all eggs, your soft-boiled eggs are ready.
Remarks
Poached eggs are use in many recipes, cold or hot, but are always delicious.
If you want to reheat them, put in the microwave for 15 seconds, or leave 3 minutes in a bowl of hot tap water (not boiling).
If you make poached eggs in advance, the day before for example, leave to stand in a bowl of salted cold water in the fridge.
White vinegar is used because wine vinegar would stain the egg red.
If you want to reheat them, put in the microwave for 15 seconds, or leave 3 minutes in a bowl of hot tap water (not boiling).
If you make poached eggs in advance, the day before for example, leave to stand in a bowl of salted cold water in the fridge.
White vinegar is used because wine vinegar would stain the egg red.
Keeping: Several days in the fridge, in a closed jar.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 30 RDI=10 % | 0 | 20 RDI=3 % | 290 RDI=20 % | 1,230 RDI: 20 % |
| Per 100 g | 10 RDI=4 % | 0 | 9 RDI=1 % | 130 RDI=6 % | 530 RDI: 6 % |
| Per piece | 6 RDI=2 % | 0 | 5 RDI=1 % | 70 RDI=4 % | 310 RDI: 4 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 4 Poacheds eggs : 0.60 €
- Per Poached eggs : 0.15 €
Change currency:
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
Some other recipes using this recipeSee them all 10
Fried bread with leek and poached egg
A slice of fried buttered bread with fried sliced leek, topped with a poached egg. For the best effect, split the egg open just before serving.
64 K4.8 35 min.
Eggs Arsène
Eggs Arsène is a rather more rustic version (and definitely more Comtoise in style) of eggs Benedict , that indispensible breakfast dish in Ian Fleming's novels. And you're right, there is a nod to James Bond here.
67 K5 1 hour 2 min.
Polenta with spinach and soft-poached egg
A "cake" of fried polenta, blanched spinach and a soft-poached egg on top, with a cream, shallot and white-wine sauce poured over just before serving.
86 K5 1 hour 15 min.
Poached eggs with spinach and Comté milk
The combination of eggs with spinach is always a winner, but this recipe elevates it to another level with the original and delicious flavour added by the Comté milk.
39 K 1 hour 7 min.
Salad lyonnaise
Salad lyonnaise conjures up the cuisine of the French city of Lyon and the region around: traditionally a salad of dandelion leaves with croutons, lardons and poached eggs. Here is a slightly simpler version with shredded lettuce instead of dandelions.
42 K 45 min.
This recipe uses (among others)
Egg
Like these other recipes: Clementine Tiramisu, Tarte Normande, Caramelized pear custard tart, Small ratatouille with , Quiche filling mixture, ... See them all 251
White (spirit) vinegar
Like these other recipes: Provençal remoulade sauce, Béarnaise sauce, How to prepare a lettuce, How to prepare sorrel, Fish petals, vegetables julienne, and beurre blanc, ... See them all 18
Other recipes you may also like
Viennese chocolate cups
A Viennese-style hot chocolate comes topped with whipped cream. This more sophisticated dessert version is based on a thickened chocolate cream with a piped rosette of Chantilly cream on top. March 21th 202144 K 35 min.
Mushrooms on toast, French style
This is a French version of mushrooms on toast! The mushrooms are simmered in cream then served on a slice of fried buttered bread. April 6th 2017240 K3.8 2 hours 5 min.
Filet mignon with mustard and tarragon sauce
Medallions of filet mignon (pork tenderloin) are first pan-fried, then kept to one side. The same pan is used to prepare a cream sauce with tarragon and strong mustard. The medallions are returned to the pan to finish cooking in the sauce while it thickens on low heat, keeping the meat beautifully tender. December 30th 201997 K3.8 1 hour
Mixed salad with curry mayo
A mixed salad (avocado, artichokes, mushrooms and tuna) in a classic mayonnaise, but pepped up with a good dose of curry. May 10th 202369 K 30 min.
Comtoise endive salad
This endive salad has a Comtoise twist as a change from the usual pairing of endives with walnuts. The endives are finely sliced, mixed with fried smoked bacon, diced Comté cheese and a little chopped parsley, then dessed with a good vinaigrette. March 6th 201967 K 40 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2026-03-22)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe (as 2 people already do)
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.