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.
322 K 3.7/5 (38 reviews)
2 hours 40 min.
Average
2 Poacheds eggs
2 IngredientsLast modified on: January 8th 2013
For 2 Poacheds eggs, you will need:
2 
1 tablespoon white (spirit) vinegar
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 2 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 1 tablespoon 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 | 10 RDI=5 % | 0 | 10 RDI=2 % | 150 RDI=7 % | 610 RDI: 7 % |
| 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 2 Poacheds eggs : 0.30 €
- 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
Eggs Benedict
Soft-boiled eggs, served on toast with a slice of fried smoked ham, and the whole covered with Hollandaise sauce.
233 K4 1 hour 4 min.
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.
56 K4.8 35 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.
31 K 1 hour 7 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.
59 K5 1 hour 2 min.
Tartine du pêcheur
This is a French twist on that store-cupboard basic, sardines on toast: sardine fillets in oil and sliced spring onion, topped with a poached egg.
55 K4.7 15 min.
This recipe uses (among others)
Egg
Like these other recipes: How to fry eggs well, French toast "cordon bleu", Old style brioche, Leek and Mimolette tart, Pan-fried cheese, egg and spinach toastie, ... See them all 237
White (spirit) vinegar
Like these other recipes: Sautéed chicken with leeks, How to prepare cabbage, How to prepare sorrel, Pickled gherkins, Béarnaise sauce, ... See them all 18
Other recipes you may also like
Rice pudding (riz au lait)
My personal version of this classic family recipe. December 18th 2018406 K5 40 min.
Tartiflette
A personal version of a classic recipe from Savoy. September 16th 2019617 K 14.6 1 hour 30 min.
Algerian brik rolls
In this recipe, the brik (or filo) rolls are filled with fried minced meat, flavoured with cous-cous spices, garlic and onion. June 3rd 201580 K5 40 min.
Caramelised apple pie
Apple pie made with caramelised apples. September 11th 2018266 K4.3 1 hour 55 min.
Gingerbread
Maybe this recipe will bring back memories. February 21th 2011292 K4.2 1 hour 4 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-09-07)
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.