A mum and TikTok creator has shared a simple technique for making the perfect poached egg that does not require a pan or a hob. Jennifer Valentyne, who describes herself as a "mum who loves cooking, cocktails and comedy", claims this is the "easiest" way to poach an egg.
Rather than using the hob, Jennifer makes her poached eggs in the microwave. All that is needed is a cup of water, a splash of vinegar, and a microwave.
The one-minute microwave method
In her video, Jennifer declared: "The easiest poached egg you've ever made. Add one teaspoon of vinegar to a cup of cold water and then add your egg."
After mixing the vinegar and egg with the cup of water, she placed it directly into the microwave. The TikTok mum instructed: "Microwave for one minute."
Jennifer recommended that once removed, the egg should be "perfect". She added: "I put it on my sprouted grain toast and add a little salt and pepper." As she cut into her egg, a golden, runny yolk flowed out. She proclaimed, "That's beautiful, look at that, perfect."
Why vinegar is used
Vinegar is widely regarded as an essential component when poaching eggs. This is due to the fact that its acidity accelerates the denaturing process and helps the poached egg hold its shape. Despite vinegar's strong taste and smell, a few drops are unlikely to alter the flavour of the egg.
Any variety of vinegar will do the job, though most chefs advise using white vinegar, as its lack of colour means it won't discolour the egg. Darker varieties, such as balsamic vinegar, are generally not recommended as they can leave the egg an unappealing shade of brown.
Reaction from viewers
In the comments section, other TikTok users shared their thoughts on the technique. @bethanyblueeyes87 wrote: "This works! We love it! Now my son can add an egg to his cup of ramen."
Meanwhile, @lynnie285 pointed out: "You don't need the vinegar! It works perfectly without it." Some people maintained that additional cooking time was necessary. @david1973 stated: "So, I tried it and it needed more than a minute for me, but it worked."
Elsewhere, @emilyksp commented: "Worked for me but had to go 20 to 30 seconds more! I even made more than one without starting over with cold water! Easiest poached egg I've ever made!"
