Poaching eggs can be notoriously difficult to perfect. Unlike frying them in hot oil where you can clearly see how they are progressing, getting a poached egg just right is considerably more challenging.
Yet there is no denying that poached eggs taste so much better perched atop your avocado toast. And few things are more satisfying than that glorious moment when the yolk bursts open and oozes all over the bread beneath. If you consistently struggle with poached eggs and always end up overcooking them, one woman has come up with a clever hack that could solve all your problems.
The Strainer Method
Instagram user @dailyoriginalvids said: "I wish I knew this sooner," as they showed off an innovative way to make poached eggs. While those who struggle with poaching eggs may already be aware you can make them in the microwave, many will have discovered the results simply are not the same, often turning out rather rubbery. With this particular method, however, they look absolutely delicious.
Rather than cracking the eggs directly into boiling water as you normally would, this technique involves placing two small egg strainers over a pan of boiling water. You simply crack an egg into each strainer and leave them for three minutes until they poach to perfection.
It is essential to place a lid over them so the heat can cook them thoroughly — without one, they would remain far too runny. The egg will "immediately start to cook," according to Food & Wine's YouTube video, with a recommendation that it could take three to five minutes — you will need to use your own judgement. Once the egg is ready, you should be able to slide it onto whichever dish you fancy, complete with a gloriously jammy yolk.
Reactions from Viewers
In the comments section, one user wrote: "This is wonderful! I love poached eggs and am definitely trying this." Others insisted there was a far simpler approach, as one commented: "Literally just add vinegar to the water, add the egg to the water, stir the water, pull out the egg, egg is done, no extra cleaning required, especially with a fine mesh strainer, is so annoying."
Another chimed in: "If you apply a bit of oil in the strainer, it will be easy to remove and easy to clean as well." One viewer remarked: "It's the strainer mess to clean afterwards that makes this a hard pass for me." Yet plenty of others were full of praise, noting the technique had made things "easier" for them, particularly those who had never mastered the traditional method.
For these fans, it meant they could finally enjoy perfectly poached eggs without ever leaving the house to go for brunch. Fancy giving this egg-poaching technique a go yourself? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
