A French chef shared his simple poached egg recipe that takes just 45 seconds, claiming results closely rival those from a professional kitchen
A French chef shared his simple poached egg recipe that takes just 45 seconds, claiming results closely rival those from a professional kitchen(Image: MonicaNinker via Getty Images)
A perfectly poached egg should feature a runny yolk paired with an opaque, firm white. Traditionally, poaching an egg requires boiling water and a saucepan; however, this isn’t always the easiest method.
It transpires you can utilise your microwave to poach eggs that deliver results strikingly similar to restaurant quality. Writing on his blog Recipe30, Joel Mielle, a professionally trained French chef and former restaurant owner, revealed his recipe for poaching an egg in “approximately 45 to 60 seconds” using a microwave.
He said: “I can poach two eggs using this method faster than the bread takes to toast. Because it cooks using the microwaves plus the heated water, there’s a two-way cooking process. So it’s fast.”
It turns out you can use your microwave to poach eggs(Image: Getty)
How to poach eggs without a pan
The chef stressed that if your eggs are fresh, “you’ll find it works amazingly”. If your eggs are beyond their prime, you will get mixed results, so always use the freshest eggs you can find.
Moreover, room temperature eggs “work best”, so take your eggs out of the fridge 30 minutes in advance if possible, reports the Express. It’s important to remember that microwaves have different wattage strengths; therefore, it might take slightly less or considerably longer.
Joel said: “The one I used was 1200 Watts. Perhaps start with a lower wattage first and increase it from there. Experiment, turn off and check after 45 seconds, then continue so you don’t overcook it.”
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The key to this recipe is making sure you don’t overcook the eggs. With today’s high-powered microwaves, cooking times can be considerably shorter and may differ substantially.
It’s worthwhile trying this recipe several times to discover the perfect cooking duration.
Microwaving an egg too rapidly or for an excessive period can cause it to explode. As the temperature rises, steam builds up, and if it can’t escape fast enough, an explosion occurs.
How to poach eggs in the microwave
Start by putting half a cup of room-temperature water in a microwave-safe cup. Add salt to the water and carefully place one egg into the cup.
Then, put the cup in the microwave and cook for roughly 45 to 60 seconds. Take the cup out of the microwave.
Use a tablespoon to lift out the egg and rest it on a paper towel before moving it to a plate or slice of toast.
Dining and Cooking