Perfectly poached eggs should have a runny yolk but whites that are opaque and firm — a tricky thing to master in the kitchen.Traditionally, poaching an egg requires boiling water and a saucepan, but this isn’t the easiest way to do it.
It so happens that the mirowave can 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 method of poaching eggs in about 45 to 60 seconds using a microwave.
“I can poach two eggs using this method faster than the bread takes to toast,” he said.
“Because it cooks using the microwaves plus the heated water, there’s a two-way cooking process. So it’s fast.”
The chef stressed that if your eggs are fresh, “you’ll find it works amazingly”, but you will see mixed results if they are past their prime. It’s always best to use the freshest eggs possible.
Furthermore, room temperature eggs “work best”, so take your eggs out of the fridge 30 minutes beforehand if you can.
It’s important to remember that microwaves have different wattage strengths so it may take slightly more or less time to cook.
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.”
The key to this recipe is not to overcook the eggs. With today’s high-powered microwaves, cooking times can be significantly reduced and may vary greatly.
It’s worth trialling this recipe a few times to find the perfect cooking time.
Microwaving an egg too quickly or for too long can cause it to explode. As the heat builds up, steam is produced, and there may be an explosion if it cannot escape quickly enough.
Start by placing half a cup of room-temperature water in a microwave-safe cup. Salt the water and gently add one egg to the cup.
Next, place the cup in the microwave and cook for approximately 45 to 60 seconds. Remove the cup from the microwave.
Use a tablespoon to scoop out the egg and place it on a paper towel before transferring it to a plate or piece of toast.
Dining and Cooking