How To Poach An Egg

Egg is known to be a very rich source of protein and essential unsaturated fats. Thanks to the Sunday ho ya Monday, Roz Khao Andey campaign, almost every Indian household has become familiarized with eggs. However, the best way to cook an egg has always been under debate – whether to poach it, boil it hard, boil it soft, make an omlette or to scramble it. The tastiest way to do it is subject to personal tastes but the healthiest way to eat an egg is, undoubtedly, to poach it. It uses very less oil and since the yolk is half cooked, it causes less harm to the body. Poaching an egg, without a poacher is actually quite tricky and would demand practice. Here’s how to perfectly poach an egg.

 

Follow the simple steps given below to poach your eggs without a poacher:

 

To begin with, fill a large saucepan about three quarters with water and bring the water to a boil.

 

When the water has just begun to boil, add a dash of white vinegar to it. White vinegar helps the egg's appearance; it acts as a catalyst for the coagulation of the egg white, causing it to turn into a perfectly poached egg. Other varieties of vinegar like balsamic, red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar are fine too, and sometimes taste great when poaching eggs, but will possibly affect the final coloration. Taste this water to make sure the level is right. The vinegar should be barely noticeable.

 

When the water is bubbling, turn the stove burner to low and stir with a spoon. The temperature should be somewhere between seventy to eighty degrees centigrade for the egg to poach well. Never add the egg on boiling water.

 

Break the eggs, one at a time into a small bowl, big enough to hold only one egg at a time. You could also break the egg into the cup of a soup ladle. The fresher the egg the better the result it will yield.

 

After the water is slightly cooler, gently lower the bowl or ladle into the water. Be careful not to pour it from too much height or it would spread all over the water and will not come rounded like it should. Remove the egg and transfer it on to the breakfast bowl or plate. Repeat with the other eggs, making sure you add only one at a time.