How to Use an Egg Cooker to Boil, Poach, & Cook Eggs

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Plus, learn tips for cleaning & maintaining your egg boiler
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Egg boilers, also known as egg cookers or egg steamers, make cooking eggs quick, easy, and effortless! These handy little appliances remove the hassle of estimating when your eggs are done, while ensuring they're cooked exactly the way you like them. In this article, we'll explain how to use an egg boiler to make perfectly cooked soft, medium, and hard-boiled eggs , poached eggs, and omelets . We'll also cover our top tips for cleaning and maintaining your egg cooker for years to come!

Boiling Eggs in an Egg Cooker: Quick Guide

Fill the bottom of the egg cooker with the amount of water recommended for the number and desired doneness of the eggs. Poke a tiny hole in the large end of each egg with a needle and set the eggs in the boiler tray, holes facing up. Put the lid on, flip the switch, and leave it until the cooker chimes or shuts off.

Section 1 of 4:

Cooking Soft, Medium, or Hard Boiled Eggs

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  1. The amount of water you need depends on how many eggs you're cooking and how well you want them cooked. Read the instruction manual and use the lines on the measuring cup that came with your egg cooker to figure out the right amount of water to use. Then fill the measuring cup to the right line with water and pour it into the base of the egg cooker. [1]
    • The exact measurements will depend on your model but, generally, soft-boiled eggs require less water than hard-boiled eggs.
    • Most measuring cups that come with egg cookers include specific measurement lines for soft, medium, and hard-boiled eggs.
    • If you lost or never received an instruction manual with your egg boiler, search for one for your model online.
    • Popular egg cooker models include the DASH Rapid Egg Cooker , the Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Egg Cooker , and the Cuisinart Egg Cooker .
  2. Most egg boilers come with a pin (often found on the bottom of the measuring cup) for this purpose, but you can also use a regular sewing pin. To pierce the egg without cracking it, turn the large end face up toward you and hold it firmly in your hand. Then slowly push the needle into the shell. Avoid squeezing your hand too hard or punching the needle in too quickly, or you might get egg everywhere! [2]
    • The holes will help steam escape and keep the eggshells from cracking as they cook.
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  3. The boiling tray has egg-shaped wells that lift the eggs above the heating plate in the base. This ensures the eggs cook instead of burn. When putting the eggs into the boiling tray, make sure the holes you poked in the previous step are facing up! [3]
    • Extra-large eggs may not fit into the wells of the boiling tray as easily, so try using large or small eggs instead.
    • Depending on the size of your egg cooker, you may be able to boil 6-10 eggs at a time.
  4. After you switch on the start button on your egg boiler, the machine will begin to steam your eggs . The cooking process can take 7-16 minutes depending on how many eggs you're cooking and how "done" you want them. [4]
    • Some egg cooker models automatically turn off after they’re done, while others need to be turned off manually. Generally, they make a sound or the light on the front switch turns off when the eggs are finished.
  5. Lift the eggs out with tongs and submerge them in a bowl filled with cold water from the sink or water filled with ice cubes. This will stop them from overcooking. Be careful to avoid escaping steam as you take off the lid. [5]
    • If you want your eggs hard-boiled, leave them in the egg cooker for 1 more minute after the timer goes off. For medium-boiled eggs, leave them in for a few extra minutes. [6]
  6. Older eggs will generally peel more easily than fresher ones. Boiled, unpeeled eggs can keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. Then you can eat them individually as a snack or use them in recipes like these:
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Section 2 of 4:

Cooking Poached Eggs & Omelets

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  1. Most egg boilers come with 2 trays: one divided into 2 small sections and one with no division in the middle. The tray with 2 sections is great for poaching eggs or preparing small omelets for kids. Meanwhile, the open tray is more useful for cooking omelets in adult-sized portions.
    • Some boilers come with only one tray, which can be used for either poaching eggs or cooking omelets.
  2. Most egg cookers recommend using the “medium” line on the included measuring cup for poached eggs and omelets. It's always a good idea to check the instruction manual for your model to confirm. [7]
  3. You can spread butter or spray cooking oil onto the tray, whichever you prefer! Then it's time to add the eggs. If you're poaching your eggs, break them directly into the tray. [8] For omelets, load your desired fillings into the tray first, then whisk the eggs together first and pour them over the fillings. [9] Try adding these popular fillings to take your omelet to a whole new level of deliciousness:
    • Grated cheese
    • Bacon
    • Ham
    • Spinach
    • Onions
    • Chives
    • Peppers
  4. After you click the start button on your egg boiler, the machine will begin cooking your eggs. Just like when it's boiling eggs, the cooker will turn off automatically or chime when the food is hot and ready to eat. Poached eggs usually only take about 5 minutes or less, whereas omelets can take 5-7 minutes.
  5. Wear oven mitts to pull the egg tray out of the cooker, as it will be hot! Then transfer the poached eggs or omelets to a plate, wait until they're cooled enough to not burn your tongue, then enjoy!
    • Don't forget to add your favorite seasonings, like salt, pepper, and garlic powder!
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Section 3 of 4:

How to Clean & Maintain Your Egg Boiler

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  1. The manual will tell you if the egg boiler trays, lid, and measuring cup are dishwasher safe. If they're not, hand wash them in warm soapy water. Remember to rinse them and let them dry thoroughly before storing them.
    • Before cleaning any of its parts, unplug the egg boiler and let it cool completely.
  2. Using your egg cooker often can cause rust-colored mineral deposits to form on the heating implement in the base. The minerals not only discolor the base itself but also your eggs! To prevent this buildup, pour white vinegar into the base (while it's unplugged), let it sit for 5 minutes, then wipe it up with a clean cloth. The mineral deposits should lift right off! [10]
  3. Regular tap water is usually the culprit behind the mineral deposits that form on the egg cooker's heating plate. To avoid this, try using distilled water instead of tap water when cooking in your egg boiler.
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Section 4 of 4:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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  1. 1
    Should distilled water be used in an egg cooker? Many egg cooker manufacturers recommend using distilled water instead of tap water. They say this extends the life of the appliance. Check your model's manual first to see what type of water the manufacturer suggests.
  2. 2
    How long should eggs be boiled in the boiler? Egg cookers are timed to run until the water in the base evaporates or the eggs reach a certain temperature. That's why it's important to put in the correct amount of water for the way you want your eggs cooked! Once the water has evaporated and the eggs are cooked to temperature, the cooker will either shut off on its own or chime to let you know it's time to flip its switch to "Off."
  3. 3
    What end of egg goes up in an egg cooker? Eggs are slightly larger on one end than on the other. Pierce the large end with the needle that came with your egg cooker's measuring cup, then position the egg in the boiler tray so the large end with the hole faces up.
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Tips

  • For more consistent results, use eggs directly from the refrigerator rather than room temperature eggs.
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Warnings

  • Be careful to avoid hot steam when using your egg boiler. If your egg holder does not include safety handles, be sure to use oven mitts when removing it from the machine.
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References

  1. ↑ https://youtu.be/lUsCwy9yVXs?si=-T2GrN-3G0pfWH24&t=110
  2. ↑ https://youtu.be/5b3Laz3NJ2k?si=BteqRG5YS1FcL8nt&t=130
  3. ↑ https://www.williams-sonoma.com/netstorage/pdf/Dash-Express-Egg-Cooker-DEC005-UserManual.pdf
  4. ↑ https://www.williams-sonoma.com/netstorage/pdf/Dash-Express-Egg-Cooker-DEC005-UserManual.pdf
  5. ↑ https://youtu.be/5b3Laz3NJ2k?si=au_psL8kI3QHBuLF&t=219
  6. ↑ https://www.williams-sonoma.com/netstorage/pdf/Dash-Express-Egg-Cooker-DEC005-UserManual.pdf
  7. ↑ https://hamiltonbeach.com/poached-eggs-in-an-egg-cooker
  8. ↑ https://youtu.be/aoOI27CSzcU?si=UDCkoPiR1X7L490a&t=20
  9. ↑ https://youtu.be/aoOI27CSzcU?si=_aBqprirFOkwgykU&t=37
  1. ↑ https://youtu.be/hsIKzhCCGU4?si=jzZYyk0D2yfoXCKm&t=26

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