17 Egg-Cooking Hacks That Are Borderline Genius
Cooking eggs is easy once you have a few tricks up your sleeve.
1. Poach eggs in the microwave.
A mug, some water, and 45 seconds in the microwave is all it takes to make perfectly poached eggs. Learn how to do it here.
2. Or, if you go with the stovetop method, poach them in plastic wrap.
Just line a cup with plastic wrap, crack an egg into it, and tie it closed to create the perfect poaching packet. Learn how to do it here.
3. Even better, go with Julia Child's foolproof method for poaching eggs.
Just boil them in the shell for ten seconds before cracking them into simmering water. The whites will firm up just enough to keep them perfectly round while poaching. Learn how to do it here.
4. Get rid of excess moisture by cracking eggs into sieves before poaching or frying them.
The watery outer layer of the egg will drain through, leaving you with a perfectly compact egg that holds together beautifully. Learn how to do it here.
5. Cook an omelette in a plastic bag for the perfect make-ahead breakfast.
Fill a plastic bag with eggs and your favorite toppings, then cook it directly in simmering water for an effortless breakfast with virtually no cleanup. Learn how to do it here.
6. Use a rice cooker to gently scramble eggs...
Simply throw in your favorite toppings for a dorm-friendly breakfast you can make anywhere. Learn how to do it here.
7. Or even easier, a microwave.
Put eggs and your favorite toppings in a ramekin and microwave for one and a half minutes to make an instant omelette. Learn how to do it here.
8. Bake them on a sheet tray to effortlessly cook omelettes for a crowd.
Just pour them straight onto a pan and bake them for 25–30 minutes for the perfect sheet tray omelette. Learn how to do it here.
9. Instead of using your hands, use a water bottle to easily separate eggs.
Simply suck the yolk into the bottle to separate it from the white — no hands needed! See how to do it here.
10. Bake them in muffin tins to make perfect sandwich-toppers.
With this technique you can easily make a whole tray of eggs in one shot. It's perfect for feeding a crowd (and even more perfect for topping English muffins). Learn how to do it here.
11. Or bake them on a wet towel for perfect hard-cooked eggs (à la Alton Brown).
The wet towel protects them from browning on the grates and creates the creamiest hard-cooked eggs you'll ever have. Learn how to do it here.
12. And if you're a fan of the Instant Pot, you can cook them in there too!
13. Or cook them in a pressure cooker.
Three minutes in a pressure cooker is all it takes to make perfect soft-boiled eggs. Learn how to do it here.
14. When boiling eggs, add baking soda to the water to make peeling them a breeze.
Just add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to a large pot of water and your shells will peel right off. Learn how to do it here.
15. Peel hard-boiled eggs by shaking them in a jar filled with water.
The shells will ~literally~ fall right off. See how to do it here.
16. Go untraditional and "blow" them right out of their shells.
This technique is a bit crazy, but if you're looking for a quick (and fun) way to peel eggs, this will definitely do the trick. See how to do it here.
17. Or simply peel them with a spoon if you're feeling less adventurous.
Work it between the shell and the egg to peel them in one smooth shot. See how to do it here.