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   Catering   |   Food and Entertaining   |   Healthy Eating   |   Cooking 101   |   View All Articles
The Beginner’s Guide to Cooking Eggs
 

One of the most versatile ingredients used in cooking, eggs are also great just on their own. Because of its high protein content, an egg on toast is a perfect way to kick off your day. Follow these easy step-by-step instructions to cook eggs to perfection.

How to make microwave scrambled eggs

  1. Crack the desired amount of eggs into a microwavable mixing bowl. An individual serving will normally require 2 eggs.
  2. For every two eggs used, you will need to add 40ml of milk
  3. Beat the eggs and milk together with a whisk or a fork
  4. Add salt and pepper to taste
  5. Place the bowl into the microwave and cook the egg mixture on high for a minute
  6. Once the minute is over, carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and stir the contents
  7. If the scrambled eggs are still runny: Put the mixture back into the microwave and cook on high for another minute, stirring every 15 seconds or until the mixture is cooked through. You will know the scrambled eggs are cooked when the consistency is firm and fluffy.

How to Fry an Egg

  1. Heat a pan to medium heat, only frying three eggs at a time to allow for some space in-between them
  2. Put some oil or butter in the pan and allow to heat but not burn.
  3. Break the first egg into a small bowl then lower the bowl into the hot pan and gently pour.
  4. You should hear a slight sizzle but no popping or violent splattering, which means your heat is right.
  5. Continue to do the same with additional eggs.
  6. After cooking for two minutes, put the lid on and cook for another 3-6 minutes. This will create a hood over the egg yolks.
  7. Observe the hardness of the yolks by lifting the lid of the pan from time to time.
  8. When it’s done to your liking, remove the lid.
  9. Use a spatula and gently lift the eggs out onto a plate.

How to make soft boiled eggs

  1. Fill a pot with cold water
  2. Place the desired number of eggs into the pot, making sure there is enough water in the pot to cover the eggs completely
  3. Bring the water and eggs, to the boil (if you add cold eggs to already boiling water, the eggs will crack)
  4. Only when the water is boiling, can you begin to time, one egg will need to be cooked for one minute to be soft boiled, for every egg in the pot, you will need to add a minute to your cooking time, e.g. if you have 4 eggs in the pot you will need to cook them for 4 minutes to achieve soft boiled results.
  5. Remove the pot from the heat
  6. Drain the water
  7. Add cold water to the pot, this will cool the eggs down so that they can be handled and the process will also stop the eggs from cooking further.
  8. If you prefer hard boiled eggs, then simply double your cooking time e.g. if you have 4 eggs in the pot you will need to cook them for 8 minutes to achieve hard boiled eggs.

How to poach an egg

Traditional poaching-

  1. First bring water in a saucepan to a rolling boil.
  2. Turn down the heat so the water is just below a simmer.
  3. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to the water
  4. Add a pinch of salt (optional)
  5. Crack the egg into a small cup.
  6. Hold the cup just over the surface of the water and tip it to gently slide the egg into the water (Swirling the water, just before you add the egg will help in preventing the egg from separating).
  7. Once the whites have hardened, or after about 3 minutes, you can gently remove the poached egg.

Microwave poaching-

  1. You can purchase a microwave poacher, or simply use a microwavable cup or mug
  2. Gently crack an egg into the cup
  3. Prick the egg yolk and egg white with a fork
  4. Add butter/margarine (optional)
  5. Place the cup into the microwave and cover with some kitchen towel (microwave eggs have a tendency to pop or explode if not pricked properly beforehand).
  6. Microwave the egg on high for 40 seconds
  7. Check the progress of the egg
  8. Prick the egg white again
  9. If the egg is not cooked yet, then place the egg back into the microwave, cover and cook for 10 second intervals, checking the egg at each interval.

Using an egg poacher-

  1. Fill the pot of the egg poacher with water.
  2. Keep the pot covered and bring the water to a rolling boil on your stove.
  3. Spray each egg cup with the cooking spray. If you have a non-stick metal egg poacher, you will not need to use any cooking spray.
  4. Crack your eggs carefully into the poaching cups, one egg per cup.
  5. Place the lid on your poacher.
  6. Wait about 3 minutes for the eggs to poach. Many metal egg poachers have glass lids so you can observe the egg as it cooks. When the whites are no longer runny, your eggs are cooked.
  7. If you want firmer yolks wait five minutes or longer.
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