Making poached eggs is simple. All you need is eggs, vinegar, and water. This tutorial for How To Make Poached Eggs is a foolproof method that yields perfect results every time.

It costs approximately $1.02 to make these poached eggs. The recipe makes two servings for about $0.51 per serving. 

Are you looking for more ways to cook an egg? Check out my tutorials on How to Make Scrambled Eggs, How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs, and How to Make Over Easy Eggs.

An overhead picture of the Poached Eggs served over toast.

Poached Eggs

A poached egg is a popular breakfast or brunch item to order when eating out at a restaurant. But why wait to enjoy a delicious poached egg when you can make them at home?

You may be intimidated, thinking you cannot recreate a restaurant-quality egg at home. But I am here to show you that you can do precisely that. 

With just two ingredients, the right equipment, and a few minutes of your time, you will enjoy perfectly poached eggs whenever you want! They are perfect on top of a salad, avocado toast, or on their own. 

If you have never had a Poached Egg, get ready to meet your new favorite way to cook them! They are round white eggs, with a firm and delicate egg white surrounding a golden yolk that is perfectly ooey and gooey when you cut into the egg white.

The finished Poached Eggs on toast on top of white plates.

Ingredients and Estimated Cost

Per Serving Cost: $0.51

Recipe Cost: $1.02

  • 2 large eggs – $1.00
  • 1 Tablespoon distilled white vinegar – $0.02

NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have. I updated the pricing for this recipe in January 2023.

All of the ingredients needed to make this recipe.

How To Make Poached Eggs

  1. First, boil water in a large pot. After it is boiling, lower the heat, so the water is just bubbling. 
  2. Then, add the vinegar to the water.
  3. Next, crack the eggs into individual cups or small bowls.
  4. Gently stir the water to keep the water moving in a circle. 
  5. Pour the egg into the center of the pot. 
  6. Cook the eggs for 2 ½ to 3 minutes before removing it with a slotted spoon. 
  7. You can place them into an ice bath to stop the cooking process or serve them immediately.

***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.

A picture collage showing how to make this recipe.

Storage Tips

SERVE: You can keep the eggs out for about 90 minutes before they need to be covered and refrigerated.

STORE: Place leftover eggs in an airtight container and store them for 4-5 days.

FREEZE: You can freeze cooked eggs, but be forewarned that the whites will be rubbery. To freeze:

  1. Cool the eggs, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  2. Freeze until frozen solid, about two hours.
  3. Transfer to a freezer-safe container or zipper-top bag and freeze for up to six months.

THAW: Thaw the egg(s) overnight in the refrigerator.

REHEAT: Place the egg(s) in a skillet with a teaspoon of butter. Place the skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until the eggs are heated through.

Recipe FAQs

What is the easiest way to poach eggs?

The easiest way is to cook them in a large pot of boiling water. Doing so will take about three minutes per egg.

Do I need vinegar for poached eggs?

I recommend adding vinegar to the water before cooking the eggs. The vinegar helps cook the egg quicker to avoid overcooking the eggs.

Do you poach eggs in hot or cold water?

To make this recipe, you will boil the water and lower the heat so it is barely bubbling.

A fork breaking open a poached egg.

More Breakfast Recipes

A close up picture of a poached egg split open on a piece of toast.
5 from 5 votes

Poached Eggs

Recipe Cost $ $1.02
Serving Cost $ $0.51
Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
2 people
Making poached eggs is simple. All you need is eggs, vinegar, and water. This tutorial for How To Make Poached Eggs is a foolproof method that yields perfect results every time.

Equipment

  • large pot
  • Small bowls
  • Slotted spoon
  • Measuring spoon

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 large eggs fresh eggs work best, see notes
  • 1 Tablespoon distilled white vinegar

Instructions

PREP WATER:

  • Boil water in a large pot, then lower the heat so the water is just bubbling.
  • Add the vinegar to the water.

PREP EGGS:

  • Crack your eggs into individual cups or small bowls so they’re ready to pour into the water.

POACH EGGS:

  • Using a slotted spoon, stir the water in a large circular motion. You want to create a water tornado.
  • Add the egg to the center of the pot. Gently stir the water to keep the water moving in a circular motion. This will wrap the egg white around itself, so the egg stays together as it cooks.
  • Cook the eggs for 2½ to 3 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon.

SERVE:

  • You can place them into an ice bath to stop the cooking process or serve them immediately.

REPEAT:

  • Repeat the poaching process with the other egg.

Notes

Use a fine mesh strainer to separate thin egg whites from older eggs before cooking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1egg | Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.3g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 61mg | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

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5 Comments

  1. thanks for the boiling tip that helped mine stay together better.

  2. My mom use to make poached eggs when I was a kid and I loved them. However, I never tried making poached eggs for my kids because it seemed too complicated. Now that I know how I’ve been making them for breakfast regularly. Nothing beats the creamy yolk of a poached egg!

  3. Inside this recipe to make eggs for breakfast this morning and they turned out perfectly! Thanks for sharing!

  4. Making poached eggs has always seemed intimidating to me, but this guide makes it seem so simple! Can’t wait to give this a try!

  5. Sara Welch says:

    I’ve never tried using vinegar, but that did the trick for some perfect eggs! Love this recipe; easily, a new favorite way to enjoy eggs!