Electric Egg Poacher Buyer’s Guide
Perhaps using an electric egg poacher to poach eggs would not be remotely considered by most professional chefs. They might prefer to poach the old way by cooking the egg directly in water. For the rest of us however, this method is difficult to master. Poaching eggs in an electric egg poacher is a simple process and produces consistent result day in and day out.
There categories of electric egg poachers on the market. The simplest will cook a single egg, while some of the larger models can accommodate up to 7 eggs. Even the largest models are inexpensive and offer an efficient way to prepare poached eggs.
The nature of most electric egg poachers is that they can also be employed for other duties. They can be used to keep food warmer and server because they have a heating element and cooking vessel. If you prefer hard-boiled eggs, you can boil water in the poacher cook as you would on a stove-top. There is also the option of cooking eggs in the water below the cooking tray, while poaching eggs in the tray.
Of course the more money you invest the features that are included will be expanded. The more basic units will only have a heating element and require monitoring to determine when the eggs are done. The more sophisticated models will include either an indicator light or timer to aid in the cooking process. Some poachers feature a lid that also may be used as a serving dish.
Buying a non-stick electric egg poacher is essential when looking for any quality egg poacher. The non-stick surface allows you to simply wipe down the electric poacher with a sponge or paper towel and there is virtually no mess to clean up. Although the cast iron or older electric egg poachers are wonderful to look at, they are often much harder to clean up. Considering convenience is your main goal of buying an egg poacher you certainly do not want to spend more time cleaning your poacher than cooking in it.
Multi-use units are among the best selling electric egg poachers on the market. Specifically, appliances that toast bread and poach eggs at the same time have become most popular. These appliances are surprisingly affordable, usually around $30 and allow the preparation of a breakfast sandwich in just a few short minutes. Most also have a warming tray for heating up cooked meat at the same time.
The best place to shop for an electric egg poacher in on-line. Most retail stores stock just a few models, while online the options are virtually unlimited. In addition, most on-line sellers feature user reviews so that it is easy to quickly determine which models have performed best under actual use by consumers. Usually prices are better on-line because the overhead of a retail store is eliminated.
Most consumers find that once their electric egg poacher becomes part of their arsenal of small kitchen appliances, they find innovative ways to use them. Many salads are enhanced by the inclusion of poached eggs. Other meals such as pasta, vegetables and fish (think salmon) are also complimented. And don’t forget about the classic poached egg recipe-eggs Benedict.
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