Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Electric Egg Poacher Overview

By Paul Eden

There are many ways to cook an egg, but if you are looking for ease and convenience, look no further than an electric egg poacher. These small appliances make poaching an egg routine and much easier than using water in a pan. Not to mention, they are simple to clean, small enough to store in any space in your kitchen, and they can do many different jobs besides poach such as making hard-boiled eggs. Egg poachers are an all around good choice for anyone who enjoys making eggs for any meal.

There are an endless variety of manufacturers and models of electric egg poachers. The smallest can be purchased for under $20, while the larger premium models typically are in the $30-$40 range. Some poachers are designed to cook just a single egg at a time, while the larger ones can cook up to 6-8 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.

Because there are so many models and manufacturers of electric egg poachers, it should be easy to find one with the exact features you desire. Some poachers have just a simple heating element, while others have timers or indicator lights to aid in achieving consistent results. It is a good idea to look for a see-through cover that will make it easy to monitor the cooking process.

Most electric poachers come with egg trays with a non-stick surface. Based on my experience, you should eliminate any egg poacher without a non-stick surface as there is nothing worse than scraping cooked egg off of a pan. Certainly one of the primary reasons for purchasing an electric egg poacher is for convenience, and ending up with a lengthy clean-up process would negate the advantages.

One of the best selling poachers is dual purpose. In addition to being able to poach an egg, it has the capability to toast a couple of slices of bread or English muffins at the same time. Of course it can be configured to act independently as a toaster or poacher. These units have become quite popular because in under 4 minutes one can cook all the necessary components of a breakfast sandwich. There is even a provision for warming cooked meat such as ham or Canadian bacon.

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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