How and how long to boil eggs in a bag

Boiled eggs seem like an incredibly simple dish that even children can cook. But if you look at it, there are several stages of egg readiness and the cooking time depends on what result you want to get. Let’s look at one of them!

Eggs in a bag – what are they?

Conventionally speaking, this is an intermediate stage between soft-boiled and hard-boiled eggs. The white has time to set, it is not snotty, and the yolk remains runny in the center and a little dense around the edges. From the point of view of many chefs, this is an ideal boiled egg for appetizers, sandwiches and salads.

It is a little more difficult to prepare such an egg than a hard-boiled one, for example, since the setting time of the white and yolk is different. Hence the need to carefully monitor time and calculate the process down to the minute in order to get the perfect result.

How to prepare eggs

If you plan to boil eggs in a bag, the first step is to take them out of the refrigerator in advance. This must be done at least 20 minutes in advance, but you can leave it on the table a little longer.

The thing is that cold eggs can crack when heated by temperature differences. And while in the case of hard-boiled eggs this may not be too critical, in order to get a soft yolk, it is important to maintain the integrity of the shell.

Also any eggs immediately before cooking need to be washed thoroughly. You can use clean water or a soap solution if there are obvious signs of dirt or debris on the shell.

It’s still not a good idea to wash eggs before storing them in the refrigerator. The protective film on the shell helps the eggs stay fresh longer. So it’s better to do this only before cooking.

Tips for Cooking Eggs

More often the freshest possible product – the best choice. However, this scheme does not work with boiled eggs. Here it is best to give preference to two-week-old eggs, as this will make peeling the shell easier. The freshest eggs are almost impossible to peel perfectly, so they are best used for desserts or other cooking methods.

Makes peeling eggs a little easier cooking with salt. However, it is important to observe several points here – you should add salt at the very beginning of the process and add quite a lot, at least 2-3 tablespoons.

Cooling boiled eggs in ice water – a step that should not be skipped. The fact is that this stage simultaneously pursues two goals – to stop the cooking process and make it easier to clean the shell. The ideal option is not to simply place the eggs under cold water, but to place them in a bowl of ice so that the temperature drops as quickly as possible.

The shells of some eggs are so delicate that even if all the rules are followed, they burst during the heating process. If you come across just such eggs, a simple manipulation will help ensure the integrity of the shell – a small puncture with a sharp needle from the blunt end of the egg. In this place there is a tiny air chamber, which, when heated, expands and causes the shell to rupture. The piercing helps prevent this. Pierce the eggs very carefully, literally one millimeter, and then immerse them in water.

It should also be said that you can boil eggs in completely different ways and get the expected result. Let’s look at a few of them in detail.

Option 1

This is perhaps the most traditional way. Pour the prepared eggs with cold water in a small saucepan so that the water is approximately 2-2.5 cm above the level of the eggs. Place on the fire and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and cook eggs for 5 minutes. Cool the cooked eggs immediately.

Option 2

Place the eggs in the pan and fill with water up to the top of the egg. Place the pan on the fire and cover with a lid. It is ideal to use a transparent lid in this case, since it is necessary to catch the moment of boiling. Over high heat, bring the water to an initial boil. As soon as bubbles appear, turn off the heat. From this moment you need to time it for 6 minutes and the eggs will be ready. Immediately place the eggs under cold water or in a bowl of ice to stop the cooking process.

The advantages of this option are that the eggs gradually heat up and the risk of shell cracking is minimal. In addition, steeping in hot water rather than intense boiling ensures a softer yolk texture.

Unfortunately, this method also has disadvantages. The thing is that the boiling time of water directly depends on the dishes you choose. For example, water in an aluminum pan will boil much faster than in a cast iron pan. Accordingly, even if you follow all the recommendations, you may get different results at the end due to the difference in time before boiling.

Option 3

Pour enough cold water into the pan to cover the eggs by about 2 cm and place on the heat. Bring water to a boil and reduce heat to low. Using a slotted spoon or spoon, carefully place the eggs into the pan. Once the eggs are in the water, increase the heat again. Start counting how long to cook the egg after the water boils. The time will be 6 minutes. Once the process is complete, immediately cool the eggs in ice water as they will continue to cook at their own temperature.

The advantage of this option is that the cooking time will always be the same, since it does not depend on the type of cookware chosen.

Among the disadvantages is the potential danger of cracked shells if the eggs are cold when you place them in the pan or the water is boiling too intensely at this moment.

How long to boil eggs in a bag

On average, cooking time is 5-6 minutes. Since poaching an egg means maintaining the correct texture of the yolk, be sure to time it accurately. It is best to use a timer or alarm clock that will notify you of the exact moment when the eggs are ready.

Evaluate the already boiled and peeled egg. If the result does not seem quite ideal, next time increase or decrease the cooking time by 30 seconds, using the same cooking method and similar utensils. This way, you can understand how long to boil the eggs in the bag so that they are ideal for you.

30 seconds is the time it takes to get a runnier or denser yolk. Depending on which one you like best, choose a more suitable time for yourself.

How to boil eggs in a slow cooker

Kitchen appliances can simplify many different processes familiar to us, including, if necessary, you can boil eggs in a slow cooker.

Place the washed eggs in a bowl, fill them with water and set the mode to “Cooking” or “Steam”, depending on the type of equipment you have. After the water boils, cook the eggs for about 4 minutes, then immediately place them in ice water. Since multicookers vary significantly in power, you may have to adjust the time based on the result.

And it’s better to use a regular slow cooker rather than a pressure cooker, since the time to release the pressure means extra minutes during which the eggs can be overcooked.

Another type of equipment that will help you cook perfect eggs in a bag is an electric egg cooker. If you prefer to cook eggs for breakfast or dinner every day, or you have a large family, this device will become indispensable in your kitchen. The essence of his work is very simple – the eggs are boiled exactly as much as necessary to achieve the selected degree of doneness. Most often, the egg boiler kit comes with a measuring cup, which is convenient for measuring the required amount of water. Depending on the type of appliance, some also come with a special needle that needs to be used to pierce the eggs before boiling. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, you just need to place the eggs, add water and indicate the desired degree of doneness. The technology will do the rest for you. At the end of the process, the egg cooker either simply turns off or additionally notifies you that the work has completed. It’s simple, convenient and eliminates the need to keep track of time. However, you will have to spend money on an additional device.

How to cook poached eggs

Poached eggs in a bag without shells are perfect to complement salads, appetizers and morning toast. The process of preparing such eggs seems complicated to many, and the domain of only professional chefs, but this is not at all the case. Cooking poached eggs at home is as easy as cooking regular eggs. Here are some recommendations and methods for beginners.

Method 1

One of the simplest and most common options for cooking poached eggs is with the addition of vinegar.

You will need:

• Water – 1 liter;
• Egg – 1-2 pcs.;
• Table vinegar – 2 tbsp. l.

To begin, gently crack the egg into a small cup or other convenient bowl. If you are boiling more than one egg, use several small containers.

Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Pour in vinegar. Using a spoon or whisk, form a funnel in the center of the boiling water using vigorous circular motions.

Carefully pour the prepared egg into the resulting funnel.

Now it is important to note the time – after the egg is lowered into the water, cook it for only 3 minutes. Then carefully remove with a slotted spoon or slotted spoon to remove excess water.

The finished egg can be additionally carefully dried with a paper towel. Serve the poached meat immediately.

Method 2

If you find the funnel method too complicated or you can’t achieve the perfect shape you’re aiming for, an alternative option is to poach an egg in a cling film bag. This method guarantees the correct shape of the egg, although it requires a little more effort. However, in fact, this is also very simple.

You will need:

• Egg – 1-2 pcs.;
• Unscented vegetable oil – 1 tsp;
• Salt and other spices – to taste (for serving).

To begin, prepare small cups, ramekins, or other convenient containers. Measure a small piece of cling film and place it in the pan so that the edges extend quite far beyond the sides of the pan. Lubricate the film inside with a brush with odorless vegetable oil. This will prevent the cooked egg from sticking.

Gently beat the egg into the prepared mold, already greased. It is important to do this so that the yolk remains intact.

Grasp the edges of the cling film and gather on top. Tie tightly to prevent the egg from leaking during cooking. Do this also carefully so as not to damage the egg. Prepare the remaining eggs in the same way if you are boiling more than one at a time.

Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Carefully transfer the workpieces and lower the eggs into boiling water. As soon as the water boils again, note the time. In this way, poached meat is cooked for exactly 3 minutes.

Immediately remove the finished eggs from the pan and carefully unfold them. If desired, add salt and spices to taste.

That’s all, poached meat can be served.

An egg in a bag is very tasty! Boiled white, but at the same time a delicate yolk that flows beautifully – this is taste and aesthetics on your plate. To learn how to cook such eggs perfectly you need very little skill and a little experience. The most important rule is to strictly adhere to the cooking time, and everything else can be easily adjusted!

And if you are looking for delicious recipes with eggs, check out the site! We have prepared many interesting ideas for you!