Unless you're a chef or someone who is naturally gifted in the kitchen, which I am not, you too have probably struggled to poach an egg. Many an attempt has resulted in the egg white swirling around the saucepan, or a yolk that resembles a rubber ball encased in a sad, slimy substance.
Difficult to perfect, many techniques to recreate the brunch staple at home have been suggested over the years, such as the cling-wrap method (never a good idea), or adding vinegar to boiling water. But according to one content creator, there is an easier way - and it involves the humble mee-crow-wah-vay (Nigella Lawson, I'm sorry).
Chicago-based jewellery maker Dana, who goes by the username @danarebeccadesigns on TikTok, shared with her viewers what she claimed was a fail-safe method of achieving the perfect poached egg.
"I recently learned how to poach an egg, and I thank whoever it was on TikTok. Break an egg into a small Pyrex bowl, add a little bit of water - just enough to cover the yolk - and put it in the microwave," she explained.
Dana noted how long it takes to cook the egg will differ depending on the microwave being used, but suggested around 35 to 45 seconds should do the trick. Taking the dish out of the microwave, she declared: "Out comes the perfect poached egg."
Using a slotted spoon, Dana removed the egg from the dish and placed it on a plate before cutting it open to reveal a runny yolk.
However, not everyone appeared to experience the same result. In the comments, some viewers who tried the technique for themselves reported that their egg had exploded, to which it was suggested that you either add a pinch of salt to the water, or pierce the yolk with a toothpick. Another suggested covering the top of the dish with cling-wrap to prevent any mess.
Despite a few mishaps, the majority of Dana's viewers applauded the method, with one branding it an "amazing hack".
"Just tried it after watching this and they came out great! Fast and easy. Thank you," one man wrote.
Other content creators have advised using an air fryer to achieve the perfect soft or hard-boiled eggs in minutes. For soft-boiled eggs, popular TikToker Jackie Hartlaub - @lowcarbstateofmind - recommended popping room-temperature eggs in an air fryer set to 130 degrees Celsius for 10 or so minutes. She then adds the egg to an ice bath for at least five minutes.
