If you happen to be in the market for an egg cooker, you probably already know there are a host of designs and styles to choose from. The terms egg cooker and egg poacher are often used interchangeably, however there is technically a difference. Of course the most appropriate egg cooking devise will depend on your intended use. Hopefully this article may be useful in highlighting the differences in the various types of egg cookers, and make the decision making process just a bit easier.
Many egg cookers actually operate in two modes; by placing eggs (still in the shell) directly in boiling water hard or soft boiled eggs may be prepared. Of course this may also be accomplished in a sauce pan a cook-top, but performing this in a small dedicated appliance is preferred by some. Many of these same cookers also have the capability to "poach" eggs. This is done by placing the raw egg into removable non-stick trays and steaming them. A true poached egg is actually cooked by placing the raw egg directly in simmering liquid, and is preferred by some purists. However the "steaming" method of poaching egg is rather fool proof, and the end result tastes the same, with out the hassle. Usually the capacity of these egg cookers is dictated by the cooking mode. For example an egg cooker that can hard boil 8 eggs, will only have room for about 4 poaching trays. Our favorite dual purpose egg cooker is the Oster 4716 Egg Cooker, and sells for under $35.
Another very popular egg cooker is the egg toaster poacher. As the name implies, they are both a poacher and toaster in a single appliance. These were developed as a way to easily prepare a breakfast sandwich. The most common setup will have the ability to poach a single egg while at the same time toast two slices of bread or English muffin. Some also have a meat warmer, so that in about 4 minutes, the sandwich can be ready to enjoy. There are also expanded versions of these devices that allow 2 eggs and 4 slices of bread. Our favorite version of this type of cooker is the Back to Basics TEM500 Toaster and Egg Poacher.
There are so many options when it comes to egg cookers that the selection process can be a bit overwhelming. For more detailed information on many models of egg cookers and egg poachers, visit the resources listed below.