Making a solid breakfast every morning before shuffling out the door can be a struggle, particularly if you’re trying to avoid empty carbs like donuts, muffins and bagels. Eggs are a go-to for many, but even a quick scramble or fried egg requires a pan that needs cleaning. For the ultimate easy egg, try poaching your incredible edibles in the microwave. It takes under 60 seconds and requires no cooking oil or cookware to clean after.
The best kitchen hacks happen in the space between hungry and unmotivated to do extra work. Cooking bacon in the oven is the cleanest method and results in even crispier strips with no greasy stovetop to clean after. A fast boil of water with these two pantry ingredients lifts stubborn stains from your best cookware without all the manic scrubbing. For poached eggs cooked perfectly in under a minute with no mess to clean, we turn to the microwave, a small bowl and a few ounces of water. That’s it.
Read more: Oven vs. Microwave: Which Kitchen Appliance Uses Less Energy?
How to make a poached egg in the microwave
Step 1: Fill a ramekin with about half a cup of salted, room-temperature water. It must be enough to completely submerge the egg.
Cook the submerged egg for 40 seconds for a runny yolk and closer to a minute for a firm one.
Step 4: Remove the egg gently from the water with a slotted spoon or wire skimmer.
In one or two tries, you’ll be able to fine-tune your poached egg to your perfect doneness, and then nail it every time.
Note: The base temperature for any microwaves will vary and, thus, cook times may also. Try 40 to 45 seconds for your first effort, then add five-second increments for subsequent tries until you achieve the desired doneness.
