Steaming Softness: Poached Eggs In A Steam Oven

Poached eggs are a versatile breakfast option that can be served with avocado toast, eggs benedict, or enjoyed on their own. Cooking poached eggs in a steam oven is an easy, hands-off method that produces perfect results. This technique is especially useful when cooking for a crowd, as it allows you to make multiple eggs at once without the mess of traditional poaching methods. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieving delicious poached eggs using your steam oven.

Grease a ramekin or muffin tin and crack the egg into it

To cook poached eggs in a steam oven, you'll first need to grease a ramekin or muffin tin. You can use spray oil or another type of oil to do this. If you're using a muffin tin, you'll also need to add a bit of water to each muffin cup.

Once your ramekin or muffin tin is greased, it's time to crack the egg. Carefully crack one egg into each ramekin or muffin cup. If you're using ramekins, you can add some cooked vegetables and cheese to each one before cracking the egg in. This will give your poached egg a delicious flavour boost.

After you've cracked the eggs, it's time to cook them. Set your steam oven to Steam mode at 212°F (100°C) and place the ramekins or muffin tin inside. For a large cold egg, cook for approximately 5 minutes and 30 seconds. If you're using muffin tins, you'll likely need to cook the eggs for 12-15 minutes, or until the egg whites are set and the yolks are still a bit jiggly.

Once the eggs are cooked to your desired level of doneness, remove them from the oven and serve. Poached eggs cooked in a steam oven can be served on their own or with avocado toast, crushed avocado, chilli flakes, feta, or any other toppings you desire.

Set the oven to FullSteam at 100°C for 3 minutes

Setting the oven to FullSteam at 100°C for 3 minutes is the final step in cooking poached eggs in a steam oven. However, there are several steps to follow before this:

First, heat the oven in Steam mode. Next, grease an oven-proof ramekin with some spray oil. Then, crack a large cold egg directly into the ramekin. Place the ramekin in the oven and set it to FullSteam at 100°C for 3 minutes.

If you want to add some extra flavour to your poached eggs, you can sauté some vegetables and add some cheese. Heat the vegetables in the ramekin for 2 minutes, then stir in the cheese before cracking the egg into the ramekin.

Using a steam oven to poach eggs has many benefits. It's easy to clean up, as there are no saucepans involved and the ramekin can go straight into the dishwasher. There's also no risk of boil-overs, so no cooktop to clean. Plus, you can cook multiple dishes at the same time, such as a bowl of oatmeal.

Use the timer function to avoid overcooking

Using the timer function on your steam oven is a great way to avoid overcooking your poached eggs. The cooking time will depend on the number of eggs you are poaching, the size of the eggs, and whether they are cold from the refrigerator or at room temperature. For example, a large cold egg will take approximately 5 minutes and 30 seconds to cook, whereas a batch of room-temperature eggs kept in their cardboard container will take 5 to 7 minutes.

You can also use the timer function to alert you when the cooking time has elapsed, or you can program it to turn the oven off automatically when the time is up. This is a handy feature when poaching eggs, as it helps prevent overcooking and ensures your eggs are cooked to your desired doneness. For example, if you are looking for a runny yolk, you will want to remove the eggs from the oven when the whites are just set, as they will continue to cook once removed from the oven.

If you are using a NEFF oven with Full Steam, you can register your preferred egg-cooking times and steam levels in the NEFF Home Connect app. This is a convenient way to ensure your breakfast is sorted without the need for old-school egg timers or the risk of overcooking your eggs.

Additionally, if you are using a CombiSteam oven, you can use the delayed start function to prepare your eggs the night before and have them ready to go in the morning. This is a great option for weekend breakfasts when you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy a leisurely meal.

Serve with sides like sourdough toast, avocado, chilli flakes, or feta

Poached eggs cooked in a steam oven go well with a variety of side dishes, such as sourdough toast, avocado, chilli flakes, or feta. Here are some tips on how to prepare and serve these sides:

Sourdough Toast

Toasting sourdough in the oven is a quick and easy process. Preheat your oven to a high broil setting and place a baking rack on the top or second-to-top position. Place the sourdough slices on an ungreased baking sheet and broil for about 1 minute on each side, keeping a close eye on them to avoid burning. Alternatively, you can bake the bread at 400°F for about 4 minutes on each side.

Avocado

Baked avocado is a simple and delicious side dish. Cut an avocado in half, remove the pit, and season with salt and pepper. You can fill the centre with your choice of ingredients, such as pico de gallo, cheese, onion, tomato, jalapeño, cilantro, or lime juice. Place the avocado halves on a baking sheet and bake at 325°F until the cheese is melted and the avocado is warm.

Chilli Flakes

Making your own roasted chilli flakes adds a unique touch to your dish. You can use spicy dried chillies of your choice, such as Thai bird's eye chillies or arbol chillies. Wash and dry the chillies, then remove the seeds if you prefer less spice. Toast the chillies in a dry pot over medium heat until charred, or in an oven preheated to 300°F for 5-7 minutes. Grind the toasted chillies into small flakes using a spice grinder or coffee grinder. Store your homemade chilli flakes in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Feta

Baked feta is a tasty and creamy side dish. Preheat your oven to 400°F and arrange vegetables like bell peppers, red onions, and cherry tomatoes in an oven-safe dish. Sprinkle with oregano, red pepper flakes, and fresh thyme, then drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Place a block of quality feta cheese on top, seasoning it with more herbs and olive oil. Bake for 20-30 minutes, and serve with pita chips or toasted Italian bread.

Reheat in the Steam oven if needed

Poached eggs that don't get eaten the first time around can be reheated in the steam oven. To reheat, place the poached eggs in the steam oven and use the Refresh mode. The exact settings may depend on your oven, but one source recommends reheating at 100% steam, 60°C for 10 minutes. Another source suggests reheating at 212°F for approximately 5 minutes and 30 seconds.

If you are reheating poached eggs that have been stored in the fridge, you can follow the same process as above. However, it is important to note that the reheating time may vary depending on the number of eggs you are reheating and whether they are still in their shells.

For example, if you are reheating a large number of eggs, you can use a perforated pan to place them in the oven. This will help with ease of handling. Additionally, if you are reheating eggs that are still in their shells, you may need to adjust the reheating time accordingly to ensure that the eggs are heated through.

It is also possible to reheat poached eggs in warm water. Simply place the desired number of eggs in a strainer and hold them in hot water until they are heated to your desired temperature. This method can be useful if you are reheating a small number of eggs or if you do not have access to a steam oven.

Frequently asked questions