These tools work for hard-boiled, poached, and every egg dish in between
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The extraordinary egg — there’s nothing ordinary about it. It is a meal and a great snack, so having the best egg cooker is key for many households. Cooking a soft-boiled or hard-boiled egg is pretty easy, and we have plenty of recipes to try. However, we bet you do other things in the kitchen while cooking your eggs. A few rogue minutes because someone came to the door can mean that dreaded green ring and sulfur smell appear instead of that perfectly cooked custardy egg for your ramen.
You can be old school and use a pot with water, but an electric egg cooker makes the process so much easier (though it won't make hard-boiled eggs easier to peel, this expert's tips might). Some models can make large quantities of eggs for big households or just a handful for individuals who may only need one or two. Whatever your needs, we cracked open all the options to hand-pick the best egg cookers for any home cook.
Pros: It provides consistent results and can cook up to 10 eggs at a time.
Cons: There is no auto-shutoff, so you must watch the machine while in use.
The Cuisinart Egg Central egg cooker is one of our favorites and a bestseller for a good reason. It can cook eggs to soft, medium, or hard consistencies, with two trays that you can use for omelets or poaching eggs. The stainless steel construction is literally shaped like an egg and comes with two tiers of cooking surfaces. That means you can cook up to 10 eggs at once, but you can also cook less based on your needs. The machine has a beaker marked for the amount of water you need for the desired consistency and a simple on-and-off switch. Once the water evaporates and the audible alert goes off, the egg cooker enters standby mode, so your eggs aren't ruined. We also love the in-unit cord storage and its easy cleaning.
Pros: It cooks a whopping 14 eggs at once and has various functions.
Cons: The auto-shut-off feature works only temporarily before turning back on.
The Bear Egg Cooker is the most versatile machine on our list. It has two poaching trays, a boiled egg tray, a stainless steel omelet tray, and a measuring cup that also has a piercing attachment. Not only can it steam 14 eggs at one time, but it also makes a bunch of other things. You can make omelets or scrambled eggs in the cooker, but its height also accommodates large vegetables like whole ears of corn or dishes such as steamed dumplings. Since it is two-tiered, you can steam eggs on one level and make an omelet on the other. The machine has an auto-shutoff feature, so the eggs don't get overcooked, but it will turn back on again after a while, so don't let them sit too long.
Pros: The stainless steel design makes it super easy to clean.
Cons: Users report the bottom can sometimes peel after multiple uses.
The Chef'sChoice International Gourmet Egg Cooker has the most control over any of the models we evaluated. It has a sliding lever to fine-tune the level of doneness you desire. You don't need to measure water carefully with this model because the unit relies on time and how evenly it heats up. When the eggs are done, a lighted switch will also tell you with an audible signal that breakfast is prepared. We love how you can easily lift out the tray without burning your fingers and how easy it is to clean. It can also precisely time your eggs and cook various degrees of doneness in one session if preferences differ.
Pros: You can put it in the microwave and dishwasher, making it the easiest model to use.
Cons: You can only cook four eggs at a time.
The Nordic Ware Microwave Egg Boiler is one of our favorite microwave egg cookers for its design alone. It looks like a shiny white egg, but when you take the top off, you see an internal BPA-free and melamine-free plastic aluminum insert holding four hard or soft-boiled eggs. According to the manufacturer, you don't need to pierce the eggs. They also caution against the steam when opening the unit after cooking–just like a popcorn bag. While you can place this in the microwave and the dishwasher, we recommend hand washing due to the aluminum parts, which can corrode.
Pros: This machine is one of the most consistent and easy to use egg cookers on the market.
Cons: You need to measure the right amount of water for the specific type of egg style.
The Dash Rapid Egg Cooker was the first egg cooker we bought and loved. It is hard to beat its price and simplicity. The Dash can make up to six eggs simultaneously, and the results are consistent. The model comes with a measuring cup with a poker to make a tiny hole in the top of the egg, which relieves internal pressure and helps prevent cracking during cooking. Most parts are machine washable, and the device has minimal controls. Could we still make our boiled eggs the old-fashioned way? Yes, but why would we with such a tiny and helpful machine like this one?
Pros: You can make various types of eggs and grilled sandwiches.
Cons: The cleanup is more extensive than other egg cookers due to various cooking surfaces.
The Dash Deluxe Sous Vide Style Egg Bite Maker with Silicone Molds for Breakfast Sandwiches is one of our favorite cost-saving tools. It’s helpful when we want to avoid paying chain store prices for those keto and paleo-friendly egg bites. Dash is a leading brand in egg cookers, so, unsurprisingly, this model makes four egg bites in silicone molds, or you can cook eggs directly on the surface for omelets or breakfast-sandwich-style eggs. The cooker is also great for grilled sandwiches since the molds are removable. The nonstick surfaces are easy to clean, and all non-electric parts are dishwasher-safe. It's a great time-saving tool and a good gift for an egg-loving college student trying to save money.
Since every inch of kitchen space is precious, ensure you get the right egg cooker for your household size. Some can make enough for the Brady Bunch, but you may only need four eggs, and numerous smaller options are available.
Some egg cookers have minimal controls, such as an on and off switch to turn on the device; others are just plug-and-play. If you like more power, opt for something with more features, like the Chef's Choice Egg Cooker, which has numerous controls. With more control, you can adjust cooking times. Auto-off features mean you won't overcook your eggs, which would be awful.
Sometimes, eggs explode or leak out a little liquid when they cook, so ensure the cooker is easy to clean. Many come with top-rack dishwasher-safe inserts; others are hand-wash only, so check the specifications before you click buy.
Egg cookers essentially steam eggs instead of boiling them. Many experts say steaming is superior to boiling since the eggs cook more gently, and you can control doneness. Most electric egg cookers have metal plates on the bottom to add water. After placing the eggs inside, the water heats up, and the eggs steam.
We love our egg cooker. It is hard to pass up an egg cooker's convenience if you love eggs. You can walk away and know the eggs will be right every time. Egg cookers don't make hard-boiled eggs any easier to peel, no matter what you've eaten.
Egg cookers can make various eggs, including soft-boiled, hard-boiled, and poached. Some even make mini-bites and eggs for sandwiches.
It depends on what style of egg you want. Soft-boiled will take less time, and hard-boiled eggs, longer. Check the instructions for timing, as it also relates to how many eggs are cooked at once.
Jennifer Zyman is a Senior Commerce Writer for Food & Wine and a recovering restaurant critic with a culinary school degree and over 15 years of food writing experience. Her work has appeared in Atlanta Magazine, Bon Appetit, Eater Atlanta, The Kitchn, Local Palate, National Geographic, Simply Recipes, Southern Living, and Thrillist. To write this story, she used market research and personal expertise.
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