Perfect air fryer poached eggs (quick and easy)

Name: Perfect Air Fryer Poached Eggs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 4 Fresh Eggs (Pasture raised eggs are the best); Avocado oil cooking spray; 1 cup water (use 3 tablespoons of water per ramekin)

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Let's make the Perfect Air Fryer Poached Eggs for a crowd! With a few poached egg hacks, you'll be a rockstar at your next breakfast or brunch.

Close up eggs benedict with hollondaise sauce.

There are many ways to cook an egg, and poaching is my favorite. Poached eggs are healthier than fried eggs. No butter or oil is needed.

Poaching allows you to gently cook the egg in water, firm up the white, and enjoy a runny yolk! With so many ways to poach an egg, using an air fryer is the best.

I love to place air-fried poached eggs on a gluten-free English muffin with a creamy Hollandaise Sauce. Check out my Eggs Benedict recipe for the full recipe!

Many people find poaching eggs scary and leave it up to the restaurant chefs to execute. With the invention of the air fryer, poaching eggs is so simple.

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Why you'll love this recipe
Ingredients
How to make the perfect air fryer poached eggs
Variations
Equipment
Make-ahead poached eggs
Chef Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Recipes
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Why you'll love this recipe

Anyone can make soft poached eggs in the air fryer.
Enjoy quality poached eggs with any meal. Dishes with poached eggs include Eggs Benedict, Ratatouille, Shakshuka, and over asparagus.
Cooked to the perfect doneness. The yolks are creamy and runny, just like a poached egg should be.

Ingredients

Before you cook eggs in an air fryer head to the grocery store and gather these ingredients.

Eggs - Fresh eggs will make the best-poached eggs try to find pasture-raised
Avocado Spray - Whole30 and Paleo approved!

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make the perfect air fryer poached eggs

Making air fryer poached eggs is so easy, here's how to make them:

Step 1: Spray ramekins with an avocado oil spray and set them inside the air fryer.

Step 2: Add 3 tablespoons of water to each ramekin. Secure with lid and preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes.

Step 3: Crack an egg into each ramekin. Secure the lid and cook at 360 degrees for 5 minutes.

Step 4: Ramekins will be hot so remove them with a kitchen towel. Pour out the water and release the eggs with a small rubber spatula.

Variations

There are many ways to poach an egg, here are some poached egg variations:

Traditional stovetop method - Place a medium-sized saucepan on the stove and bring it up to a simmer. It is common to add a tablespoon of white distilled vinegar to help with the poaching process. Crack eggs into individual ramekins or small cups. Create a whirlpool by gently stirring the water with a spoon in one direction. Gently lower eggs into the water and poach for 2-3 minutes until whites wrap around the yolk. Remove with a slotted spoon.
Microwave method - Use a small mug fill with ½ cup of water. Crack an egg into the mug and pierce the yolk with a toothpick. Cover with plastic and microwave for 30 seconds. Place back into the microwave for another 30 seconds. Remove the plastic wrap and let the egg sit in water for 1 minute.
Sous vide method - Fill a large pot full of water and place the immersion circulator inside. Set the temperature to 167 degrees. Gently lower the eggs (whole eggs) into the water and set the timer for 13 minutes. Remove and let cool for 3 minutes. Gently crack the egg, removing the top half.
Oven method - Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a muffin pan, put 1 tablespoon of water in each cup. Crack an egg into each muffin cup and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the egg whites set.

Air fryer poached eggs inside white ramekins.

Equipment

Make-ahead poached eggs

Since it only takes five minutes to cook, we recommend making them fresh. You will have to do this on a couple of batches since you can only fit 4 ramekins into the air fryer.

If you decide to make them a day in advance, cook the eggs for 3 minutes. Let the ramekins cool down to room temperature and refrigerate. Reheat at 300 degrees for 1-2 minutes.

Chef Tips

Check out these tips to get the perfect air-fried poached eggs every time!
What model of air fryer do you own? I use the Instant Pot Duo Crisp. Cooking times will be slightly different. You may need to increase or decrease the time on your air fryer.
Fresh egg yolks hold their shape, giving you that classic poached egg look. Older egg yolks have a flatter shape.
Safety first. Use a kitchen towel or tongs to remove the HOT ramekins from the air fryer.
How do I release the egg from the ramekin? Grab a small silicone spatula and run it around the edge and under the egg to release it.
Crack eggs on a flat surface. Nobody likes eggshells inside their poached eggs.

Pouring hollandaise on top of eggs Benedict.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are poached eggs healthy?

Gently cooking eggs in no fat is very healthy. Poaching eggs are a great way to cut calories for breakfast.

Are poached eggs runny?

The perfect poached egg has a firm egg white with a runny yolk. If you like a medium poached egg, increase the cooking time.

Can you poach eggs without vinegar?

Yes! There is no need for vinegar when poaching eggs. This recipe has no vinegar, and the eggs turn out perfect.

Do you poach eggs one at a time?

It depends on how many ramekins you can fit inside your air fryer. I poach 4 eggs at a time. If you are poaching in water, the more eggs you poach, the more water you need. For every egg, you need 1 cup of water.

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