Create beautifully poached eggs using your air fryer! Whether you like to make yours using ramekins or silicon cups, this recipe will have you enjoying your poached eggs in no time!
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why you will love this recipe
- ❤️ Foolproof: no more guesswork; get perfectly poached eggs every time.
- ❤️ Quick & Easy: simple and fast recipe, making breakfast a breeze.
- ❤️ Healthy: eating eggs is an easy way to get your daily protein intake.
the best eggs to use
The best type of egg for poaching actually doesn't depend on the breed or color, but rather on freshness and grade:
- Freshness: Fresher eggs have firmer whites and a thicker, more intact yolk membrane. This helps the egg hold its shape better during poaching, resulting in a cleaner and rounder poached egg. Ideally, use eggs laid within the past week for the best results.
- Grade: Higher-grade eggs (AA or A) have thick and firm whites, high yolks, and are practically free from defects, which makes them great for poaching. These grades might not always be readily available or affordable, but it's something to consider if you're looking for amazing poached eggs. More about egg grades here.
ramekin or silicone mold?
I tested this recipe using both ramekins and silicone cups so you don't have to.
The verdict: While both work well, I found the smaller molds gave the best results, with more compact egg whites.
Be careful with silicone molds; they're a bit trickier to handle and can spill if you're not careful. Also, make sure the ramekins or silicone molds are large enough so the eggs have enough room to cook properly without overflowing.
how to make air fryer poached eggs
You will need some large eggs, water, and some oil for greasing.
- Start by preheating your air fryer at 400°F (or 200°C). Grease two ramekins with oil and add 3-4 tablespoons of water to each ramekin.
- Crack one egg into a ramekin, taking care not to break the yolks. Carefully place the ramekins inside your air fryer basket, reduce the temperature to 360°F (or 180°C), and air fry for 5-8 minutes (see the guideline below on the cooking times).
- Start checking for doneness after 4 minutes, gently poking the yolk with a spoon.
- Slide a small spoon or a knife along the edges, to lift the eggs. Gently lift each egg out using a spoon and transfer it to a plate. If desired, pat the eggs dry with a paper towel or place them on a slotted spoon to get rid of any excess water.
- Finally, season with salt and pepper to taste, then serve.
Quick tip💡: The ramekins tend to be very hot once cooked, so exercise caution and use oven gloves when removing them from the air fryer.
cooking time
The cooking time for making poached eggs in the air fryer will depend on your preferred yolk doneness, as well as the air fryer model you own.
Start by using the cooking times below as a guideline, checking for doneness after the minimum time listed and adjusting accordingly.
| Doneness (cooking at 360°F (about 180°C) | Cooking Time |
| Runny yolk, soft whites | 5-6 minutes |
| Medium-runny yolk, cooked whites | 6-7 minutes |
| Firmer yolk | 7-8 minutes |
| Hard yolk, fully cooked whites | 8-10 minutes |
Related recipes: Make our air fryer scrambled eggs, and air fryer hard-boiled eggs, next time!
vinegar
Vinegar is an optional ingredient which you can add to the water, before poaching the eggs. It helps the egg whites keep their form during poaching.
Unlike the conventional stovetop method, you do not have to use it when poaching eggs using the air fryer.
serving suggestions
Breakfast options:
- Enjoy your poached eggs with salt and pepper, classic salmon or avocado toast.
- Serve with hash browns, veggies, meat if you prefer a savory option or top on tortillas along with black beans, salsa, and cheese.
- Serve them sweet with berries, fruit puree, maple syrup, or honey for a sweet option.
Lunch and dinner options:
- Use in green salads, top on quinoa, and in healthy lunch bowls.
- Add your poached eggs to any broth soup for richness.
- Use in sandwiches, serve on top of pasta dishes, and so much more!
a tip or two
- Make sure the eggs are completely submerged in water in the ramekins to prevent them from drying out or crisping. If needed, you can carefully add an extra tablespoon of water to each ramekin right in the air fryer, just before you begin the cooking process.
can I make the poached eggs ahead?
Yes you can. Transfer the cooked eggs from the ramekins directly into a bowl of cold, ice water, then keep in the fridge, while still inside the bowl. They will keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.
If you just need to hold them for a short time (up to an hour), you can keep them in an ice bath.
To reheat, simply dip the eggs in a pot of simmering water for 20-40 seconds, until warmed through. Alternatively, reheat on medium power for about 20-30 seconds, taking care not to overcook in both instances.
more delicious recipes
- Air Fryer Jacket Potatoes
- Air Fryer Frozen Chips
- Air Fryer Wedges
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Poached Eggs
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 8 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 400°F (or 200 °C) for 5 minutes.
- Spray 2 ramekins (or silicone molds) with oil. Add 3-4 tablespoons of simmering water to each.
- Crack one egg into each ramekin or silicone mold and carefully transfer to the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 360°F (or 180 °C) for 7 minutes (see notes). Once cooked, slide a spoon along the edges, to lift the eggs from the water.
- Transfer to a plate. If desired, pat the eggs dry with a paper towel to remove any excess water.
- Season with salt and pepper or as preferred, then serve.
Notes
| Doneness (cooking at 360°F (approx. 180°C) | Cooking Time |
| Runny yolk, soft whites | 6 minutes |
| Medium-runny yolk, cooked whites | 7 minutes |
| Firmer yolk, soft whites | 7-8 minutes |
| Hard yolk, fully cooked whites | 8-10 minutes |
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