Buying guide for Best egglettes
With their high protein content and low calorie count, hard-boiled eggs can be the foundation of a healthy snack or meal.
However, the process of boiling eggs and prying them out of their shells can be a real hassle. The egglette is a simple kitchen product that makes preparing hard-boiled eggs – as well as soft- and medium-boiled eggs – as easy as can be.
What is an egglette?
An egglette is an individual silicone cup designed for boiling eggs. In most cases, the cup fits inside a heat-proof rack that you boil in water. But you don’t boil the egg inside its shell; instead, you crack the egg into the cup, place the lid on top, and then immerse the egglette in water on your stovetop. When the eggs are finished cooking, you lift the cups out and unscrew the lids. The eggs slide easily out.
Using egglettes to cook eggs saves time because you don’t have to fuss with peeling off the shells. What’s more, you can season your eggs before you cook them by adding salt, pepper, herbs, spices, and other ingredients to the cups.
How to use an egglette
Here’s a step-by-step look at how to use an egglette.
Begin by spraying each silicone cup with some cooking spray or brushing the interior with oil. The spray or oil allows the eggs to easily slide out once they’re boiled.
Carefully crack an egg into each cup.
Screw the lids onto the cups. Make sure each cup is tightly sealed.
Fill a sauce pan with water and place it on your stove. Turn on the heat.
When the water comes to a full boil, lower the rack with all of the cups into the pan by holding the loop at the top. If your egglette set doesn’t include a rack, carefully add the cups to the water one at a time.
Allow the eggs to boil for the required amount of time. (See our FAQ for details on cook times.) Then, lift them out of the boiling water and place them in a cold water bath to cool.
When the egglettes are cool, remove the pods from the cold water, untwist the lids, and slide the eggs free.
Egglette features
Number of cookers
Most egglette sets come with six individual cups for cooking eggs, but you can find a few 12-cup sets for sale. If you have a large family or regularly make recipes that contain a large number of hard-boiled eggs, you may wish to consider a bigger set.
Material
Nearly all egglette pods are made of silicone. However, it’s important to pay attention to the type of silicone that’s used. Choose a set with BPA-free silicone that has been approved by the FDA as a food-grade material. It’s also a good idea to select a cooker with silicone that contains no lead, PVC, or phthalates.
Ease of cleaning
If you’re looking for an easy-care egglette set, opt for one that’s dishwasher safe. Not all sets are suitable for the dishwasher; some must be hand washed.
Rack
Some egglette sets come with a rack in which you place the individual cooking cups. The rack may have a handle that allows you to easily lower the eggs into boiling water without burning yourself. Other egglette sets don’t come with a rack; you must drop the individual cups into the water with your fingers or a utensil.
Extras
Some manufacturers include “extras” with their egglettes, including the following.
Egglette prices
Egglette prices range from about $2 and $24.
An individual cooker cup typically costs between $2 and $5, whereas a set of six egglettes typically costs $5 to $10.
A set of more than six egglettes generally runs between $10 and $18.
If accessories are included with your purchase, such as a cookbook or an egg slicer, the price could reach up to $24.
FAQ
Q. How long should I boil eggs in my egglettes?
A. Egglettes should be boiled for the same amount of time that you would boil a regular egg in its shell. The proper boiling time depends on the size of the egg and what consistency you’re aiming for. For example, hard boiling a medium-size egg requires about nine minutes. A large egg requires 12 minutes, and an extra-large egg requires 15 minutes.
If you are soft boiling eggs, five to seven minutes is all that’s required. Medium-boiled eggs typically require seven to nine minutes.
Q. Can I use egglettes in the microwave?
A. Most egglettes are not suitable for the microwave. Of course, you should check the instructions for your particular egglette set to find out any specifics.
Q. What size eggs fit in an egglette?
A. Most egglettes have cups that can accommodate medium and large eggs. Extra-large eggs may be too big for an egglette cooker.
Q. I plan to buy an egglette set with a holder and rack. What pot size should I use?
A. In most cases, a circular egglette holder or rack can easily fit inside a five-quart pot. However, if you’re using egglette pods individually and only intend to prepare a few eggs, a smaller pot may work.
