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Poached eggs in air fryer are an easy air fryer hack for breakfast, and one of the best ways to make perfect poached eggs with a runny yolk. To make an air fryer poached egg, add ¼ cup water to a 1-cup ramekin. Heat the water in an air fryer set to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200C) for 5 minutes. Then crack an egg into the ramekin, and air fry at 375F (190C) for 5-6 minutes more.
Can you poach an egg in an air fryer? It may seem impossible, but you can make delicious soft poached eggs in the air fryer faster than when you use the stove! Today you’ll learn the answers to:
- How do you poach an egg in the air fryer?
- How long to poach an egg in air fryer?
- Can you make poached eggs in an air fryer without a ramekin?
➕ Poached Eggs in Air Fryer Recipe
The only ingredients you need to make air fryer poached eggs are an egg, ¼ cup water, and optional salt and black pepper. Some recipes require cooking spray as well, but I found oiling the ramekin useless, since the oil floats on the water.
Speaking of ramekins, you also need one 7–8-ounce ramekin per egg (about 1 cup size). You also need an air fryer, tongs, and a butter knife.
You can make air fried poached eggs with your Cosori, Philips, Pampered Chef Air Fryer, Actifry, Nuwave, Instant Vortex, Cuisinart, Power Air Fryer, or make Ninja Foodi poached eggs. I tested this air fryer poached egg recipe in my Ninja and two other air fryers, and the timing was about the same in each. However, air frying times may vary, so it’s a good idea to check the food early when trying a new air fryer recipe.
How do you cook a poached egg in the air fryer?
Here are the step-by-step instructions for an air fried poached egg:
Fill a small ramekin with ¼ cup water. Place it in the air fryer, and heat for 5 minutes at 400F (200C). Use the top rack position if you have an air fryer oven. (You can cook more than one egg at a time if multiple ramekins fit in your air fryer in a single layer.)
Carefully remove the hot ramekin from your air fryer with tongs, and crack an egg into the hot water. Put the ramekin back in the air fryer and air fry at 375F (190C) for 5-6 minutes more. The white of the egg should become solid and opaque.
Remove the ramekin from the air fryer, and use a butter knife to gently loosen the edges of the egg from the ramekin. Lift the egg from the hot water, sprinkle with salt and pepper (if desired), and serve.
I liked the egg cooked in my air fryer oven best, but my other air fryers also gave satisfactory results. Make sure to use the top rack of the oven- the egg didn’t cook properly when I tested it on the middle rack.
How to Serve Air Fryer Poached Eggs
Air fryer poached eggs are perfect for making eggs benedict. After poaching the egg, make air fryer toast, and add Canadian bacon, a poached egg, and Hollandaise sauce. It’s an easy way to enjoy big flavors at breakfast!
You can enjoy air fryer poached eggs on toast in other ways too. Serve it up on avocado toast, or swap out the bread for some air fryer sweet potato toast. Yummy!
🥚 How to make poached eggs in the air fryer without a ramekin?
If you don’t have a ramekin, you can use another food safe and oven-safe small glass or ceramic baking dish. Make sure it’s about 1 cup in size. I don’t recommend most Pyrex; though often marked oven safe, thermal shock may cause newer bakeware to explode.
FAQs
Can you make air fryer poached eggs in silicone?
No, silicone baking cups are not recommended for this air fryer poached eggs recipe. The eggs whites didn’t firm up properly when I tested the recipe using silicone cups.
How do I stop my poached egg from separating?
To prevent a poached egg from separating on the stove, make sure the water is gently simmering, not boiling vigorously. Use fresh eggs and add a splash of white vinegar to the poaching water, which helps coagulate the egg whites and keep them together.
Can you freeze poached eggs?
No, it is not recommended to freeze poached eggs as they’ll become watery and lose their texture when thawed and reheated. It’s best to enjoy poached eggs fresh for optimal taste and quality. They’re so easy to make, there’s no need to make them ahead.
Can you reheat poached eggs?
While it is technically possible to reheat poached eggs, they are delicate and easily overcooked. To reheat poached eggs in the microwave, use short bursts of low power until warmed through.
How to poach an egg with a silicone egg poacher?
To poach an egg with a silicone egg poacher, mist the poacher with cooking spray, crack an egg into it, and place it in a pot with simmering water. Cover the pot and cook for about 5-10 minutes until the egg is cooked to your desired doneness. Carefully remove the poacher from the water and gently slide out the poached egg.
Can you put an egg directly in the air fryer?
Yes! You can put shelled eggs directly in the air fryer at a low temp to make air fryer boiled eggs. It’s possible to make hard boiled, soft boiled, or medium boiled eggs this way.
👨🍳 More Air Fryer Egg Recipes
What is the best way to cook eggs in an air fryer? It’s the way that fits your tastebuds! Make air fryer scrambled eggs, an air fryer omelet, or try one of these air fryer recipes:
- Air Fryer Fried Eggs (How to Air Fry Sunny Side Up Eggs)
- Air Fryer Egg Cups
- Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Air Fryer Breakfast Sandwich
Watch How to Make It!
Poached Eggs in Air Fryer (Air Fryer Poached Egg Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Fill a small ramekin with ¼ cup water. Place it in the air fryer, and heat for 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Use the top rack position if you're using an air fryer oven. (You can cook more than one egg at a time if multiple ramekins fit in your air fryer in a single layer.)
- Carefully remove the hot ramekin from your air fryer with tongs, and crack an egg into the hot water. Put the ramekin back in the air fryer and air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 5-6 minutes more. The white of the egg should become solid and opaque.
- Remove the ramekin from the air fryer, and use a butter knife to gently loosen the edges of the egg from the ramekin. Lift the egg from the hot water and serve.
Equipment
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). Poached eggs are rich in protein, providing all nine essential amino acids required for proper growth, maintenance, and repair of body tissues. Low calorie and protein dense foods like eggs may help you feel fuller for longer, reducing the likelihood of overeating if your goal is weight loss. Eggs are also a naturally low carb, keto, and gluten free food (unless they’re served over toast, of course). While egg yolks contain cholesterol, research suggests that the dietary cholesterol in eggs has minimal impact on blood cholesterol levels for most people. Additionally, poached eggs are a good source of unsaturated fats, which are considered heart-healthy fats. These healthy fats help increase absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins in eggs, including vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin E. Certain elements of nutrition are a soft science, and IMVHO it’s not worth worrying whether eggs are currently being vilified. A common sense diet filled with a variety minimally processed foods that meets our calorie and nutrient needs, budget, personal and medical preferences is the way to go. It follows that poached eggs (as part of an overall balanced diet) are likely a healthy choice for most people. Nutrition information is for one serving.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂