Why do you need an egg boiler?
The question of the necessity of the device may cause laughter among some people. Why spend money on buying an egg boiler when you can easily cook eggs in any saucepan or ladle in a couple of minutes without any problems. On the one hand, the opinion is correct, but not for gourmets. During normal cooking, they boil in water, which partially penetrates the shell. Visually this is not noticeable, but the quality of the protein deteriorates. Eggs steamed in an egg cooker are much tastier.
When cooking in an egg cooker, the shell never cracks
Another problem with conventional cooking is shell cracking. The protein partially floats into the water. The egg product becomes practically unfit for consumption. To avoid the problem, housewives add salt, vinegar to the water during cooking, or pierce the shell with a needle. Manufacturers also took this problem into account. The device was equipped with a needle for piercing the shell. Boiled eggs are guaranteed to be intact, the whites will not leak anywhere.
Simplicity and comfort of use is considered a plus. During normal cooking on the stove, steam spreads throughout the apartment, you need to watch the water so that it doesn’t “run away”, and note the time. When using an electric appliance, simply place the eggs on the egg holder, add the required amount of water, cover with a lid and turn on the selected mode.
Important! A household electrical appliance will be useful for people on a protein diet.
How does an electric egg cooker work?
To understand the operation of an electrical appliance, you need to know its structure. All models consist of the following main components:
- Thermally insulated housing equipped with a lid.
- Removable egg tray. The number of cells depends on the model.
- Heating element – heating element.
- Control Panel.
Depending on the model, additional functionality may be present.
All egg cookers are equipped with nests for placing eggs
The simple operation of an electrical appliance comes from electricity. The heating element heats the water to the desired temperature. The resulting steam warms up the eggs placed in the cells of the egg holder. They do not crack from heating, since they are first pierced with a needle that comes with the egg boiler. Cooking lasts exactly as long as programmed by the selected mode. When the egg cooker with automatic shutdown finishes its work, it will notify you with a signal. At the same time, the power supply to the heating element is turned off.
Important! After cooking, the device must be rinsed.
Device
Although egg cookers are produced by different companies, their design and operating principle differ little from each other.
The device is a housing with a tubular electric heater inside. It is immersed in a container that is filled with water. There is a removable tray on top; eggs are placed in special cells for cooking. Everything is tightly closed on top with a lid, which is often made transparent, although it is still impossible to visually determine the readiness of the eggs.
When the power is turned on on the control panel, the heating element heats the water to the required temperature. Thanks to the closed space inside, a steam-water environment is created in which the eggs are boiled. At the end of cooking, a signal usually sounds, after which the eggs can be removed from the container.
Egg boilers do not have a safety mechanism that resets the temperature after operation. If you open the lid immediately after the signal, be careful not to get burned by the steam or hot egg shells.
Types of electric egg cookers
If we consider the types of electrical household appliances in general terms, then in terms of design they are all almost the same. Only the characteristics, design and volume of the downloaded product differ. There is an electric egg cooker for 2, 3, 8 and even 16 eggs.
However, according to the type of product preparation, household appliances are divided into three types:
- Electric models, operating autonomously from a 220 volt network, are equipped with a heating element - heating element. He boils water poured into a pan. The eggs are placed on the cells of the egg holder located in the upper part of the device.
The electric egg cooker is equipped with a heating element - The structure of an egg cooker, designed for cooking egg dishes in the microwave, is similar to the electric model. The difference is the absence of a heating element. Autonomous egg boiler for
The model for cooking egg dishes in the microwave does not have a heating element
Forms for cooking egg dishes without shells are plastic containers with lids. Pour the whites and yolks inside or separately, add spices to taste, and throw them into boiling water.
Plastic molds help to cook an egg dish without shells with the addition of spices
Each type of egg boiler has its pros and cons. If you need an autonomous household appliance, then the choice should be made in favor of an electric model.
How to choose an electric egg cooker
If a person likes to eat eggs every day, you should think about purchasing an egg boiler. Naturally, it is better to give preference to the electric model. However, their variety is so great that it is sometimes difficult to make the right choice. In order not to make a mistake, you need to start the review with the technical characteristics.
The first thing they look at is the number of cells in the egg holder. If the family is large, then you need an egg cooker that can cook a lot of product at a time. Preference is given to electric models with 7 or 8 cells. For average egg consumption, an electric device with 3-4 cells is suitable. For a person who rarely eats 1 egg, an electric egg cooker with one cell is enough. However, it is important to know that 1 egg can be boiled even in an egg cooker with a large number of holders.
It is optimal to purchase an electric egg cooker with deep holders so that large eggs can be installed
The power of most electric models varies between 200-400 W. The indicator directly depends on the number of holders. The more eggs you can load, the more powerful the heating element must be in order for the product to cook well.
The service life of an electrical product largely depends on the material of the housing. Plastic is considered the cheapest and most common option. However, when heated, it gradually loses its shape and sometimes emits an unpleasant plastic smell. Stainless steel is the best option, but the cost of such an electric egg cooker is high. Sometimes there are models made of thermal glass. The material is good, but it can break from an accidental impact.
The control panel of most electric models consists of a power button and an indicator light. When the product is ready, an alert will appear in the form of a light or sound signal. Electric egg cookers with a timer are considered advanced, allowing you to cook the product in several ways.
Important! Among the additional accessories, egg cookers are equipped with trays for preparing omelettes, poached eggs, or simply steamed eggs.
Features and Accessories
The first function of the egg cooker is an electronic timer. Used to set the time required to cook eggs using the selected method.
Whether you're making eggs hard or soft, this useful feature means you won't have to check the stove because the timer will always alert you when it's ready. The beep is used to alert you.
Important features are also the overheat protection or the insulated handle, which ensures that you do not get burned when handling the tank.
The most common accessories include:
- Removable egg tray
- Switch with light indication,
- rubber feet,
- Automatic control and display of water.
How to use an egg boiler
Using an electric household appliance is no more difficult than boiling eggs in a saucepan. The first step is to pierce the shell with a needle, otherwise it will crack due to pressure. The eggs are placed on the holder. Using a measuring cup, take the required amount of water and pour it into the tray of the electrical appliance.
The amount of water is measured using a measuring cup
It is important to know that you cannot pour water at random. The duration of operation of the electric egg cooker and the degree of readiness of the product depend on its quantity. After pouring water, cover the lid. The cord of the electrical device is connected to the outlet, and the start button is turned on. The egg cooker will operate until all the water has boiled away, after which it will automatically turn off.
If we consider the operation of microwave models, it is similar. The difference is that there is no need to connect to the electrical network. The product will be prepared due to the operation of the microwave oven and the parameters set on it.
Thanks to additional accessories, the functionality of the electrical device is expanded. Housewives prepare delicious omelettes and jellied eggs. Any electric egg cooker works on the principle of a double boiler. If desired, it can be used to warm up food in the tray.
Rating of the best egg cookers
Choosing a model is not always easy for the average buyer. Manufacturers offer a wide variety of electrical appliances for boiling eggs, differing in design and characteristics. A rating based on reviews will help simplify the task.
GEMLUX GL-EB28
The capacious two-tier egg cooker Gemlux GL EB28 allows you to boil 16 eggs at a time. The electric model is suitable for a large family when preparing salads for a feast. The body is made of stainless steel. Removable plastic covers. There are no additional modes, but they are not needed here, since it is almost impossible to achieve the same result when boiling a large number of eggs. The timer allows you to set the cooking time up to 35 minutes. After all the water has boiled away from the pan, it automatically turns off.
Large electric egg cooker holds 16 eggs at a time
CASO ED 10
The multifunctional egg boiler steamer Caso ED 10 is an analogue of the electric model Caso E 9. The only difference is the presence of a second tier, which allows you to steam other dishes. There are a total of 4 trays installed inside the case: 2 on the lower and 2 on the upper tier. You can boil 8 eggs at one time. The power of the heating element is 400 W. The metal case has a control panel: a power button and a timer that allows you to set an interval of up to 40 minutes.
Multifunctional appliance allows you to steam fish and vegetable dishes
WMF KITCHENminis
If you need a small electric model, the WMF egg cooker is an excellent choice. The device has a stylish metal body. The only control is the start button. Rubberized legs will never scratch the tabletop. After the water has boiled away, it switches off automatically.
Compact model takes up little space in the kitchen
HOMECLUB ZDQ-806
The Homeclub ZDQ 806 egg cooker is extremely rare, but the electric model has good characteristics. The electrical appliance is equipped with a 500 W heating element. The control has a timer. The auto shut-off function is activated when there is no water in the pan.
The Chinese model is rarely found on sale, but has good characteristics
Profi Cook PC-EK 1124, Silver Black
The Profi Cook PC EK 1124 stainless steel egg cooker has nothing superfluous. The only controls are the start button with blue backlight. A sound signal indicates the product is ready. The power of the heating element is 300 W. The electric egg cooker is designed for 3 eggs and is equipped with a removable holder. There is protection against overheating.
A simple model in a metal case is designed for boiling 3 eggs
The best models of electric egg cookers
The best egg cooker according to user reviews Profi Cook PC-EK 1139
The Profi Cook PC-EK 1139 egg cooker combines quality and modern design. The model is made of stainless steel, which indicates its long-term use. The device allows you to cook up to 8 eggs at the same time. This is, of course, a lot, but if you have a large family or have a noisy feast ahead, and you need to prepare a lot of salads, then this amount is just ideal.
The presented model is distinguished by the fact that you can even cook an omelette in it, thanks to the replaceable panels. Electronic time adjustment will help you forget about eternal worries about how long an egg should be cooked. A large LED operation indicator will let you know that everything is going according to plan. An acoustic signal at the end of cooking will indicate that your favorite dish is ready.
The non-stick heater ensures even heating. When using an egg cooker, you don’t have to be afraid that the egg will burst somewhere and the white will begin to leak out: to prevent this phenomenon, the egg cooker comes with a special needle for piercing the shell so that the pressure inside and outside the egg is equal.
Characteristics:
- Cooks up to 8 eggs
- Cooking an omelet (removable trays included)
- Housing: stainless steel
- End of operation sound signal
- Egg holder (removable)
- BPA free transparent lid
- Measuring cup with needle for piercing eggs
- Non-stick heater
- Voltage: 220-240 V, 50/60 Hz,
- Power: 400 W
Egg cooker Cuisinart CEC-10
This electric egg cooker can boil up to 10 eggs and comes with additional features. This model costs more than other models.
The compact Cuisinart CEC-10 is made of BPA-free plastic and has a polished stainless steel lid for a high-quality appearance. It allows you to cook eggs in different ways. Includes boiling eggs to different states, and also allows you to boil eggs and make omelettes.
The clever two-tier cooking system allows you to boil up to 10 eggs at once, placing the removable rack on top of the bottom seven eggs to cook three more. The removable poached egg tray can hold 4 eggs, and the omelette tray can hold three eggs.
The Cuisinart CEC-10 Egg Cooker has a built-in LED light, alarm function, and standby mode to help prevent overcooking. It features built-in cord storage that you can easily hide.
Of all the electric egg cookers on our list, the Cuisinart CEC-10 is the most expensive. Priced at RUB 4,490, you'd expect it to have some extra features - and it does. This includes handles that help you lift the stainless steel lid safely. Another nice addition is the two-egg holder you can use to eat boiled eggs.
The only downside to this egg cooker is its cost, as you can find excellent alternative egg cookers with a lower price.
Best Inexpensive Egg Cooker: Brentwood TS-1045BK
If you're looking for the best egg cooker at the lowest price without sacrificing functionality, you'll find it in the Brentwood TS-1045BK. This electric egg cooker costs about 1,500 rubles and is made of BPA-free plastic. It can cook up to seven soft-boiled or hard-boiled eggs at the same time. The Brentwood Egg Cooker can also cook up to two eggs and a three-egg omelet thanks to the optional trays.
This compact electric egg cooker has just one button. This means you simply turn it on and off as you cook. It also has a boil-dry protection function. This is an automatic shut-off feature that avoids overcooking eggs and overheating the structure.
When the Brentwood TS-1045BK Egg Cooker is not in use, you can stack additional containers inside for easy and convenient storage. Not only can this egg boiler do its job, but it can also be used as a vegetable steamer—a handy addition, especially considering its price.
There were two downsides to this egg cooker: first, you can only cook seven eggs at a time, which isn't much compared to more expensive alternatives. The second drawback, according to some users, is that it does not cope well enough with small or medium-sized eggs if you want to cook them soft-boiled.
Reviews of electric egg cookers
Lyudmila Nikolaevna Garmash, 47 years old, Novosibirsk,
bought a cheap egg cooker, made in China, for 7 eggs. Works fine. I'm not such a gourmet that I can subtly evaluate taste. For me these are ordinary boiled eggs, nothing special. It's just convenient to cook.
Anna Stepanovna Kovtun, 51 years old, Moscow
As a housewife, I can say that an egg boiler is a convenient assistant in the kitchen. I bought a spacious model for 16 eggs. It is especially convenient when you are expecting a lot of guests. While I’m preparing other dishes on the stove, the eggs for the salad are already boiled.
Tips for Buying an Egg Cooker Online
- Electric egg cookers are not overly complex appliances, so they don't have many parameters to look at. We'll tell you the most important ones so you know how to calibrate what you need to look at before buying an electric egg cooker:
- Size: or, what is the same, the number of eggs that can be boiled at one time. There are teapots for 1 egg, 2, 3 and even 7 eggs. Above this quantity they are harder to find, there is a brand that distributes them.
- Power: At the moment there is not much difference. Most home egg boilers operate at 350-400 watts.
- Materials: Plastic (usually BPA-free) and stainless steel. Logically, the latter are of better quality and more expensive than the former.
The parameter that you should first pay attention to when buying an electric egg cooker is the number of pieces it can cook at the same time.
For example, if you don't have a lot of people at home and only eat hard-boiled eggs occasionally, you might be interested in a small appliance or even a separate egg boiler.
Otherwise, well, you can always cook a lot of eggs in advance and they will take up space in the refrigerator, but you don't want to overdo it either (many people like their eggs boiled while they're still hot).
