Julia Child’s Secret for Perfectly Poached Eggs Only Takes 10 Seconds

Want to know how to make poached eggs? Julia Child has got you covered. After all, there’s no better chef to teach how us how to make perfect poached eggs than the woman who taught millions of home cooks how to cook through her TV shows. Her poached egg recipe requires a bit more patience, but you’ll never go back to making poached eggs in the microwave after just one bite. 

How to Make Poached Eggs Julia Child-Style

Julia Child’s poached egg recipe starts off basic: Boil a large pot of water. Then, poke a teeny-tiny hole in your egg using a safety pin to release any air inside. Trapped air can cause eggshells to crack, which is the opposite of what you want. The hole is small enough that you needn’t worry about any liquids escaping. Gently lower the egg in its shell in the pot of boiling water for 10 seconds and 10 seconds only. Then, remove it with a slotted spoon and turn down the heat, waiting until the water has reached a simmer. 

Wait, isn’t this a poached egg recipe and not a hard-boiled egg recipe? You’re right! The next step is to crack the egg and gently release it into the simmering water. Let the egg cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, then remove with your slotted spoon. Let it drain over the pot. Once you’ve got your perfectly poached egg out of the pot, place it on a whole-wheat English muffin for a healthy eggs Benedict. 

So, why boil your eggs first? That 10-second dip helps the egg keep its shape when it hits the simmering water, preventing those annoying stringy bits that float away the minute you put an egg in water. Plus, this egg-poaching method doesn’t even really create that much extra mess because it uses the same pot of water for boiling and poaching. You just have to be willing to wait a few extra minutes for the water to reach boiling — and that’s an easy ask if the result is a flawless poached egg every time.