The Best Egg Cooker

Buying Guide

If you want to enjoy a nutritious snack, you can’t go wrong with eggs since you can enjoy them in many styles. But rather than using the stove, you can get an egg cooker appliance to cook several eggs at once quickly and with less cleanup. These appliances are easy to use and often compact to not use much space on your counter. 

Designed for even cooking, an egg cooker features a bottom water bowl and a heating plate used to steam your eggs. The machine has different trays for placing eggs for specific cooking styles. For example, the regular egg holder tray works for making soft- to hard-boiled eggs, while the poaching and omelet trays cook eggs in those styles. There’s also a cover that may be clear plastic so you can see the eggs cook or stainless steel for durability.

While egg cookers look and work similarly, they differ in capacity and size. Common options include one-tiered cookers that can cook six or seven eggs and two-tiered designs that can cook 10 or more. This means you should determine how many eggs you need to cook at once. Additionally, consider the machine’s footprint and your counter and storage space, as a large-capacity cooker will need more room than a compact option.

Research a particular cooker’s features since they’ll affect ease of use and safety. Consider getting a model with a cooking timer, alarm and automatic shut-off feature to prevent the eggs from overcooking. You’ll likely also want one with a simple start button and non-stick pans. Plus, it helps if the cooker has dishwasher-safe parts and a long cord that fits in a built-in compartment.

In addition, make sure that the egg cooker comes with the accessories you need. The egg holder, omelet and poaching trays usually come by default, but you should look for a measuring cup and egg piercing pin as well. If you’re interested in cooking ideas, you might prefer a cooker with a bonus recipe book.

• While primarily for eggs, cookers can also work well for steaming vegetables and even fish in some cases. 
• If you can’t place the egg cooker close to an outlet, make sure the cooker has a cord that can reach it appropriately. Otherwise, follow the manufacturer’s instructions about choosing and using a properly rated extension cord.
• Choose an egg cooker color that fits your preferences. You can go with a neutral color like black or silver if you prefer an appliance that blends in. Otherwise, go with a bold, fun color like red, blue or purple if you want something that pops.
• Only use non-expired eggs that you’ve kept stored at a safe temperature not exceeding 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid handling the eggs without clean hands, and don’t put them on dirty surfaces.
• Follow your egg cooker’s instructions for filling the bowl with enough water for the desired cooking style and the number of eggs you’re cooking. Usually, you’ll see the water amount listed in ounces so you can conveniently use the measuring cup. The estimated cooking time should also appear alongside this information.
• Before using the cooker to make boiled eggs, stick a piercing pin in each egg’s larger end. The small hole can help reduce the chance that the egg explodes during the cooking process or ends up with a flat end.
• When using omelet and poaching trays, consider adding some oil to them to keep the eggs from sticking.
• For safety reasons, keep a close eye on the egg cooker. Especially if your cooker doesn’t have an automatic shut-off feature, you’ll need to listen for an alarm or watch for an indicator that the cooking time has passed. Otherwise, you could overcook the eggs or have them explode. 
• Be careful handling the hot egg cooker and removing your eggs. Use an oven mitt to prevent burned hands.
• Clean your egg cooker each time you use it, but wait until it cools down. You can often put the trays in the dishwasher if you’d rather not hand wash them. Don’t submerge the body of the machine, though, but rather just take a damp cloth to wipe off any residue.