Can you make scrambled eggs in an egg cooker?

Making scrambled eggs is a quick and easy breakfast option that doesn’t require many ingredients or tools. While scrambled eggs are traditionally made in a pan on the stovetop, using an egg cooker is an alternative preparation method.

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What is an egg cooker?

An egg cooker is a small electric appliance designed to cook eggs. It typically has a main container to hold water and a removable tray with individual slots for eggs. The cooker brings the water to a boil, steaming the eggs in the tray above. Models may have different cooking functions like soft boil, hard boil, poach, or scramble.

Benefits of using an egg cooker

There are some advantages to using an egg cooker rather than cooking eggs on the stovetop:

Consistent results – The egg cooker automates timing and temperature for consistent doneness every time.
Hands-free cooking – Just add water, eggs and press start. The appliance does the work for you.

Perfectly sized eggs – Eggs cook evenly in their own slots rather than spreading out in a pan.
Portability – Small egg cooker appliances are easy to store and move around the kitchen or take traveling.
Ease of cleaning – Removable trays and lids can go right in the dishwasher.

Can you scramble eggs in an egg cooker?

While egg cookers aren’t necessarily designed for scrambling, it is possible to make scrambled eggs in one. There are some tricks to getting the right texture:

Use whole eggs rather than just egg whites, since the yolks help bind the scrambled eggs.
Whisk the eggs well before pouring into the egg cooker.

Coat the egg tray with oil or butter to prevent sticking.
Cook for a shorter time, checking often to avoid overcooking.
Stir gently halfway through cooking to scramble and break up egg curds.

Remove immediately when done; eggs will continue cooking in residual heat.

Step-by-step method

Follow these steps to make fluffy scrambled eggs in your egg cooker:

Crack 3-6 eggs into a bowl (depending on number of slots in your cooker). Whisk until blended and frothy.

Coat the egg cooker tray lightly with cooking spray or butter. This prevents sticking.
Pour whisked eggs into slots in cooker tray.
Add water to base of egg cooker according to manufacturer instructions, usually 1/2 cup.

Start cooking cycle. Select “soft boiled egg” or another short cook time.
After 2 minutes, open lid and gently stir eggs with a fork to scramble and break up curds.
Replace lid and cook another 1-2 minutes until eggs reach desired doneness. Check often to avoid overcooking.

Immediately remove tray and transfer cooked scrambled eggs to plates.
Clean cooker tray right away to prevent sticking on remnants.

Tips for best results

To get light, fluffy scrambled eggs from your egg cooker, keep these tips in mind:

Don’t overfill the egg slots, which can cause eggs to overflow and cook unevenly.
Whisk eggs thoroughly before cooking for even texture.
Add a teaspoon of milk or water per egg to make them fluffier.

Use medium low heat by selecting a shorter cook time. Avoid overcooking.
Check eggs frequently and remove immediately when they reach desired doneness.
Stir gently when scrambling to keep texture light.

Let eggs sit 1-2 minutes before serving; they will continue cooking off heat.
Season with salt, pepper, herbs or other additions after cooking when serving.

Additions and variations

To customize your scrambled egg cooker recipes, try adding:

Cheese: Shredded cheddar, crumbled feta or goat cheese. Stir in after cooking.
Veggies: Onions, peppers, spinach, tomatoes. Sautee before adding eggs.
Meat: Bacon, sausage, ham, chorizo. Cook before and stir into eggs.

Herbs: Chives, dill, parsley, basil, cilantro. Fresh or dried.
Spices: Paprika, oregano, chili powder, turmeric.

Should you scramble eggs in an egg cooker?

While stovetop is the traditional way to make scrambled eggs, using an egg cooker is a convenient hands-off alternative. The enclosed steaming method requires some technique adjustments, but allows you to make moist fluffy egg scrambles with little effort. An egg cooker lets you cook eggs to perfect doneness without needing to watch the pan.

Pros

Cooks eggs evenly and prevents overcooking
Hands-free operation
Easy to time and automate

Trays are easy to clean
Compact and portable

Cons

Not purpose-built for scrambling

Smaller batches than stovetop
No direct heat so texture is different
Requires learning new techniques

Can’t customize while cooking like on stovetop

Conclusion

While an egg cooker presents some limitations, it can be used to make scrambled eggs with a little trial and error. For hands-off cooking and consistent results, an egg cooker is a viable option. Just be prepared to experiment to get the right texture and doneness. With the right techniques, you can enjoy fluffy egg scrambles conveniently cooked to perfection in your egg cooker.