How do you cook an egg in a Pampered Chef egg cooker?

Quick Answer

Cooking eggs in a Pampered Chef egg cooker is quick and easy. Here are the basic steps:

1. Add water to the egg cooker reservoir up to the fill line. This creates steam to cook the eggs.
2. Pierce each egg with a pin to prevent cracking while cooking.
3. Place the eggs in the egg tray cups.
4. Insert the egg tray into the egg cooker and close the lid.
5. Cook for the desired doneness:
   • Soft boiled: 6-7 minutes
   • Medium boiled: 10-11 minutes
   • Hard boiled: 15 minutes
6. When done cooking, immerse the eggs in an ice bath to stop the cooking. Let cool before peeling.

It’s that easy to make perfect hard boiled, soft boiled, or medium boiled eggs with the Pampered Chef egg cooker! The steam cooks the eggs evenly for consistent results. Read on for more details and tips.

Selecting and Prepping the Eggs

The Pampered Chef egg cooker can accommodate up to 7 eggs at a time. When selecting eggs, choose ones of similar size so they will cook evenly. Large eggs may take a bit longer to cook than smaller ones. Before cooking, use a thumbtack or egg piercer tool to gently pierce the broad end of each egg. This will create a small hole through the shell and membrane. Piercing the eggs prevents cracking during cooking by allowing steam to escape and air pockets to release.

Number of Eggs for Different Doneness Levels

Doneness	Cooking Time	Number of Large Eggs
Soft boiled	6-7 minutes	4-5 eggs
Medium boiled	10-11 minutes	7 eggs
Hard boiled	15 minutes	7 eggs

Filling the Reservoir

The egg cooker has a removable plastic reservoir that holds water to create steam. Follow these steps to fill it properly:

1. Remove the reservoir from the egg cooker base.
2. Fill with water up to the maximum fill line inside the reservoir. Use filtered water for best results.
3. Return the filled reservoir to the egg cooker base, inserting it into the slot.
4. Make sure the reservoir is fully seated in the base before cooking.

Using the proper amount of water is important – too little water leads to uneven cooking, while too much water can increase cooking time. The max fill line shows the optimal level for steaming eggs.

Placing Eggs in the Cooker

Once the reservoir is filled, place your pierced eggs into the egg tray cups:

• Place each egg in its own cup – do not double up eggs in one cup.
• Smaller eggs can tilt sideways in the cups – this is fine and they will still cook evenly.
• The egg tray has 7 numbered cups to organize the eggs. You can fill from 1 to 7 cups.
• If cooking fewer than 7 eggs, start by filling cup #1, then work your way up.

Positioning the eggs properly in the tray prevents them from cracking against each other during steaming.

Cooking the Eggs

After loading the eggs in the tray, simply insert the tray into the egg cooker and close the lid. The lid seals in steam to evenly cook the eggs.

Cook times will vary based on desired doneness:

• Soft boiled: 6-7 minutes
• Medium boiled: 10-11 minutes
• Hard boiled: 15 minutes

Use the guidelines below for different types of eggs:

• Large eggs: Use the standard cook times.
• Extra large eggs: Add 1 minute to the cook time.
• Small or medium eggs: Subtract 1 minute from the cook time.

Allow a couple minutes for the cooker to build steam before cooking begins. Let the eggs cook for the full time without opening the lid. Opening the lid releases steam and can lead to uneven cooking.

Releasing Pressure and Removing Eggs

Once the timer goes off, unplug the egg cooker. Let the pressure release for a few minutes before opening the lid. Be careful when opening, as there will be hot steam built up inside.

Use tongs to lift the egg tray out. Transfer the cooked eggs to an ice bath (bowl of ice water) for 5-10 minutes. This stops the cooking process for perfect texture.

Once cooled, peel the eggs starting at the wider end. Run gently under water to help slip off the shells. Enjoy your easy Pampered Chef hard boiled, soft boiled or medium boiled eggs!

Tips for Best Results

Follow these tips every time you use your Pampered Chef egg cooker:

• Pierce eggs before cooking to prevent cracking.
• Use filtered water for cleaner eggs.
• Fill reservoir precisely to the max line.
• Position eggs properly in the numbered tray.
• Don’t open the lid during cooking.
• Release pressure before opening after cooking.
• Shock eggs in ice bath before peeling.

Taking these simple steps leads to perfect eggs with bright, consistent yolks and tender whites every time.

Cleaning the Egg Cooker

Cleaning the egg cooker regularly keeps it fresh and prevents buildup. Follow this simple process:

1. Unplug and allow to fully cool before cleaning.
2. Dump out excess water from the reservoir.
3. Wash the reservoir, lid, egg tray, and cooker base with hot soapy water.
4. Use a soft cloth or sponge – do not use abrasive scouring pads.
5. Dry all parts fully before reassembling.

Do not submerge the electrical egg cooker base in water. Wipe it down with a damp cloth instead. Discoloration of the reservoir may occur over time with repeated use – this is purely cosmetic and does not affect performance.

Egg Cooker Troubleshooting

Having issues with your egg cooker? Here are some common problems and solutions:

Problem	Solution
Eggs crack during cooking	Pierce eggs with a pin before cooking Do not overfill cups with too many eggs Position eggs properly in cups
Undercooked eggs	Make sure reservoir is filled to max line Extend cook time in 1 minute increments
Overcooked eggs	Reduce cook time in 1 minute increments Immediately plunge eggs in ice bath after cooking
Green ring around yolk	Cook eggs just 1 minute longer Shock in ice bath after cooking

Following the proper techniques for filling, loading, timing, and cooling will prevent most issues. Adjust cook times as needed to suit your preferences.

Egg Cooker Uses Beyond Eggs

While the Pampered Chef egg cooker is designed specifically to make perfect boiled eggs, the steaming action can be used for preparing other foods as well. Get creative with these ideas:

• Steam vegetables – broccoli, carrots, green beans, etc.
• Cook shrimp or shellfish
• Prepare steamed dumplings
• Cook rice
• Reheat leftovers
• Steam potatoes
• Cook fish fillets

Modify cook times based on the food item. Use the egg cups to elevate foods above the water line. Always close the lid tightly so steam can build and cook the food evenly.

Conclusion

The Pampered Chef egg cooker provides a fast, convenient way to cook eggs to consistent doneness. With just the touch of a button, you can make cafe-style soft boiled eggs at home for breakfast. It takes the guesswork out of hard boiling eggs for egg salad, deviled eggs, or snacking. Following the proper setup and cooking methods leads to flawlessly cooked eggs every time. Expand beyond eggs to steam an array of healthy sides or entrees. The versatile egg cooker will get frequent use for easy homemade meals.