Cooking a poached egg is easier than you think and can be done in one minute as long as you follow the right recipe.

There is nothing better than a springy poached egg on a piece of buttery toast, but the egg can easily fall apart once you crack it into a pot of water.

It is a common myth online that you need to use white vinegar for a poached egg to keep its shape while cooking but one chef has proven that this is not true.

Dannii Martin, a cooking expert and founder of Hungry Healthy Happy has shared that the simple way to cook a poached egg is not using white vinegar or even a pan as is it best done in the microwave.

She said: “This is seriously the easiest way to poach an egg, and so much quicker too - all you need is a mug and a microwave. We want to show you that healthy eating can be quick and easy too.”

It may sound strange but cooking an egg in the microwave is a great way to get the perfect poached egg as it takes less than a minute to make it.

Dannii said: “Microwaves tend to cook things much quicker, which is perfect for those with less time in the kitchen and you also don't usually need to do any stirring, which is perfect if you need something you can just put in and leave.”

Trying out this simple technique means you do not have to worry about getting the temperature or timing correct while cooking while still being able to make a springy poached egg with the perfect yolk.

How to poach an egg in the microwave

You will need:

• An egg
• 130ml of room temperature water
• A mug
• A plate
• A spoon
• Toothpick of knife
• Paper towels

Method:

To begin, pour the water into a mug, then gently crack the egg into the water.

Use a toothpick or sharp knife to carefully pierce the egg yolk a couple of times to prevent the egg from exploding in the microwave.

Place the mug in the microwave, cover the top of the mug with a plate, and then cook the egg in a high-temperature setting for 30 seconds.

Remove the plate and check to see if the whites and fully cooked and set.

How long it takes to cook the egg will depend on your microwave and you may need to experiment with the time a little to know when the poached egg is perfectly cooked.

If it still needs more time, simply put the egg back in the microwave and cook for 10 seconds at a time until it is fully cooked.

Dannii said: “Once you have experimented a little with making this in your own microwave and getting the cooking times right, you will have perfect eggs every time.”

Once the poached egg is cooked, use a spoon to remove the egg from the mug and place it on a piece of paper towel.

Your perfectly cooked poached egg is now ready to serve for breakfast on a bagel, a piece of buttered toast or even on a bacon sandwich.