Boiling eggs to your preferred level of doneness takes practice and requires you to stand around the kitchen to supervise. (Even one extra minute can result in eggs that are overcooked, and nobody likes an undercooked, slimy mess.) Skip waiting for the water to boil and opt for an electric egg cooker instead to steam your next batch to your exact liking, without the fear of ruining snacks or breakfast.
To help you choose the ideal egg maker for your kitchen, we researched and tested some of the most popular options on the market, making soft-, medium-, and hard-boiled eggs. Each tested product was scored on ease of use, design, size, flavor, versatility, and ease of cleaning. Egg cookers with the ability to cook omelets, poached eggs, vegetables, and more were also evaluated on the performance of those features.
What to Look for in an Electric Egg Cooker
Egg Capacity
Even if you’ll only be using a few eggs at a time, you might want to make a double batch so you won’t have to cook more later. Maybe you have a large family to feed or a potluck to bring deviled eggs to—in this case, you want a maker that accommodates a larger amount of eggs. On the other hand, hard-boiled eggs spoil faster than raw ones (hard-boiled eggs with the peel intact should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking and eaten within one week, while hard-boiled eggs that have already been peeled should be refrigerated and eaten within one to two days), so if you live in a small household or simply aren’t going to use large quantities, a more compact cooker might be your best bet.1
Controls
Many egg cookers have very simple controls. However, certain models have LED displays, lights, or audible alerts to help you monitor the cooking progress. While some models have just an on/off switch and cook according to the amount of water you add to the maker, others allow you to set the specific cook time.
Versatility
While most options can make poached eggs in addition to boiled eggs, others can make omelets or egg bites, as well. Some options go even further, being able to steam a variety of foods, such as vegetables and fish. If you only want to cook eggs in their shells, there’s no need to pay for extra options you won’t use.
Cleanup
Eggs can be finnicky. They can break, leak, even explode while cooking. It’s important to look at cleaning instructions on an egg cooker before purchase. Some require little more than a wipe down with some warm water and a soapy rag. Others have dishwasher safe parts for easy cleaning. Double check the instructions, just in case.
Best Overall
Cuisinart Egg Central
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PHOTO: AMAZON
- Fits up to 10 eggs at once
- Includes trays for poaching and omelets
- Easy to clean
- Accurate, automatic cooking
- Omelet tray is very small
- Buzzer must be turned off manually
This cooker will steam-cook eggs to hard-, medium-, or soft-boiled and can cook up to 10 eggs at a time in two tiers—a dream if you’re preparing deviled eggs for a party or egg salad sandwiches for the family. Handles on the side make it easier to lift the lid, but oven mitts are a good idea, since it does get hot during cooking.
The Egg Central also includes removable trays so you can poach four eggs at once or make three-egg omelets. However, we felt that any more than two eggs likely would have overflowed the tray when cooking, as the contents of two were cutting it close—and you likely won’t be able to add toppings, either, without things spilling over. It took about 15 minutes to cook this two-egg omelet and 9.5 minutes to poach one egg (this is normal for up to four eggs).
The cooking time is controlled by the amount of water added, using the included measuring cup. There’s a simple on/off switch and a blue LED light, audible alert, and standby mode to help keep the eggs from overcooking. (Though you’ll have to manually turn off the buzzer once it’s done cooking). This also comes with a piercing pin to poke a small hole in the eggshell for easier peeling. As far as cleaning goes, all removable parts can be washed in hot, soapy water or on the top rack of the dishwasher. The heating plate can be wiped with a damp cloth. Hovering around $40, this is a pretty low-maintenance option that delivers great results, as long as you’re not primarily using it to make omelets.
Capacity: 10 eggs | Weight: 2.1 pounds | Dimensions: 6.30 x 7.30 x 7.75 inches | Warranty: 3 years
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Best for Small Households
Dash Rapid Egg Cooker
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- Accurate and automatic cooking
- Included poaching tray and omelet tray
- Easy to clean
- Simple controls
- Audible timer alert
- Low capacity
- Lid made from plastic
If you’re looking for an egg cooker that won’t cost a lot but still gives you quality performance, consider this one from Dash. It lets you make up to six hard-, medium-, or soft-boiled eggs, plus individual omelets, two poached eggs, or scrambled eggs. The device comes with a poaching tray, measuring cup, omelet tray, and six-egg holding tray. It’s simple to use, and all the non-electronic parts are okay to toss in the dishwasher.
Apart from the budget price, we liked how intuitive this was to use and clean, and how delicious the eggs turned out. While we noticed some slight inconsistencies in texture (but not in taste) when poaching multiple eggs, hard-boiled eggs turned out perfectly and tasted delicious. The audible indicator is another helpful feature that keeps you from having to constantly check for the indicator light to know when your eggs are ready, and you don’t even have to set a timer. Just like our best overall pick, the amount of water you add to the maker indicates how long it needs to cook; the included measuring cup indicates how much you need to use for each doneness.
While some eggs did inevitably crack while cooking (this is common with egg makers in general), the minor splatters are easy to clean. All parts, except the heating plate, are dishwasher-safe, though a quick cleaning by hand with a soapy sponge is really all it takes.
Capacity: 6 eggs | Weight: 1.1 pounds | Dimensions: 6.3 x 6.3 x 7.4 inches | Warranty: 1 year
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Best Multitasker
Hamilton Beach 37530A Digital Food Steamer
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- Includes two steaming trays
- Can steam taller items
- Steam delay setting
- Easy to use timer
- Trays are made of plastic
- Warm mode continues to cook food
If you like the idea of an appliance that will make egg-cooking foolproof, but don’t like the idea of a gadget that has only one use, you might like this food steamer. It has two stackable steaming trays that have divots for holding eggs upright. You can use one or two trays at a time or remove the center divider if you need to steam larger foods, like a whole head of broccoli. The trays nest for more compact storage.
Since this isn’t just for eggs, it has higher-end features, like a digital touchpad, an automatic keep-warm setting, a count-down timer, and a delayed-start feature. You can use it for fish, chicken, sausages, or vegetables. A rice bowl is included for steaming rice or keeping small food contained. Even with all of these features, it’s quite affordable. Just keep in mind, the warming feature will continue to cook the food.
The steamer beeps, flashes its display, turns the heat off automatically and lights up the low water indicator if the water runs low. You don’t need to remove the food to add water—just pull out the water drawer to refill and restart the steamer to continue cooking.
In addition to being able to steam eggs using the indented divots in the basket, its versatility makes it a game-changer in the kitchen. We steamed meats and veggies at the same time and tried it out with broccoli, salmon, green beans, rice, carrots, and even pears—and it worked perfectly in each test.
Capacity: 16 eggs | Weight: 3.97 pounds | Dimensions: 12.6 x 13.7 x 7.28 inches | Warranty: 1 year
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Best Budget
Elite Cuisine by Maxi-Matic Egg Cooker
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- Compact design
- Lots of color options
- Less than $20
- Low capacity
- Beep to alert eggs are done is slightly annoying
Instead of having measuring lines inside the cooker that can be hard to read, this comes with a measuring cup that has measurements for soft-, medium-, and hard-boiled eggs. It can handle seven eggs at a time for boiling or two eggs for poaching. There’s also a tray for making two-egg omelets or steaming vegetables.
This is a compact, space-saving design that comes in a variety of colors to match the kitchen or add a pop of color. It’s easy to operate, with a large button to turn it on, a buzzer to let you know the eggs are done, and an auto-off feature to prevent the eggs from overcooking (though several reviewers mentioned the buzzer is annoying). This is less than $20 and has more than 8,000 sparkling reviews.
Capacity: 7 eggs | Weight: 1.4 pounds | Dimensions: 6.2 x 6.2 x 7.25 inches | Warranty: 1 year
Best High-End
Chef’sChoice Gourmet Egg Cooker
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- Timer is easy to use
- Generously sized water reservoir
- Simple on/off control
- More expensive
- Lower capacity
One of the more expensive machines on this list, the Chef’sChoice egg cooker makes it easy to cook to different levels of doneness in the same batch. For example, while eggs are soft boiling for breakfast, a few eggs can be hard-boiled for later use. As eggs are done, they need to be removed and the timer set for the remaining eggs, but it’s simple to do since the controls account for the previous cooking time.
Since this relies on a timer, there’s no need to precisely measure water for different batches of eggs—just fill the reservoir to the line and start cooking. This cooks seven eggs at a time and has an audible alert and an on/off button, so it doesn’t need to be unplugged to stop the cooking. The egg tray is designed so it can be lifted safely with one hand to rinse the finished eggs under cold water after cooking.
Capacity: 7 eggs | Weight: 2.02 pounds | Dimensions: 8 x 7 x 7.125 inches | Warranty: 1 year
Best Large-Capacity
Dash Deluxe Rapid Cooker Electric
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- Large capacity
- Includes trays for poaching and omelets
- Auto shut-off
- Some reviewers note uneven cooking
If you need to cook a dozen eggs at a time, this is the cooker for you. You can make soft-, medium-, or hard-boiled eggs, or up to seven poached eggs in one go. The included omelet tray can be used for omelets or scrambled eggs.
Though some reviewers noted uneven cooking, the versatility is definitely a highlight. You can use this machine to steam bao or vegetables. This has automatic shut-off, so you don’t need to be there when the eggs are done. If you don’t need to cook as many eggs or want a more compact cooker, this brand has a similar appliance that will cook seven eggs at a time.
Capacity: 12 eggs | Weight: 2 pounds | Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 8.3 inches | Warranty: 1-2 years
Best for Egg Bites
Hamilton Beach Electric Egg Bites Cooker & Poacher
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- Easy to use
- Dishwasher-safe
- Can also be used for poaching
- Small capacity
- Lacks timer and end cook signal
Sous vide egg bites have become a popular treat, but not everyone has a sous vide device or molds to cook them. This handy egg cooker cooks egg bites right on the counter, two at a time, and makes it easy to add extra flavors with cheese, herbs, or sausage.
This egg cooker also makes perfect poached eggs for breakfast or to top your favorite pasta. The cooker is simple to operate, with a power light that indicates that the cooker is powered on and a second light that turns on when the eggs are done (though it lacks any sound alert). Cleanup is easy since the tray and lid are top-rack dishwasher-safe.
Capacity: 2 eggs | Weight: 2 pounds | Dimensions: 5.69 x 8 x 4.6 inches | Warranty: 1 year
Best for the Microwave
Nordic Ware Egg Boiler
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- Very affordable
- Easy to store
- Dishwasher-safe
- Only holds four eggs
- Timing varies depending on microwave
It seems impossible, but this microwave cooker lets you steam-cook hard-, medium-, or soft-boil eggs in 10 minutes or less. You don’t have to pierce the shells first, and the eggs won’t explode; the secret is that the cooker shields the eggs from the microwaves, while at the same time, the microwave heats the water to create steam to cook the eggs. The result is evenly cooked eggs without hotspots that sometimes occur with microwaved eggs—it’s just like steam-cooking on the stovetop or in an electric cooker.
This cooker only holds four eggs, and when you’re done cooking, you can just pop it in the dishwasher. But since it doesn’t get very dirty during cooking, it’s just as easy to give it a quick wash in the sink.
Since microwaves vary in power, it might take a few tries to find the perfect cooking and resting time to get your eggs just the way you like them, but once you’ve figured it out, it will produce nearly foolproof eggs every time.
Capacity: 4 eggs | Weight: 0.6 pounds | Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 5.3 inches | Warranty: 5 years
Final Verdict
The Cuisinart Central Egg Cooker is a one-stop egg cooker. It can steam up to 10 eggs at a time to soft- or hard-boiled, depending on the amount of water you add, and has removable trays for poaching eggs and making omelets. For an egg cooker that performs well and is still very affordable, the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker is an amazing deal.
How We Tested
We sent some of the electric egg cookers on this list to the homes of our experienced food writers for extensive testing. They made soft-, medium-, and hard-boiled eggs, as well as omelets, poached eggs, and other steamed foods. The cookers were rated for precision and accuracy, value, versatility, design, and performance, as well as ease of use, cleaning, and storage.
FAQs
What does an egg cooker do?
If you’re an egg lover, you might have ramekins or egg molds for baking eggs. But the versatility of hard-boiled eggs makes an egg cooker really handy. Hard-boiled eggs are simultaneously the easiest and hardest thing to cook. The recipe is simple, but if there’s a little bit of distraction, the eggs can overcook, forming an unattractive green ring around the yolk and making the white rubbery. If you don’t let them cook for long enough, the end result is undercooked and slimy. Egg cookers take the timing out of the cook’s hands, making perfect eggs much easier. Many include settings for soft-boiled or medium eggs, and some can even poach eggs or make omelets. If you do want to do it the old-fashioned way, here’s our tried-and-true guide to cooking (and peeling) the perfect hard-boiled eggs.
How do you use an electric egg cooker?
While there are some differences, most egg cookers require a set amount of water for soft-, medium-, or hard-boiled eggs, and they turn themselves off when the water is gone. There’s no need to set a timer or watch the eggs, since the machine stops cooking on its own. However, since the cooker is still warm, it’s a good idea to remove the eggs when cooking time is done.
Other models do use a timer, though this is less common.
How do you poach an egg in an electric egg cooker?
Poaching works much like egg boiling in an electric egg cooker, except the egg is cracked into a poaching tray that fits inside the machine. Just like hard-boiled eggs, it’s an easy, hands-off process.
How long does it take to cook eggs in an electric cooker?
It depends on the machine, the number of eggs, and how you like the eggs done. In some cases, they can be done in as little as five minutes, while it can take up to 18 minutes in larger machines that are filled with the maximum number of eggs.
Why do eggs crack in an egg cooker?
Eggs have a pocket of air in them. As the eggs cook, the pressure in that pocket increases from the heat and the expanded air needs to escape. While the eggshells are permeable and let air through, sometimes the air can’t escape fast enough through the shell, so the egg cracks. Many egg cookers suggest piercing the larger end of the egg to let the pressure out as the egg cooks, avoiding the breakage.
How do you clean an egg cooker?
If you’re cooking whole eggs in their shells, you typically won’t have much mess to clean. Once your egg cooker is turned off and unplugged, you can take any removable egg trays or poaching trays and wash them by hand or in the dishwasher, depending on what’s specified by the manufacturer.
To clean the base, you can use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe away any fingerprints or residue. If you have hard water that’s left deposits in the water reservoir of your egg cooker, you can usually boil some white vinegar in the reservoir to remove those. That said, be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning information, as each model is different, and make sure everything is completely cool before touching it.
How do you stop eggs from continuing to cook?
Even when the egg cooker is finished, your eggs can continue cooking inside that hot shell. Pop your hard-boiled eggs into an ice-water bath for a few minutes after you remove them from the cooker to stop cooking and keep the yolks bright yellow.
