When you cook poached eggs is it better to have a big or small pot of boiling water?

It's better to use a medium-sized pot** for poaching eggs. Here's why:

* Gentle simmer: A larger pot allows for a gentler simmer, which is ideal for poaching eggs. You want the water to be just below a boil, so a larger surface area helps maintain a more consistent temperature.

* Space for swirling: A bigger pot gives you more room to swirl the water gently, creating a whirlpool effect that helps the egg whites form around the yolk.

* Easy to add and remove eggs: A medium-sized pot makes it easier to add and remove eggs without overcrowding.

Small pots:

While you can poach eggs in a small pot, it can be more challenging to achieve a gentle simmer and swirl the water effectively. The eggs might also be overcrowded, making it difficult to cook them evenly.

Large pots:

Large pots can be overkill for poaching eggs. They might be too large to achieve a gentle simmer and may require more water to achieve a good cooking temperature.

The ideal size:

A medium-sized pot, around 2-3 quarts, is generally the best size for poaching eggs. You'll want to ensure there's enough space to swirl the water and add the eggs without crowding them.