It’s not often that we find an inexpensive kitchen gadget that really fills a need and does an excellent job in the process. We recently purchased a Krups Egg Express soft and hard-boiled egg cooker. This nifty little gadget sells for less than $25 and makes it extremely easy to make eggs just the way that you like them. If you love hard or soft boiled eggs without the fuss to make them, check this out. It takes only a few minutes to set up and in about 10 minutes, you have your eggs cooked just the way you like them.

This egg cooker holds up to seven eggs. The preparation is pretty much effortless. You start by using a plastic graduated cylinder measuring device. Read the side of the cylinder to determine how much water to add based upon the type of eggs you wish to make (soft, medium or hard boiled) and the number of eggs you wish to prepare. Just will the cylinder with water up to the designate line and fill the non-stick pan that sits under the eggs. Next, place the lower portion of the egg holder over the pan.

The bottom of the measuring cylinder contains a small pin that is used to puncture a hole in the top of each egg. This prevents the eggs from bursting while they cook. It is a good idea to perform this step over a sink. Some eggs already contain minute cracks, which can cause the raw eggs to break when you puncture them.

After placing the eggs in the holder, place the cover over the eggs, plug in the egg maker and turn the dial on the front to the right. Everything else is automatic. When the eggs are steamed to perfection, a buzzer alerts you and you can then shut the device off. Remove the cover and run the egg holder and the eggs under cold water. This cools the eggs and helps prevent the shell from sticking.

The only issue we see with this marvelous little time saver is the fact that the icons on the front do not really give you a clear indication as to which way to turn the dial to cook the eggs. When cooking, the dial needs to be turned to the right. If you do not turn it to the right, the timer buzzer does not operate. If you turn it to the left, the eggs are kept warm. Your eggs will still cook with this setting, but it takes much longer and you have to guess as to when they are done. The timing and the process are automated if you turn the dial to the right.

Tip: We found that this gadget works best if you do not flip eggs over when you remove them from their carton. Raw eggs tend to settle and leave an air gap at the top. If you flip them over and then puncture them you may find that a little of the egg white gets pushed through the pinhole when they cook.

See the Krups Egg Express at: