Poached eggs are the perfect accompaniment to so many breakfast foods, including fresh bread and bubble and squeak.

The delicate texture of the whites and yolk makes them incredibly difficult to cook, as one Reddit user discovered.

Sharing their success of finding “a poached egg hack that works” online, a user who goes by the name ‘joleger’ rejoiced at the results.

In a post on the Cooking Reddit, joleger declared: “I love poached eggs but I could never get consistent results in getting them to hold their shape…until today.”

The forum poster explained that they were inspired by a YouTube video and discovered the method “worked like a charm” when they tried it themselves.

A few utensils are needed for consistently perfect poached eggs, according to the Reddit user. These include:

• A mesh strainer or sieve
• A small bowl
• One-quarter cup of white vinegar
• A saucepan filled with boiling water

Eggs are also essential and will cook comfortably in pairs using this poaching method.

How to make poached eggs

The knack for getting the best results starts before any cooking, however, and instead begins by soaking the eggs in vinegar water.

Sharing their step-by-step method the Reddit user said: “First, I strained my eggs in a fine mesh strainer to get rid of any loose whites. This is another hack that helps.”

Ensure they are strained into a small bowl to keep the white and yolk together, then fill the bowl with one-quarter of a cup of white distilled vinegar and equal parts cold water.

According to the YouTube video, you can crack as many eggs as you want into the water, as long as the bowl is not overcrowded and there is enough water-vinegar mixture to cover them.

Leave the eggs to “set” for just a few minutes while preparing the remaining components of your meal. The Reddit user opted for a toasted English muffin, ham, and hollandaise sauce.

Meanwhile, fill a large saucepan with water to about three inches deep, and bring up to heat to a slow simmer – faint bubbles and steam are ideal.

Ladel the eggs into the water one at a time along with some of the vinegar solution. The Reddit user claimed that the eggs “held their shape perfectly” with “no whirlpool required”.

They added that it was a “game changer” cooking hack, and left “absolutely no vinegar taste” in the finished eggs.