How to Make Poached Eggs in an Air Fryer
Poached eggs in the air fryer are surprisingly easy once you know the right temperature and timing.
I make mine using silicone moulds with a little boiling water, and at 190°C they take around 8 minutes for a lovely soft yolk, or 9–10 minutes if you prefer your yolks a little firmer.
Eggs can be one of the trickier things to master in an air fryer because every model cooks slightly differently, but once you’ve cracked it (pun intended!), you’ll never look back.
I always use medium eggs straight from the fridge, so the timings below are based on those.
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Air Fryer Poached Eggs: Time & Temperature
Temperature: 190°C
Soft yolk: 8 minutes
Firmer yolk: 9–10 minutes
Prep time: 3 minutes
Serves: As many as you’d like
What You’ll Need
Fresh medium eggs, straight from the fridge
Oil spray
Silicone moulds
Boiling water
My silicone moulds:
I use these silicone moulds for my air fryer poached eggs and find they work brilliantly.
How to Poach an Egg in an Air Fryer
1. Prepare your silicone moulds
Lightly spray your silicone moulds with oil. This helps the poached eggs release easily once they’re cooked.
2. Add boiling water
Add around 1cm (½ inch) of boiling water to each silicone mould.
You want enough water so that when the egg is added, the water just covers the top.
3. Add the eggs
Crack each egg into a ramekin first. I find this makes it much easier to spot and remove any stray pieces of shell.
Gently pour one egg into each prepared silicone mould.
4. Air fry
Carefully transfer the moulds to your air fryer drawer.
Air fry at 190°C for 8 minutes for a soft yolk.
If you prefer a firmer poached egg, cook for 9–10 minutes.
5. Remove and serve
Carefully tip away any excess water.
I find the easiest way to remove the poached eggs from the silicone moulds is to gently lift them out with a spoon.
Serve straight away.
How Long Do Poached Eggs Take in an Air Fryer?
For medium eggs straight from the fridge, these are the timings I use:
| Result | Temperature | Cooking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Soft yolk | 190°C | 8 minutes |
| Firmer yolk | 190°C | 9–10 minutes |
Every air fryer cooks slightly differently, so you may need to adjust these timings slightly for your own machine.
Once you’ve found the perfect timing for your air fryer, make a note of it for next time.
Do I Need Silicone Moulds for Air Fryer Poached Eggs?
Silicone moulds are my preferred way to make poached eggs in the air fryer.
They’re easy to fit into the air fryer drawer, the eggs are easy to remove and there’s very little washing up afterwards.
Give the moulds a light spray of oil before adding the water and egg to help prevent sticking.
My Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Poached Eggs
Use eggs straight from the fridge
All of my timings are based on medium eggs straight from the fridge.
If your eggs are already at room temperature, try reducing the cooking time by around one minute for a similar result.
Use boiling water
Add boiling water to your silicone moulds rather than cold water before adding the eggs.
Crack the egg into a ramekin first
It might feel like an unnecessary extra step, but it makes it much easier to catch any pieces of shell before the egg goes into your silicone mould.
Don’t overcook them
If you love a runny yolk, start with 8 minutes.
You can always cook an egg for a little longer, but you can’t turn a firm yolk runny again!
Learn your own air fryer
Air fryers don’t all cook in exactly the same way.
Use my timings as your starting point and adjust by a minute or so until you find the perfect poached egg for your air fryer.
Air Fryer Girl Tip 💡
Once you’ve worked out your perfect poached egg timing, write it down!
Egg size, starting temperature and your particular air fryer can all make a difference.
For me, medium eggs straight from the fridge at 190°C for 8 minutes gives me the soft yolk I’m looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions
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100% Yes. I poach eggs in silicone moulds with a little boiling water. For a medium egg straight from the fridge, I cook it at 190°C for around 8 minutes for a soft yolk.
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I cook my air fryer poached eggs at 190°C.
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For medium eggs straight from the fridge, allow around 8 minutes for a soft yolk or 9–10 minutes for a firmer yolk at 190°C.
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The water goes inside the silicone mould, NOT directly into the air fryer drawer.
I add around 1cm (½ inch) of boiling water to each mould before adding the egg.
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Yes. You can cook several at once, depending on how many silicone moulds comfortably fit inside your air fryer. If you’re cooking more than two, you may have to add an extra minute or so.
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Yes, but they may cook slightly faster.
My timings are based on medium eggs straight from the fridge (as I’ve always stored mine in the fridge). If yours are at room temperature, try reducing the cooking time by around one minute.
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Poached isn’t the only way I cook eggs in my air fryer.
You can also make soft- or hard-boiled-style eggs without using a pan of boiling water.
How do I cook boiled eggs in the air fryer?
Air Fryer Soft-Boiled Eggs
Place the eggs directly into the air fryer drawer and cook at 150°C for 9 minutes for a soft, runny centre that’s perfect for dipping.
Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs
For a set yolk that’s ideal for slicing, cook the eggs directly in the air fryer at 150°C for 12 minutes.
Once cooked, immediately transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice-cold water for a couple of minutes. This stops the cooking process.
Then peel and serve, or slice the top off your soft-boiled eggs for the perfect dippy-egg moment.
The Bottom Line
Once you’ve found the right timing for your air fryer, poached eggs are incredibly easy to make.
For me, the winning combination is medium eggs straight from the fridge, silicone moulds, a little boiling water and 8 minutes at 190°C for a lovely soft yolk.
If you prefer your yolk firmer, simply give it another minute or two.
And if you’re planning a full cooked breakfast, have a look at my other air fryer cooking guides for bacon, sausages, mushrooms and tomatoes.
