It’s estimated that the average American consumes approximately 278 eggs per year. That makes sense when you think about it. After all, consider all the ways that eggs can be used. They can be scrambled, fried, poached, and steamed. They can also be used in breakfast burritos, cake mixes, and about a million other things.

An egg is a pretty versatile food product that not only tastes good but also provides a fair amount of nutrition. Eggs are a source of high-quality protein and contain all the amino acids that the human body needs. They also offer decent amounts of vitamins A, B, and E, as well as minerals such as selenium and iron.

They are also widely available and inexpensive compared to other protein sources. That is why many people use them for their day-to-day cooking. That is also why someone had the foresight to create a holiday named National Egg Day. This holiday is celebrated annually on June 3rd and encourages everyone to enjoy an egg or two.

In the spirit of this holiday, and to show our own appreciation for the humble egg, we thought we’d give all of our readers some of the best egg hacks and cooking tips that we could come up with. These hacks and tips are not only going to be used for this holiday but are also going to be used all year round.

Better Poached Eggs

One of our first cooking tips/egg hacks is a method that we borrowed from renowned chef Julia Child. She had a way of making poached eggs that was easier and more successful than most people’s poaching methods. Let’s check out this special poached egg method.

• Step One: Bring a pot of water to a boil.
• Step Two: Take a safety pin and make a small hole in the eggshell of your egg. This hole releases air that might be trapped in the egg.
• Step Three: Boil the egg for exactly 10 seconds. No more, no less. After the 10 seconds have elapsed, remove the egg from the water and turn down the heat of the water to a simmer.
• Step Four: After a few seconds, the egg should be cool enough to pick up. When it is, crack the egg gently into the simmering water and poach as usual.

Using this method, it’s easy to see why it’s superior to every other poached egg method. The egg whites stay together during the poaching process, which makes for a perfect poached egg every single time.

Perfect Sunny-Side-Up Eggs

If you’re like us, then you have problems making the perfect sunny-side-up eggs. It seems like it’s hard to get the whites fully cooked while keeping the yolk from becoming overcooked in the process. Fortunately, we have a solution for that problem, and it involves using both an oven-safe skillet and an oven to make perfect sunny-side-up eggs.

• Step One: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Step Two: Warm up the oven-safe skillet and add oil to it. Allow the oil to come up to cooking temperature.
• Step Three: Add the egg and cook it until the whites start to set. Now transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for a few more minutes. When the skillet is removed, the whites will be completely cooked without overcooking the yolks.

Since this trick involves placing the skillet in the oven, we recommend using a cast-iron skillet. This type of skillet is not only oven-safe but also does an amazing job at cooking eggs. Don’t believe us? Well, give it a try yourself sometime.

Making Scrambled Eggs Without A Skillet

Obviously, a skillet is the preferred way for most people to make scrambled eggs, but not everyone has access to a skillet all the time. That’s where our scrambled egg hacks come in handy. The following tips will allow people to cook scrambled eggs in other ways.

A Rice Cooker

Rice cookers are highly effective tools for not only making rice but also for making scrambled eggs. Just follow the steps below, and your rice cooker will make perfect scrambled eggs for you.

• Step One: Use cooking spray to coat the inside of the rice cooker.
• Step Two: Add your eggs, cheese, and other desired toppings to the rice cooker.
• Step Three: Place the lid on the rice cooker and cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Step Four: Stir the eggs, and then place them on a plate. Voilà, rice cooker scrambled eggs!

A Microwave

We’re not big fans of using microwaves to cook eggs, but sometimes it’s all that you have in a pinch. If you are going to use this device to make scrambled eggs, then allow us to give you some tips that will make for a better end product.

• Step One: In an appropriately sized ramekin, add eggs, cheese, and other desired ingredients.
• Step Two: Place the ramekin in the microwave next to a small cup of water. The water will absorb some of the microwaves and help to prevent the eggs from overcooking.
• Step Three: Microwave the eggs for approximately 1 minute to 1 minute and 30 seconds. Serve immediately.

Making Hard-Boiled Eggs Easier To Peel

The final trick that we’re going to list is how to make boiled eggs easier to peel. If you’re like most people, one of the worst parts of making hard-boiled eggs is peeling them. They always seem to take off a part of the egg, which can ruin the perfect egg aesthetic that many people like when they’re adding boiled eggs to their salad. The following trick solves this problem easily.

• Step One: Add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to a large pot of water.
• Step Two: Boil the eggs as usual in the water.
• Step Three: Remove the shells with ease!