Forget The Stovetop: Fluffier Eggs Happen In This Small Appliance Instead

It goes without saying that most home cooks make their eggs in a pan on the stove, a method that typically requires you to pay attention as the food cooks. However, a few styles of the beloved breakfast dish can be made very tasty when using a slightly more hands-off appliance. By cooking your eggs in a rice cooker, you'll get a breakfast that is fluffy, light, and easily customizable in minutes.

While there are many ways in which a rice cooker works better than a stovetop, the appliance's ability to make eggs is quite underrated. We discussed the ins and outs of rice cooker eggs with Nelson Serrano-Bahri, chef and director of innovation at The American Egg Board, who believes the rice cooker is a strong alternative to the usual stovetop technique. "A rice cooker can be useful when you do not have access to a stovetop or when you want a relatively hands-off way to prepare eggs," Serrano-Bahri explains. "The enclosed cooking environment holds in heat and moisture, which can help the eggs cook gently and stay soft." As for what kind of eggs to make using the rice cooker, he says scrambled eggs and omelets are both great choices. This is likely because they both benefit quite a lot from the soft, fluffy texture they get from being made in the rice cooker.

Considering that you can use a rice cooker to make great pancakes, oatmeal, and eggs; the appliance is a truly underutilized powerhouse for breakfast. However, this isn't to say it doesn't have drawbacks. Serrano-Bahri warns those interested in using a rice cooker for eggs not to get too excited about a theoretically hands-off methodology. "Rice cookers vary considerably," he says. "Some heat much more aggressively than others, so the eggs still need to be stirred and monitored."

With that in mind, Serrano-Bahri has a pretty simple technique to make rice cooker eggs fluffy and tasty in no time flat. "Lightly coat the rice cooker insert with butter or cooking spray to help prevent sticking," he says, adding that you should allow the butter to heat up and melt in the rice cooker before adding the eggs. "Whisk the eggs in a separate bowl with salt, pepper, and any desired dairy or seasonings ... Add the egg mixture and close the lid for approximately 30 seconds. Open the cooker and gently stir the eggs with a silicone spatula, scraping the bottom and sides." He says to repeat this cover and stir pattern until the eggs reach your ideal level of doneness (to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit), and notes that you should avoid leaving them in the rice cooker after they're done. "Remove the eggs promptly once they are cooked; leaving them on the warm setting can make them dry or rubbery."

You can easily make rice cooker eggs without any added ingredients and enjoy the fluffy results on their own, but there are ways to modify the taste and texture. For example, if you'd rather have soft and creamy scrambled eggs, adding some dairy is a great choice. "Rice cooker eggs benefit from ingredients that provide moisture and richness, including butter, shredded cheese, cottage cheese, crème fraîche, or a small splash of milk," Serrano-Bahri explains.

It also can't be overstated how great the rice cooker is for making mixed-egg dishes or loaded omelets. While there are many game-changing ingredients to add to scrambled eggs, Serrano-Bahri points out a few that work super well. "A rice cooker is also particularly convenient for combination dishes such as eggs with rice, vegetables, or leftover cooked proteins," the chef reveals. "Chopped scallions, spinach, herbs, and finely diced, precooked vegetables are also easy additions." You can combine some of these ideas together and make an unfried version of egg fried rice — a simple recipe Serrano-Bahri highly recommends. "Start with hot, fully cooked rice in the rice cooker," he says. "Add a little butter or sesame oil, then stir in beaten eggs ... Finish it with scallions, soy sauce, and a small amount of chili crisp."