# America and egg cups **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 10, 2017, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904 "2017-07-10T09:21:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/221 "2017-07-12T15:49:46Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Why have you introduced driving into the equation.? By that logic a bowl of cereal doesn’t qualify as an “easy” breakfast. You really shouldn’t be driving and eating breakfast anyway, it is dangerous. I introduced driving because I consume the majority of my breakfasts in the car, and no I don’t consider cereal an easy breakfast because it isn’t car-eatable. > [@](#): > > Plus I don’t know where you get the idea that it needs specialised hardware to prepare or eat. It doesn’t. You’ve got all you need in your kitchen already. As many people have told you already, it is as easy to prepare an eat a soft boiled egg as it is for any other preparation of egg. Have you read this thread? The specialized hardware for soft boiled eggs is in the subject line for this thread! And as many people have told me in this thread, eating a soft boiled egg is an undertaking that requires a lot of fiddly steps in addition to the custom equipment. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/222 "2017-07-12T15:56:34Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > specialized hardware It’s a little cup, not a cyclotron. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/223 "2017-07-12T15:57:32Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > No breakfast sandwich worth its salt can be consumed without it gooshing and leaking over your fingers and down onto your shirt or trousers. I wouldn’t want to eat one while trying to pilot an automobile. Two hands and a napkin are essential. Not debating that one way or another but I just wanted to add that I recenctly discovered the yummy goodness that is Burger Kings bacon Crossanwitch (or however you spell it). ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/224 "2017-07-12T15:59:04Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Not debating that one way or another but I just wanted to add that I recenctly discovered the yummy goodness that is Burger Kings bacon Crossanwitch (or however you spell it). Oooohhhh. Heart attack grossies. SO good. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/225 "2017-07-12T16:03:43Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > Have you read this thread? The specialized hardware for soft boiled eggs is in the subject line for this thread! And as many people have told me in this thread, eating a soft boiled egg is an undertaking that requires a lot of fiddly steps in addition to the custom equipment. It looks like a slightly larger espresso cup. Sometimes it’s shaped like a duckie. And a spoon. [http://www.fishseddy.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/5/1/511367\_side.jpg](http://www.fishseddy.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/5/1/511367_side.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/226 "2017-07-12T16:06:38Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I’m sure it was meant to be steel-cut oats. > > Oatmeal in the U.S. is generally sold as “rolled” oats—steamed and flattened. > > I prefer steel-cut oats, which are chopped by blades instead of steamed and flattened. They take a bit longer to coin than rolled oats, but have a nicer texture and flavor. > > They’re often called Irish oats or Scottish oats. Actually, Scottish/Irish Oats and Steel Cut Oats are different. Scottish/Irish oats are ground, not cut. Scottish oats are ground finer than Irish oats. Steel cut oats are - as the name implies, steel cut. Do not try and make Scottish oat cakes with steel cut oats (which is how I know this). ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/227 "2017-07-12T16:12:06Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > This is what you said: > > “Invest”. How much do you think eggcups cost? IIRC, mine cost about 70 cents each at Safeway. I splurged and bought 2 in case I wanted the fabulous luxury of 2 eggs for one meal. Three would’ve been ostentatious. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/228 "2017-07-12T16:12:14Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > Forgive me interpreting the assertion that they were “way too much work and trouble” as a claim about the work involved in making them. I’m not going to forgive you unless you stop reading weird stuff into the text. Especially since you just went on to double down instead of truly acknowledging that you were incorrect on that point. > [@](#): > > “But if you’ve never tried to \*\*eat \*\* soft-boiled eggs, how can you possibly judge how much work they are to **eat**? The fact that loads of people do \*\*eat \*\*them regularly should be a bit of a hint that your assessment of how difficult they are to eat might not be entirely accurate.” The people who eat them regularly have provided descriptions of the process in this very thread. As a functional, literate adult I am capable of reading and interpreting the English language, and am responding to the descriptions written by people in favor of the process. The fact that people choose to do something that holds no interest to me doesn’t somehow mean that the thing they do must appeal to me, I’m not sure why you have difficulty with the concept that something can be both not impossible for other people to enjoy and not something I would particularly enjoy. > [@](#): > > If you didn’t mean to say that eggcups are purchased for reasons of conspicuous consumption and status signalling then I’m happy to be corrected. But what did you mean? First off, a claim that they’re purchased for conspicuous consumption is not the same thing as a claim that they are a “Veblen good”. And secondly, I meant what I said. That they strike me as an overly ornate affectation like a cigarette holder or smoking jacket, not as a practical food prep item. > [@](#): > > Somehow, you seem to have missed the bit where I quoted the second half of the sentence and responded to it. The material I objected to was written as though the second half of the sentence wasn’t there. The fact that you quoted it later is irrelevant, as the second half of the sentence answers the question you moved it to later to ask. > [@](#): > > Apparently soft-boiled eggs fall into the crack between “too much work and trouble for a quick breakfast” and “not elaborate enough for a full breakfast”. If that doesn’t make them basically impossible to enjoy, under what conditions could you enjoy them? You basically ruled out any possible occasion for them. You keep vacillating between universal statements like ‘impossible to enjoy’ and personal statements like ‘could you enjoy them’. The fact that something doesn’t work for me doesn’t make it impossible to enjoy for everyone, or imply that people who enjoy it are wrong. > [@](#): > > “Invest”. How much do you think eggcups cost? More than $0. > [@](#): > > And how do you know your version is better till you try the alternative? Maybe you’ll love them. Because I’m an adult familiar with eggs who has critical thinking skills and knows my own preferences. I don’t have some weird obligation to try every single food anyone on the internet mentions before deciding if I’m interested in it. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/229 "2017-07-12T16:12:20Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > It’s a little cup, not a cyclotron. :dubious: And it’s not mandatory to have an egg cup to eat a soft-boiled egg. An ordinary bowl will do. Which has also been explained in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/230 "2017-07-12T16:33:28Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > And it’s not mandatory to have an egg cup to eat a soft-boiled egg. An ordinary bowl will do. Which has also been explained in this thread. And shotglasses also work nicely - and are more likely to be found in American homes - if one wants the “egg cup” experience - also explained in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/231 "2017-07-12T17:12:29Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Yes, you boil the water in the kettle and pour it into the pot. **The reason it’s not bizarre is that an electric kettle will boil a gallon of water in a fraction of the time that it takes to boil water in a pot on a stove**. The kettle is a time-saving device. This was interesting to read for two reasons: 1. I’ve seen plenty of electric kettles (well, maybe 20) … but none large enough to boil a gallon of water. “Personal” sized electric kettles for boiling maybe a pint or two of water seem to be common. Never seen a large one that could do a gallon or more. 2. I could see a large top-end electric kettle boiling a gallon of water faster than the lower- and middle-range electric stoves. It’s hard for me to imagine that same kettle boiling a gallon of water faster than a decent gas stove, though. I admit to posting from a position of ignorance. However, that kettle has to get a gallon of water boiling in less than 3 minutes to beat my own gas stove (using a 6-quart _covered_ pot … covering is critical). ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/232 "2017-07-12T17:21:29Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > The kettle conundrum may come down to a difference between North American 120V mains power and the British 230V. That speeds the British kettle over the North American version. Is that right? Ignorance fought! Knew about the voltage differences … didn’t know those differences might affect appliances like kettles. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/233 "2017-07-12T17:29:42Z")
Instead of standalone egg cups, my parents had a soft-boiled-egg dish almost exactly like [this one](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/1e/0d/a3/1e0da3501556d6688af6f301d507d78b.jpg). It held two eggs and had a reservoir for bread or whatever you wanted to dip into the egg. Used it for other things as much as soft-boiled eggs. But we’d have soft-boiled eggs on occasion. American in SE Louisiana, for point of reference. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/234 "2017-07-12T17:32:17Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > Do people in England (and elsewhere) have coffee makers? Most people I know have one on their kitchen counter. In my opinion and experience, instant coffee is only for desperate times, when you can’t get the real stuff for some reason. We don’t have a “coffee maker.” We also don’t use “instant” coffee. We use an electric kettle and then pour the hot water over the coffee grounds via a paper filter. Like [this](https://www.amazon.com/Melitta-Ready-Single-Coffee-Brewer/dp/B0014CVEH6) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/235 "2017-07-12T17:34:23Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > Have you read this thread? The specialized hardware for soft boiled eggs is in the subject line for this thread! And as many people have told me in this thread, eating a soft boiled egg is an undertaking that requires a lot of fiddly steps in addition to the custom equipment. Oh well that’s where you misunderstood. Allow me… As someone who regularly eats soft-boiled eggs and cooks them for his family, I can say…right here and now that you need no custom equipment _at all_. no special knife, spoon or egg-cup. Nothing above what you’d find in any kitchen. We hire apartments the world over and have made soft-boiled eggs in most all of them and never once did we concern ourselves with whether we’d have the necessary “equipment” As for fiddly steps? can you boil water? can you time to the nearest half-minute? can you lift an egg and put in on a plate? Can you tap a knife on the side of an egg to take the top off? (to be fair it did take my four-year-old a couple of times to perfect that part when he first started) So that is the definitive info on soft-boiled eggs. Any concerns you have about fiddly techniques or specialist equipment are not relevant. Take it from something of a soft-boiled egg expert. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/236 "2017-07-12T17:35:51Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > 1. I’ve seen plenty of electric kettles (well, maybe 20) … but none large enough to boil a gallon of water. “Personal” sized electric kettles for boiling maybe a pint or two of water seem to be common. Never seen a large one that could do a gallon or more. The standard larger-sized UK electric kettle is 1.7 litres in capacity - a smidge under 3 Imperial pints. I very rarely boil that much at once, it’s usually just enough water to make a couple of mugs of tea. I do know a couple of people who _always_ fill the kettle, regardless of the amount required. Hey, it’s their money… ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/237 "2017-07-12T17:36:13Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Is that right? Ignorance fought! Knew about the voltage differences … didn’t know those differences might affect appliances like kettles. looking online, it seems a lot of the electric kettles available in the UK are 2.2-3 kW, where the most you’ll generally find in the US are 1.5 kW (120V, ~12A.) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/238 "2017-07-12T17:36:30Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > Do people in England (and elsewhere) have coffee makers? Most people I know have one on their kitchen counter. In my opinion and experience, instant coffee is only for desperate times, when you can’t get the real stuff for some reason. I’ve got a french-press, a mokka pot, a filter and papers, a gaggia classic and a little nespresso machine that I take on holidays. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/239 "2017-07-12T17:37:41Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > (snip)But probably the most efficient kind is the Japanese type with a pump dispenser and insulated reservoir that constantly keeps the water very hot. That way you only end up heating exactly what you need, and there’s no waiting. I call that a Keurig. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904/240 "2017-07-12T17:39:36Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Instead of standalone egg cups, my parents had a soft-boiled-egg dish almost exactly like [this one](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/1e/0d/a3/1e0da3501556d6688af6f301d507d78b.jpg). It held two eggs and had a reservoir for bread or whatever you wanted to dip into the egg. Ah, now _this_ is what I’d call “specialized hardware”. 😃 That’s a really nice bit of crockery. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-and-egg-cups/790904.md?page=13)