# Home-made Egg McMuffin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 19, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029 "2008-04-19T18:25:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/1 "2008-04-19T18:25:02Z")
When I was growing up, my mother was a fantastic cook. She could make anything, and she could make anything delicious. I was seriously spoiled: when given the option, we kids would always shun going out to eat because mom’s food was so great. But there has always been one notable exception. My favorite food on this planet is – and will always be – the McDonalds Egg McMuffin. Sorry mom. That lightly toasted and subtly buttered muffin; that slice of cheap ham with just the right consistency and texture; that sweet and salty processed cheese half-melted and warmly oozing into the bread; and the egg patty. Ah, the egg patty. Not too greasy, not too watery. Firm but not rubbery. It is always the perfect thickness, but somehow, it is real egg and not powdered. When combined, these ingredients meld into a taste experience that not only proves the existence of God, but demonstrates that he loves us. But there is a problem. I see no reason why I shouldn’t be able to make one myself in the privacy of my own kitchen. I have English muffins. I have Canadian bacon. I have processed cheese. I have a carton of eggs. But all attempts to recreate the McMuffin “egg patty” have culminated in failure. If I fry the egg, it comes out a bit greasy and far too flat. If I poach the egg lightly, the result is misshapen with a runny yolk. If I poach the egg aggressively, the result is still misshapen, but the albumen is rubbery. If I break the egg into a glass and microwave it (as has been recommended on a website or two), it comes out bubbly and messy, and no longer tastes like egg at all. How do they do it at McD’s? Has anyone managed to recreate this delicacy at home? Any other successful attempts at home-made fast food? ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/2 "2008-04-19T18:31:18Z")
You need to get a tuna fish can, take both the top and bottom off, rid it of all hints of tuna, beat the egg, and fry it in that. Don’t use too much oil in the pan – just a spray of Pam or similar should do it. You might want to spray the can, too. I suppose if you could find a round biscuit cutter of the right size, it would work just as well as a tuna fish can. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/3 "2008-04-19T18:32:56Z")
Here’s what you want: [http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-TEM500-Muffin-2-Slice/dp/B000B18P96/](http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-TEM500-Muffin-2-Slice/dp/B000B18P96/) (Note: It has a tray to steam the meat, but if you use that the water tends to drip down onto the egg and mess it up. Just microwave the meat if you want to. As for cheese, you just add it to the hot sandwich.) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/4 "2008-04-19T18:37:58Z")
The Egg McMuffin egg (when I was working at MickeyD’s 20 years ago, anyway) actually is poached. They had a six-rack of ring forms. We’d break an egg into each one, break the yolk (without actually beating the egg), put the lid on, and drip water into a little funnel in the lid. The water didn’t fall directly on any egg, but steamed when it hit the grill and that helped cook the egg. Maybe the grills McDonald’s uses get hotter than your stove can? ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/5 "2008-04-19T18:54:10Z")
I have some egg/pancake ring molds that I used to make fried eggs for homemade McMuffins - kind of like [this](http://www.instawares.com/round-egg-ring-3.jro-3743.0.7.htm?LID=NXTG&srccode=cii_9324560&cpncode=12-47084187-2) or [this](http://www.klinq.com/details.asp?mtcpromotion=sellcast_nextag_Cook-Tools-Gadgets_Egg-Tools&prodID=109925&ci_src=9324560&ci_sku=109925), except mine don’t have a handle (which would probably be easier to use). I use a nonstick frying pan and spray the inside of the ring with Pam. Let the frying pan and ring get hot enough, then add the egg and let it cook until it’s done at least halfway through. Then slide a pancake flipper underneath the ring and egg, quickly remove the ring and flip the egg. ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/6 "2008-04-21T18:32:07Z")
If I do say so myself. I’ve been trying to solve this same problem for a long time myself. I had all the same problems you mention. I tried rings (they always leaked around the edges and were impossible to clean) fancy poachers (soggy eggs, wrong shape, also hard to clean), etc. Then they came out with [this](http://www.brylanehome.com/decor/Muffin-Top-Pan.aspx?PfId=122618&DeptId=15209&ProductTypeId=1&PurchaseType=0). It’s for making muffin tops. As soon as I saw it I knew… It works _perfectly_ for eggs. (Strictly speaking, what’s known as _shirred_ eggs.) The cups are exactly the right size to make a patty from one egg to fit a muffin. Just a little nonstick spray first, add the eggs, and bake for 5 - 10 minutes, depending on how well you like them done. You can scramble them first or put them in whole. I usually put them in whole and break the yolk. They slip right out when they’re done and the pan just wipes out clean. And what the hell… if you’re gonna make one breakfast muffin you may as well make six, right? Seriously, I was really pleased with myself when I figured to use this pan for eggs. I’d be even more pleased to share the idea. ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/7 "2008-04-21T23:15:08Z")
What a marvellous little invention! What temperature do you cook 'em at? _(She said, preparing to guesstimate anyway since her oven’s in Celcius.)_ ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/8 "2008-04-21T23:27:14Z")
I would only offere one reccomendation: Kraft slices are not American Cheese. McDonald’s uses a real American cheese that is much more buttery and rich enough for that perfect foil. When you enjoyan egg Mc Muffin it is due to that proprietary Mc D’s cheese. You want the good cheese. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/9 "2008-04-21T23:56:31Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] The Egg McMuffin egg (when I was working at MickeyD’s 20 years ago, anyway) actually is poached. They had a six-rack of ring forms. We’d break an egg into each one, break the yolk (without actually beating the egg), put the lid on, and drip water into a little funnel in the lid. The water didn’t fall directly on any egg, but steamed when it hit the grill and that helped cook the egg. Maybe the grills McDonald’s uses get hotter than your stove can? [/QUOTE] I worked breakfast @ McDonald’s about 25 years ago. We had the six rack; we didn’t break the yolk and I don’t remember any water being involved or a lid of any sort. Here are individual egg rings. > **[Egg Ring](https://www.recipetips.com/glossary-term/t--38446/egg-ring.asp)** > > Egg Ring cooking information, facts and recipes. Approximately 3 inches in diameter, an Egg Ring is made to hold individual eggs so they can be cooked into a perfectly round shape. The ones at McD’s are hardier, made of thick iron IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/10 "2008-04-22T02:27:02Z")
[QUOTE=riker1384] Here’s what you want: [http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-TEM500-Muffin-2-Slice/dp/B000B18P96/](http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-TEM500-Muffin-2-Slice/dp/B000B18P96/) (Note: It has a tray to steam the meat, but if you use that the water tends to drip down onto the egg and mess it up. Just microwave the meat if you want to. As for cheese, you just add it to the hot sandwich.) [/QUOTE] My boyfriend’s roommate has one of these, and I don’t know if we’re doing something wrong, but the egg has always turned out kind of disgusting. Doesn’t taste like an egg anymore, just like bitter nothing. But it’s very possible we are just stupid, so YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/11 "2008-04-22T02:49:29Z")
[QUOTE=lobotomyboy63] I worked breakfast @ McDonald’s about 25 years ago. We had the six rack; we didn’t break the yolk and I don’t remember any water being involved or a lid of any sort. Here are individual egg rings. [/QUOTE] Same here. 1981 I think. We just cracked an egg into those ring thingies. I think there may have been some sort of cover for it to help steam it quicker. Most people don’t have the large restaurant gauge griddle tops like McDonald’s does though. I wonder if that makes a difference? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/12 "2008-04-22T02:55:49Z")
Those little ring things are crap at home. The egg just oozes out from under them. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/13 "2008-04-22T03:05:11Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] Those little ring things are crap at home. The egg just oozes out from under them. [/QUOTE] Should work fine if you have decent, flat pan. I’ve used the tuna can trick, and I’ve fashioned aluminum foil into a ring, and they both work. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/14 "2008-04-22T03:10:55Z")
**Myron Van Whathisname** , you ARE very clever! I also eagerly await your heating instructions. ETA: Did you guys read the description of that pan? “…no bottom part to throw away!” Seriously? People throw away half of a muffin? What is wrong with people?! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/15 "2008-04-22T03:26:36Z")
> [@Myron Van Horowitzski](#): > > Then they came out with this. It’s for making muffin tops. As soon as I saw it I knew… [QUOTE=ZipperJJETA:] Did you guys read the description of that pan? “…no bottom part to throw away!” Seriously? People throw away half of a muffin? What is wrong with people?! [/QUOTE] There’s a market in St Louis that bakes all their “muffins” that way. They call them _Muffies._ ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/16 "2008-04-22T04:07:07Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] Those little ring things are crap at home. The egg just oozes out from under them. [/QUOTE] I have a set of egg rings that I’ve used for years, and they’re perfect for making Egg McMuffins. You can’t use them in a warped pan or one that is textured, like Circulon, but if you have a good non-stick flat pan, they’re indispensible. ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/17 "2008-04-22T13:35:29Z")
They cook well enough between 325-350F, which would be around 175C. No browned spots, either. Did I mention how easy it is to clean? I just wipe it with a paper towel. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/18 "2008-04-22T14:12:40Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] ETA: Did you guys read the description of that pan? “…no bottom part to throw away!” Seriously? People throw away half of a muffin? What is wrong with people?! [/QUOTE] I remember a thread about “what does your office do with muffin stumps?”. IIRC, the person’s office would have muffins brought in for meetings, and people would break off the tops and leave the “stumps” on the tray. That thread got quite contentious. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/19 "2008-04-22T14:27:02Z")
Egg McMuffins are much better with a runny yolk. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029/20 "2008-04-22T14:35:22Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] ETA: Did you guys read the description of that pan? “…no bottom part to throw away!” Seriously? People throw away half of a muffin? What is wrong with people?! [/QUOTE] There was actually a Seinfeld episode about this, where Elaine tried to donate her muffin bottoms to the homeless shelter for food and the shelter attendant got irate with her. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-made-egg-mcmuffin/446029.md?page=2)