You do not cook an egg by clock alone. You cook it by feel. Watch the white wrap around the yolk. See the water swirl.
If the white looks cloudy and still, wait. If it looks firm and slightly opaque, you are close. Gently poke it with a spoon. It should feel like a water balloon filled with honey.
Quirky fact: The perfect poached egg has a teardrop shape. That comes from the whirlpool. Swirl the water before dropping the egg. It twists the white into a tidy nest.
Why is this fun? Because it is a gentle rebellion against rigid rules. You are not a robot following a timer. You are an artist working with a fragile canvas.
The Secret of the Cold Egg
Some people say to use a very cold egg straight from the fridge. Why? It slows down the cooking. It gives the white more time to set before the yolk gets too hot.
Others say room temperature is better. The truth? Try both. It’s a delicious experiment. The fridge method gives you a tiny bit more control. The room temp method is faster and riskier.
You know what? It doesn’t matter. Because you are eating it. You are not judging it for a Michelin star.