How to Cook Eggs in a Toastie Maker
You can cook eggs in a toastie maker two ways: crack one into a well in the bread to make a sealed egg toastie (about 4–5 minutes), or cook the egg directly on the greased plates like a mini fried egg (about 3–4 minutes). The egg toastie is the cleaner, more reliable method; a deep fill machine makes it much easier.
Quick answer: press a deep hollow into the bottom slice, crack in one medium egg, add cheese around it, close gently and cook 4 minutes in a standard ~750W machine for a jammy yolk, 5 minutes for a set yolk. In a deep fill machine add 30–60 seconds.
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Recipe: Egg and cheese toastie
Ingredients
- 2 slices medium-sliced white bread
- 1 medium egg (large eggs overflow in standard machines)
- 25g mature cheddar, grated
- 10g butter, softened
- 1 spring onion, finely sliced, optional
- Salt, black pepper, and a few drops of hot sauce, optional
Method
- Preheat the toastie maker with the lid closed until the ready light comes on, usually 3–5 minutes.
- Butter one side of each slice. On the unbuttered side of the bottom slice, press the centre firmly down with the back of a spoon or your fingers to make a deep hollow about 6cm across.
- Open the machine and lay the bottom slice butter-side down over one triangle pair, pressing the hollow down into the plate's well.
- Scatter the cheese in a ring around the edge of the hollow (it acts as a dam), then crack the egg into the hollow and season with salt, pepper and spring onion.
- Lay the top slice butter-side up and close the lid slowly without forcing it; let the weight of the lid seal the edges, then latch it.
- Cook for 4 minutes for a soft, jammy yolk or 5 minutes for a fully set yolk. Lift out with a silicone spatula and rest 1 minute before cutting.
Why the hollow matters
A medium egg is about 50ml of liquid, and a standard sealed toastie maker has space for very little loose liquid. Pressing a well into the bread gives the egg somewhere to sit, and the ring of cheese melts quickly to seal the edges before the white can run out. Deep fill plates, which are 2–3cm deep instead of roughly 1cm, make this nearly foolproof. If you're choosing between them, see deep fill vs shallow fill toastie makers.
Closing the lid slowly matters too. Slam it, and the egg squirts out the sides onto the hinge, where it bakes on and is hard to clean.
Method 2: fried egg on the plates
This works best on flat or grill plates (a panini press or a 3-in-1 machine with grill plates) and can be done on triangle plates if you accept a triangle-shaped egg.
- Preheat the machine and brush the bottom plate lightly with oil or butter.
- Crack the egg straight onto the bottom plate (into one triangle well on toastie plates).
- Close the lid gently so it rests just above the egg if your machine has a floating hinge, or leave it open and cover loosely with a heatproof lid.
- Cook 2–3 minutes for a runny yolk or 3–4 minutes closed for a set egg. Lift out with a silicone spatula.
Closed, the top plate cooks the egg from both sides, giving a texture between fried and poached. Owners of fixed-plate machines often find this leaves residue on the hinge side, which is why removable plates help; see toastie makers with removable plates.
Watch out: egg runs. Lay a sheet of kitchen roll under the front of the machine, and wipe any spills off the plates while warm (unplugged) with a damp cloth. Full advice is in how to clean a toastie maker.
Egg timings
| Method | Machine | Runny yolk | Set yolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egg in toastie | Standard ~750W | 4 min | 5 min |
| Egg in toastie | Deep fill | 4 min 30 s | 5 min 30 s |
| Fried egg on plates, lid closed | Any | 2–3 min | 3–4 min |
| Scrambled egg toastie (pre-scrambled) | Any | n/a | 3–4 min |
Other egg ideas
- Pre-scrambled egg toastie: lightly scramble one egg in a pan (keep it soft), cool for a minute, and use as the filling with cheese. No leaks at all.
- Egg, bacon and cheese: one cooked rasher laid around the hollow. This is the core of our breakfast toastie.
- Egg and hash brown: see hash browns in a toastie maker for a hash brown base.
- Egg and spinach: a small handful of wilted, squeezed-dry spinach around the yolk, plus feta.
- No-bread omelette: beaten eggs straight into the plates. Full method: toastie maker omelette.
More things to cook in the machine besides toasties are on what to make in a toastie maker.
Mistakes to avoid
- Large eggs in standard plates: use medium eggs, or pour off a little of the white.
- Cold machine: always preheat; the egg needs to set at the edges straight away.
- Forcing the lid: close it gently and let the bread compress.
- Opening early: opening at 2 minutes tears the seal. Trust the timer.
FAQs
Is it safe to eat a runny egg from a toastie maker?
UK eggs with the British Lion mark are considered safe to eat runny for most people, including pregnant women, according to the Food Standards Agency. For anyone else advised to avoid runny eggs, cook to a set yolk (5 minutes or more).
Can I cook two eggs in a toastie maker at once?
Yes, one per toastie in a two-slot machine. Putting two eggs in one toastie almost always overflows unless you have deep fill plates.
Why did my egg leak out?
The hollow wasn't deep enough, the egg was too large, or the lid was closed too fast. A cheese ring around the egg helps seal it.
Can I use egg whites only?
Yes, about 60ml of egg white per toastie in the hollow; it sets in about 4 minutes. It's a useful trick for a low-calorie toastie.