Step 1

Prep the egg: Put 1/2 cup room temperature water in a microwave-safe mug. Crack the egg into the water.

Step 2

Microwave the mug: Put the mug in the microwave and microwave on HIGH power for 30 seconds. Take out the mug and peek inside; you want the whites to be opaque, and the yolk to be still on the runny side. If the whites are still clear, put the mug back in the microwave for another 10 to 60 seconds.How long it takes to cook the egg to your liking depends primarily on the wattage of your microwave. You’ll need to play around a bit. The time can vary a lot!

Step 3

Let the mug sit: Let the cooked egg sit in the mug of hot water for 1 minute, or longer if needed. This helps firm up any soft parts of the egg white, giving you a more evenly poached egg.

Step 4

Drain the egg: Using a spoon or fork, gently lift the egg out of the mug and set it on a slice of stale bread or a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then transfer to your serving plate and enjoy.