How do you poach an egg?
The way I was taught to poach one egg or many eggs:
Add a small amount of vinegar (about 1 - 2 tablespoons of one quart of the water). The lesser amount of vinegar will not impart any flavor to the egg, but the vinegar helps to keep the white around the yolk.
Bring the water to a boil, reduce it to a simmer.
Then, just in case there is a blood spot or a broken yolk, break the egg into a monkey dish or a small salad bowl.
Once the egg passes the visual inspection, put the dish/bowl with the egg as close to the surface of the water as you can. The dish/bowl can even make contact with the water.
Gently tilt the dish/bowl and allow the egg to slide into the simmering water. The egg will sink to the bottom of the pot
The egg might sort-of "stick" to the bottom of the pot. To free the egg, wait about a minute, then use a slotted spoon or spider web. Go under the egg and gently coax the egg to free itself from the bottom of the pot.
As the egg cooks it will rise to the top. When it rises to the top, the white is cooked and the yolk is warm.
Remove the egg with the slotted spoon or spider web.
To get rid of most of the superfluous water: After removing the egg from the simmering water, allow the egg a little time to drain.
Then touch the bottom of the slotted spoon to a clean, dry towel.
Plate the poached egg
I know it seems like A WHOLE LOT of work, but once you do it a few times, you'll develop your own shortcuts.
For 3 or more eggs; for more than two people or for breakfast or brunch, such as making poached eggs for Eggs Bennie or corned beef hash: to hold the poached eggs:
Put them in a second pot with lukewarm - not hot water. When ready to plate, reheat the eggs in the same water you originally cooked them in for about 15 seconds.
Remove the egg with the slotted spoon or spider web.
To get rid of most of the superfluous water: After removing the egg from the simmering water, allow the egg a little time to drain.
Then touch the bottom of the slotted spoon to a spotless, dry towel.