Written by adam on Jun 4, 2006
Ziploc Omelette Questions and Answers
Filed Under: How To
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Ever since posting instructions for making an omlette inside of a ziploc bag, I have been getting a lot of traffic and a lot of questions. That recipe and those pictures are from a reliable source, but not me personally. I posted them because I trusted the source, but alas I hadn't actually tried the thing myself.
Until Now.
Before we get into this, let me do a little explanation. It is possible to make a 2-egg omelette inside a ziploc bag. No skillets, no flipping, no butter, no splattering. Just a perfect log of an omelette. After getting a lot of emails and plenty of comments on the entry, I decided I needed to be knowledgeable about this process. Below are my personal pictures of the experience.
I used two regular eggs, and beat them right in the bag by shaking it. I then added some leftover brisket from my brisket adventure. I then closed the bag slightly and pushed out all the air, then closed it completely. I then rolled it up and placed it in the water. It stayed in the water for 11 minutes, I check it with a knife and it came out perfect. Check out my pictures then read below for some answers and tips.
Here are my tips for doing this right and not getting burned or melted.
1. Use freezer bags. The extra thickness of freezer bags will make sure the plastic doesn't fail in the boiling hot water.
2. Keep the bag away from the edges of the pot. They're really hot and the plastic will melt. This means you will have to monitor it the whole time, but such is the price to pay.
3. Do not microwave. The soft plastic will melt in the microwave and release toxic fumes onto your food.
4. Yes ... 11 to 13 is how long it takes. It seems long, but the heat must reach the core of the omelette to make sure it's cooked through. I tested my at 6 minutes and it was still liquid. So yes .... 11 to 13 minutes.
5. If you're going to leave a comment on my blog, at least leave your email address. This is an open forum for folks to keep a conversation going though comments and trackbacks. I would have liked to asked questions of the person whose bag melted in the water.
Responses to "Ziploc Omelette Questions and Answers" ...
I think the 'omlet in a bag' method is a pretty darn good idea. I was skeptical (I don't call myself the 'Fumbling' foodie for nothing) but it looks pretty foolproof. I'll put this on my 'things to try soon' list.
My family did this a few weeks ago for a brunch thing to see relatives off and I decided since I was up at the crack of dawn, I might as well make myself an omelette for breakfast.
I used one of those tiny snack bags (about 3x8 when flat) and a pretty small pot too. The bag's sides were touching it lengthwise near the top, but they didn't melt. It was a pretty close fit.
I put two eggs in, as well as maybe a bit too much cheddar cheese (crumbled) and pressed most of the air out. While it was boiling, I used some tongs to hold it in place upright, but the water wasn't really covering it so I held it under with the tongs. I guess that meant the side of the bag was touching the bottom for a while, and that sort of melted, but just a little egg showed and some cheeze oozed out. I still ate it and it tasted fine. When I poured the water out, it was a little cloudy, and it left kind of a residue in the pot... but I'm not dead. Yet.
I guess it didn't really melt BECAUSE OF the water, but I did have a bag rupture. The egg was cooked enough to stay in, but it was a little surprising when I turned the bag over. Elsewise I had no problems.
mike
I tried this recipe, and found that the eggs themselves can come out kind of tastless. So I added some melted butter and milk for flavor (just like buttering th pan)
Cloe
I tried this recipe while camping this weekend. A 3-egg omlet should boil for 16 minutes and a 2-egg omlet for 13 minutes. Make sure the water is boiling before you put the bags in. I showed some friends the next day and all had to try it. We put as many as 4 bags in a boiling kettle at once. All were done to a tee. I found that covering up the boiling water sped up the cooking time a bit. I had no incidences of the bags melting.
If anyone has any other Ziploc recipes, I would like to know about them. A great way to cook outdoors with ease. NO DISHES!!!!!
CLOE
Aurelie
Ziploc Omelettes
I checked with www.ziplo.ca official website and this is what they have to say about the use of ziploc bags in boiling water:
Can I boil in Ziploc® Brand bags?
No. Ziploc® Brand bags are not designed to withstand the extreme heat of boiling.
Aurelie
Since winter of 2004, I have been exploring the world of cooking and helping out my fellow men in their quests to better themselves in the kitchen. My name is Adam Byrd, you can learn more about me and my mission on my