Baked Eggs (Jjimjilbang Style)
The Authentic Jjimjilbang Taste! Easy Baked Eggs Recipe Using an Electric Rice Cooker
Today, I’m sharing how to easily make baked eggs at home, reminiscent of the delicious ones enjoyed at Korean jjimjilbangs (Korean bathhouses). I was so captivated by the taste of baked eggs a fellow patient’s mother brought to the hospital when my child was admitted that I decided to make them myself. Now you can recreate the chewy white and fluffy yolk combination of ‘maekbanseok’ eggs right in your own kitchen with an electric rice cooker! While a pressure cooker might seem like a better option for flavor, I chose the simple and convenient electric rice cooker for ease of use. Let’s get started!
Main Ingredients
- 7 eggs (brought to room temperature for 1-2 hours beforehand)
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/2 paper cup water (approx. 100ml)
Egg Sterilization & Cleaning
- Sufficient water (enough to fully submerge the eggs)
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- Sufficient water (enough to fully submerge the eggs)
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the eggs thoroughly and let them sit at room temperature for about 1-2 hours to remove the chill. This helps prevent the eggs from cracking during cooking. Place the eggs in a clean bowl and pour enough water to fully submerge them. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar and let them soak for 20 minutes to sterilize the eggshells. Vinegar not only sterilizes but also helps make the shells easier to peel.
Step 2
Line the bottom of your electric rice cooker inner pot with a piece of cotton cloth or 4 layers of paper towels. This prevents the eggs from directly touching the bottom, sticking, or breaking, and can also impart a subtle aroma. If you don’t have cotton cloth, paper towels work perfectly well.
Step 3
Carefully place the sterilized eggs into the inner pot. It’s best to arrange them in a single layer without overlapping.
Step 4
Pour 1/2 paper cup (about 100ml) of water into the rice cooker. This water will create steam to cook the eggs.
Step 5
Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of coarse salt evenly over the eggs. Salt seasons the eggs and helps the shells peel more easily. For convenience, you can dissolve the salt in the water before adding it.
Step 6
Select the ‘Steam’ or ‘Cook’ function on your electric rice cooker and set the cooking time for 50 to 60 minutes. Once set, press the start button and simply wait. Cooking for a sufficient amount of time is key to developing the deep, characteristic flavor of jjimjilbang eggs.
Step 7
Be cautious not to open the lid or check the eggs prematurely during cooking, as this can cause them to crack. (The slightly cracked egg in the photo was due to an accidental during cooking, so please take note!)
Step 8
Your delicious baked eggs are ready! They have a wonderfully firm yet tender white and a slightly salty, fluffy yolk. Enjoy these perfect jjimjilbang-style baked eggs at home. They are delicious served warm or cooled.
