alternatively long-simmered in water, come out with a stronger flavor and a striking, tancolored white During prolonged heating in alkaline conditions, the quarter-gram of glucose sugar in the white reacts with albumen protein to generate flavors and pigments typical of browned foods (see the explanation of the Maillard reaction on p 778) The white will be very tender and the yolk creamy if the cooking temperature is kept in a very narrow range, between 160 and 165ºF/71–74ºC Eggs Cooked Out of the Shell Baked, Shirred, en Cocotte There are several ways of soft-cooking eggs that are broken out of the shell and into a container, which might be a dish or a hollowed-out fruit or vegetable As is true of in-shell soft-cooked eggs, timing is of the essence to avoid overcoagulation of the white and yolk proteins, and depends on the nature and placement of the heat source In the case of baked or shirred eggs, the dish should be set on the middle rack to avoid overcooking the top or bottom while the rest cooks through Eggs en cocotte (“in the casserole”) are cooked in dishes set in a pan of simmering water, either on the stovetop or in the oven Here the eggs are well buffered from the heat source, yet cook just as quickly as baked eggs because water transfers heat more rapidly than the oven air Eggs and Fire Another Way with Eggs (Roasting) Turn fresh eggs carefully in warm ashes near the fire so that they cook on all sides When they begin to leak they are thought to be freshly done, and so are served to guests These are the best and are most agreeably served Eggs on a Spit .. .the nature and placement of the heat source In the case of baked or shirred eggs, the dish should be set on the middle rack to avoid overcooking the top or bottom while the rest cooks through... cooks through Eggs en cocotte (? ??in the casserole”) are cooked in dishes set in a pan of simmering water, either on the stovetop or in the oven Here the eggs are well buffered from the heat source, yet cook just as quickly... more rapidly than the oven air Eggs and Fire Another Way with Eggs (Roasting) Turn fresh eggs carefully in warm ashes near the fire so that they cook on all sides When they begin to leak they are thought