I got one of these last Christmas and I loved it. Past tense because I used it almost daily until the handle broke off the little skillet. No problem, super glue fixed that. But when the teflon started flaking off the skillet the machine was retired. Now I make eggamuffins the old fashioned way, which is not as pretty but it still works. I wish I could buy replacement parts because the toaster still works fine. We've looked but have not found. My recommendation- buy it! For $30 it's great! Just don't expect to pass it on to the next generation.

Check out the 1900-1920 section for a toaster that did a similar thing: The Armstrong Table Stove

http://www.toaster.org/museum.html

I am surprised that Ray Kroc et al seem surprised that puttin a slice of Canandian bacon and a poched egg on a piece of English Muffin was a "new" idea. Except tor adding Holandise sauce it is aEggs Benedict, whai has been around for about 100 years.

x-ray

When Salon suggested the special pop-corn popper as a gift I thought it was junk. Who can’t pop corn in an existing pan? And the stupid plant thing from yesterday that a small, inexpensive grow light and a few pots and seed could replicate it? What a waste. I hate single use gadgets.

But this one has possibilities. My toaster is just about worn out (its 10 years old and not as safe as it ought to be) and I’ve been thinking of getting this toaster/egg cooker to replace it. I could set it off and go get dressed while it’s going and only have to clean up a little pan? Sounds like I’m saving time and washing water plus I get a warm breakfast. And I could just toast and forget the egg too, right? This little thing sounds pretty cool to me.

I am sorry to hear the little pan is cheap – but if all else is wonderful it might not be the worst thing in the world to order a few extras to have one hand when the old ones are finally ready for the recycle bin. I find I often have to replace attachments on appliances I use a lot.

I've had one of these since last Christmas and it's probably the only gimmicky gadget my husband and I have received that we still use on a regular basis. I love poached eggs and this guarantees a perfect poached egg every time (whereas any attempt to boil the water and do it on my own fails miserably). I've even given a few of these toasters away as gifts.

I bought this machine last year for a Xmas gift. While I was wrapping gifts my husband said we need one of those. Went back to the store and bought another one for us and we love it! Three other families have bought one after trying it out on a vist at our house. You have to be careful and not put too much water in the steamer and clean the container (the steel part) with a paper towel and vinegar to keep the shine. Also, do not use any sharp object on the egg holder because it is teflon and will scratch. I have read complaints online regarding this product and have found that they did not follow the directions. Probably a man. This is a great product and very convenient for a quick breakfast.

And the reason why I like it so much is that it is completely hands-off for the cooking stage. Yes, I can cook an egg on my stove top, but I'll be damned if I can unload the dishwasher or watch the baby while it cooks.

Like someone else said, I thinly slice my cheese and meat and add them to the egg chamber halfway through the cycle--then you have warm melted cheese and meat. But be careful when opening the lid.

But the teflon does come off. I think we found replacements on Ebay.

I mean, when this is an option, why would you just have a toaster that only toasts?

McDonald's CEO's wife is named Patty Turner! ROTFLMAO.

Or get this:

Use your current toaster. Find a ramekin (what $2? at the store) or recycled yogurt, or other, container of the right diameter. Drop in a smidge or pat of butter, microwave for 30 seconds, add egg, microwave to suit your desired doneness level. Plop on toasted biscuit. Finish prep as you would with the $30 gadget.

Spend the saved $28 or $30 on your choice of kitchen or food treats.

http://www.fantes.com/images/5780eggs.jpg

Would this little four-egg insert not do the trick? Not to be a fun-hater, but $30 is a lot for a gadget like that. I do appreciate the information that a McD's egg muffin features steamed eggs.

Sorry, I have two kids so I tend to think in multiples of three.

http://www.fantes.com/images/120920eggs.jpg

As evidenced by the comments of a couple of other readers, this device is indeed another junk gadget - when used by actual consumers it's likely to break within a year, after which one will presumably buy the new and improved version which is only slightly better made. The key thing to note is that that's how the universe of marketed gadgetry works.

Farhad has a platform, and the intelligence, to go well beyond 'get one' and actually discuss the larger question. I've never been especially fond of CR, I don't think their analyses are as thoughtful as they might be, but they do (sort of) test things for durability. Farhad didn't seem to say anything about that, nor did he test the bacon warming feature, nor did he ask why there isn't a bacon cooking feature. If he's going to try to do Consumer Reports, well OK, but he'll have to test things a little more rigorously. I don't think he should do that, though. I read Machinist for actual intelligent analysis of the tech world. I don't want cotton-candy gadget infomercials!

If he's going to take an often insightful column into the shady realm of journalism-as-infomercial, I think I (and any other readers) have the right/responsibility/privilege/whatever to CALL HIM ON IT. And if I choose to use the venerable linguistic device of snark to do so, that too is my privilege.

If Salon isn't going to censor the poster to 'Since you asked' who regularly advocates Murder, I really doubt they'll censor me for being snarky!