My Real-World Dash Rapid Egg Cooker Review: All The Details You Need

Cooking boiled eggs isn’t exactly a hard thing to do – but it could definitely be a bit easier. I hate having to wait for water to start boiling and then deal with adjusting the temperature.

What if there was an easier way to make delicious eggs everyday?

In my hands-on Dash Rapid Egg Cooker review, I’ll tell you how it can make your life easier, what it’s really like, and if it’s worth the money.

Getting to know the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker family

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker product family image

In this review, I’ll be covering the red 6-egg model, Dash #DEC005RD. It’s also available in a 12 egg model (DEC012RD), with more colors to choose from depending on what’s in stock at retailers.

A well-known manufacturer of a range of home appliance products (including the Dash Compact air fryer I own), Dash offers a variety of affordable products. Not surprisingly, the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker is another appliance sold and advertised as making cooking eggs much simpler.

In this review, I’ll be covering the 6 egg model but it’s available in a 12 egg version as well.

The company offers a total of 5 color options:

  • Aqua
  • White
  • Red
  • Black
  • Yellow

I’ve picked up the red version as it also matches my Dash Compact air fryer. That’s one less important but nice benefit: If you buy more Dash appliances it’s possible to have a matching set by choosing the same color.

Features and egg cooking options

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker features list image

The Rapid Egg Cooker offers 3 egg cooking styles:

  • Boiled eggs (soft, medium, and hard)
  • Poached eggs
  • Omelets

I was curious to see how it compares to the other products I’ve tested.

Additional convenience features to know

You might be asking yourself, “Why should I buy the Dash egg cooker instead of just using boiling water?” I can answer that very easily.

There are several great reasons to consider the egg cooker:

  • No need for hot and dangerous boiling water that quickly spills can cause problems
  • Stops heating automatically when the water is used up
  • Provides hands-free operation once it’s set up
  • Near-perfect results every time
  • It’s very affordable (6 egg model: under $20; 12 egg model: $30 and below)
  • Lower energy use

Dash claims you can get boiled eggs in only 6 minutes. 

But can you really cook eggs without the hassle of dangerous, hot boiling water, and in only 6 minutes? Read on to see what I found and my honest opinions.

Unboxing & first impressions

Packaging

Unboxing the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker

Time to check it out! I unboxed the egg cooker and finally got a chance to get a feel for the quality. Not only that, but I was curious about how it works, too.

My Dash Rapid Egg Cooker arrived in a small box that doesn’t weigh very much. It’s well-packaged in a small square box.

Upon opening it up, there’s a user information packet placed right on top where you can’t miss it.

It’s a nice touch I like, and hopefully a great sign of what I can expect!

The egg cooker isn’t heavy & expensive like some air quality products I’ve tested and reviewed, so there’s no need for more packing like styrofoam or corrugated cardboard.

Regardless, the packaging is just like I’ve come to expect from the company: Nice-looking, professional, and looks good. It doesn’t feel cheap like some of the more generic products I’ve run across.

Getting it out and ready

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker opening the package before use

After unboxing the cooker, you’ll need to remove the plastic bag, the twist tie, the power cord plug cover, and the timer note tag too.

After removing it from the box I had to remove a few things:

  • The plastic bag (a simple loose knot, easy to undo)
  • AC power cord twist tie & power prong cover
  • The auto-off info tag on top

For some reason, although it’s also covered very clearly in the instructions, a note tag is included to explain that the unit will stop the heating plate automatically and sound a chime when the cooking water runs out.

That’s fine, and nice too, but a bit redundant I suppose. No problem, though!

What comes in the box?

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker included items diagram

After unboxing it and unpacking (note: the parts are stored from the factory inside the lid) I found the following parts included:

  • Boiling tray for 6 eggs & detachable tray handle
  • Poaching tray
  • Omelet bowl
  • Lid + base
  • Measuring cup
  • Card paper packet with the owner’s manual, quick start guide, and warranty registration note

Once open, the good news is that you’ll notice right away you won’t need any extra parts, aside from water, eggs, and the recommended non-stick cooking spray (optional).

Overall, I’m happy with what I found. Let’s check out the quality, shall we?

(Note: I’ll cover the owner’s manual and other included paperwork later in my review)

Build quality and fit & finish

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker fit and finish quality inspection closeup images

It’s a budget model you say? Yeah, maybe so…but it’s well put together! Upon inspecting the egg cooker I realized pretty quickly that while it’s affordable for nearly anyone, it’s definitely not cheap looking. Overall, I’m very happy with what I saw.

I like to give products I test & review a good “once-over” to inspect the quality, fit and finish, and to look for tell-tell signs of problems. The reason is that when there’s a cheap “feel” to a product or manufacturing defects, it’s a sign of bigger problems with the overall quality.

I’m happy to say that despite its low price, the Dash egg cooker is well-done and looks great with good build quality.

Dash rapid egg cooker base new with instruction label

The base, which heats water for cooking, includes an instructional label with notes about the material used (stainless steel) and cleaning tips.

Parts line up correctly with no gaps, there were no functional or cosmetic defects, and the stainless steel heating plate is well-done too. What I especially like were 2 little details they don’t mention in the paperwork:

  • The lid handle is fastened using a real metal screw (and not just a plastic pop-fastener)
  • The power cord has a strain relief which is attached using 2 screws as well for extra strength

The power switch (the light gray one on the front, located below the power light) has a good feel too and has a traditional on-off click like you’re probably accustomed to just like I am.

(I mention this because some products use a momentary switch, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but I prefer the feedback and reliability of a real switch for appliances that get very hot.)

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker non-locking lid problem close up image

One thing I discovered – and that annoys me – is that the lid doesn’t lock. While not normally a problem (you don’t need it locked while cooking) that means it’s possible to spill the accessories stored inside or drop the lid while moving it.

One thing that annoyed me is that for some unknown reason the lid doesn’t lock when turned to the locking position underneath the retaining tabs. While it’s not really a big deal, that means for storage purposes when the parts are placed inside the lid could come off and possibly fall and crack.

Be aware of this and don’t move it without keeping your hands firmly on it.

What material is the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker made of?

This is a common question some people have. The egg cooker is made out of the following:

  • Stainless steel (water/heating base plate)
  • ABS plastic (lid, base, and accessories)

Note that the ABS plastic’s heating limits are well below the normal cooking temperatures used by the cooker, so there’s no danger of them warping or cracking due to heat extremes.

Controls & indicators

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker controls illustrated

Ordinary (like with air purifiers, humidifiers, and more) I’d have a fairly intricate image here for all the “bells and whistles” you’d find on the appliance.

However, in the case of the egg cooker, it’s incredibly simple – there’s only one button/switch. Likewise, while the switch is in the “on” position the blue indicator light will be lit.

Simply put, using the Dash egg cooker is as easy as this:

  1. Set up the egg cooker accessory needed (boiled egg rack, poached egg trays, or omelet bowl)
  2. Add the required water, then place the accessories on top
  3. Close the lid
  4. Push the power button to start the cooking process

After the cooking water you added is completely used up, the unit will sound a loud chime and you’ll need to switch it off. Note that the unit will stop cooking when the water is gone.

The “cooking is done” chime sound

Video: A short example demonstrating how the egg cooker’s chime sounds when the eggs are ready. It’s not incredibly loud, but enough to be heard across the room. Pushing the on/off switch shuts it off until the next time the unit is used and the eggs are finished.

I’ve noticed that in reviews some people reported having a buzzer and not a chime sound that’s heard when your eggs are ready. However, I’ve not seen this elsewhere and mine indeed has a nice, friendly musical chime heard when the cooking water is done.

It’s loud enough to hear across the room but not incredibly loud overall. I’ve been pretty happy with it. 

(See late in this review for volume measurements I took)

Understanding the measuring cup

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker measuring cup labeled closeup image

The included measuring cup takes the guesswork out of cooking great eggs. Front and rear markings show the fill lines needed for the type of eggs you’d like to make.

The included water measuring cup works by providing markings for pre-measured amounts of water needed for boiled eggs (soft, medium, and hard), poached, and omelets.

The bottom of the cup has a cap which, when removed, exposes a small spike used to puncture eggshells as needed for making boiled eggs.

You’ll need to put the cap back on before standing the cup on its end.

How to use the Dash egg cooker + measured cooking times

As the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker provides 3 kinds of egg dishes, I’ll show you what I ended up with when using each feature. Additionally, I measured cooking times for each too.

For boiled eggs, I measured cooking times for medium hardness boiled eggs using both the Dash and a small stovetop heating eye with boiling water.

1. Making boiled eggs

Illustrated example images of how to make boiled eggs with the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker

Making boiled eggs is simple – just add water using the provided measuring cup, prepare the eggs, place them into the tray, and start cooking.

Using the egg cooker for making boiled eggs is simple:

  1. Add water with the provided measuring cup for the type of eggs you’d like (soft, medium, or hard)
  2. Puncture the eggs with the spike on the cup
  3. Place eggs in the tray
  4. Cover with the lid and turn on the cooker

That’s it! When the eggs are ready (when the cooking water has fully evaporated) the unit will stop cooking and the chime will sound.

You’ll still need to turn off the switch, however.

As the cooker heats up inside the lid will fill with steam and the eggs will be cooked with hot water vapor instead of boiling water as you’d typically use.

Boiled egg cooking times

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker boiled egg cooking time meaurements

Times I measured for making boiled eggs with the Dash egg cooker. Top left: Softboiled. Top right: Medium. Bottom: Hard boiled eggs.

The one thing I discovered is that unfortunately, it can’t make boiled eggs in 6 minutes as listed on the manufacturer’s website. Perhaps it’s a mistake in the listing, but 6 minute eggs are possible for poached eggs or an omelet. (More about that later)

Dash egg cooker boiled egg time measurements

  • Soft boiled: About 9 minutes
  • Medium boiled: 10:43
  • Hard boiled: 14:41

As you can see, it’s not “super-fast” for cooking 6 eggs, but it’s definitely a lot less hassle – and less risky – than having to deal with boiling water. 

How did they turn out? How do they taste?

Dash rapid egg cooker boiled egg results examples

You’re probably thinking, “Well that’s fine, but how did they turn out? And how do they taste?” Great news – they turned out just as good as traditional boiled eggs! 

The flavor was very good. The level boiling hardness levels had these results:

  • Soft boiled: Creamy yolk center (not solid)
  • Medium: Mostly solid, maybe slightly liquid yolk parts
  • Hard: Not too dry, but dryer, solid yolk with no liquids

When comparing the Dash to stove-cooked boiled eggs, I compared the results by using the medium measuring cup water option. They were extremely close to my stove top eggs boiled for 8 minutes.

They taste good and I like them.

2. Making poached eggs

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker how to make poached egg steps illustrated

Poached eggs are easy to make. Add nonstick spray to the poached egg cup, add 1 egg each, place it on the tray (remove the handle), and turn it on.

How to poach an egg in the dash egg cooker

Poached eggs are easy to make with only a few simple steps needed:

  1. Fill water to the cup’s poached water line & add to the cooker
  2. Add nonstick spray (recommended) to the poached egg cups
  3. Crack one egg for each cup
  4.  Place on the tray (with handle removed) and cover
  5. Switch on

That’s it! Pretty simple, right? But how long do they take and how did they turn out?

How long do I cook 2 eggs (poached) in the Dash egg cooker?

Dash egg cooker poached eggs cooking time measurement snapshot

As the cup can hold only 1 egg on each side, you’re limited to a smaller serving size so that’s something to be aware of. Although there’s room for slightly larger cooking cups, for some reason they’re designed smaller.

On the other hand, it only takes less than 6 minutes for great poached eggs as you’ll see here.

My one complaint, however, is that a dedicated, inexpensive microwave poached egg maker can cook eggs in around only 1 minute. Therefore, if you need your eggs cooked super-fast, this cooker may not be the right choice for you.

How did they turn out?

Example of cooked poached eggs from Dash Rapid Egg Cooker

The poached eggs are limited to 1 per side in the cooking cup, but they’re good. Extremely soft and they’re good-tasting, too.

The eggs turned out well! Very soft and gently cooked with a tasty, fresh flavor. If you’re a poached egg fan I think you’ll enjoy them.

3. Cooking an omelet

Similar to how you make poached eggs, making an omelet is simple as well. Unlike microwave omelet molds, however, it has a more round shape and isn’t the usually half-circle style you might be used to.

How to make an omelet in the Dash egg cooker

Making an omelet is just as easy aside from a bit of work for the eggs themselves:

  1. Add water using the measuring cup from the omelet water level
  2. Add nonstick spray to the omelet cup (recommended)
  3. Crack & wisk 2-3 eggs in a bowl. Pour into the omelet cup
  4. Place the cup on the tray & close the lid
  5. Switch on and cook until done

How long does an omelet take?

Dash egg cooker omelette cooking time measurement snapshot

You’ll only need about 6 minutes to make an omelet which isn’t bad. Bear in mind, however, that a dedicated microwave oven omelet maker can do the same in around 2 minutes.

That’s the drawback I found for both this and the poached egg feature. In this case, also personally I’d rather have the traditional omelet shape a microwave egg maker offers. But that’s just my preference.

If you’d like your poached eggs & omelets even faster, you might want to consider buying those separately.

Taste, texture, and more

The omelets I made turned out well – I’ve got to admit. The texture and taste were good, despite not having the typical half-circle shape as you’d get in a restaurant.

It did a good job, though, and unless very picky I’m sure you’ll like it as well. 

Additionally, I used only 2 eggs but I believe the cup can hold up to 3. You can also add ingredients to your omelet if you like.

Dash egg cooker vs stovetop boiled eggs

Stovetop 6 boiled eggs time measurements

Measuring cooking times using traditional boiling water and a pot on a small heating eye. It took just over 3 minutes to start the water boiling and about 10 minutes total to boil medium eggs. That’s a total of about 13 minutes, longer than the Dash cooker.

Altogether from start to finish, it took nearly 3 minutes longer to cook eggs with a stovetop. Actually, I almost hate using a stove to do it, as it’s so easy for the boiling water to overflow the pot.

Also, you can’t just walk away for hands-free cooking like you can with the Dash.

During my testing using the Dash cooker was a lot easier and took away the stress of worrying about forgetting about the boiling water – just set it up, turn it on, and walk away.

I like it!

 Storage ability & features

When not in use, you can put everything conveniently inside the lid for storage. It works well and makes it easier to avoid losing anything.

Just like how it is from the factory, you can easily put all accessories inside the cooker before storing it. It’s actually pretty neat when you think about it.

Speaking of that, when using the poached egg or omelet cups (as when it’s storage time), you’ll need to remove the tray handle which locks in place.

To do so, just rotate it to the right to use the handle or rotate it left to remove it.

Power use measurements (Watts)

As it’s a simple appliance (unlike, say, an air purifier with multiple speeds) power use measurements are extremely simple this time. Dash lists the unit as using 360 watts of energy, and with my trusty Kill A Watt meter, I found it’s true.

Dash egg cooker power use measurements

  • Off: 0W
  • On: 364W

One thing I really like is how it uses a fraction that a stove uses for boiling eggs. For example, a typical stovetop eye (the small of the two sizes, as many usually have) may use around 1,200 watts!

That’s about 1/4 of the electrical power!

Noise levels during use (measured)

Image of taking noise measurements for the Dash egg cooker

I measured sound levels both during use and when the chime goes off from 1 meter (3.28 feet) to be consistent.

  • Cooking sound level: 44.5 decibels
  • Chime sound level: Around 70dB+

Overall, it’s pretty quiet while cooking but you’ll hear it slightly. It’s sort of a soft sound as the unit produces steam. The chime sound is loud enough to be heard across the room and reminds me of a cell phone call tone.

However, while it’s loud enough to hear, it’s definitely not extremely loud so that shouldn’t be a problem (but I wouldn’t use it late at night or you’ll risk waking someone up).

Owner’s manual & quick-start guide quality

Inside the box is a paperwork packet with the owner’s manual, quick start guide, and warranty registration note. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, but the quick start guide was enough for me to get started right away.

The instructions & quick start guide are pretty good: They’re clear, detailed, and are helpful. Just the same, I think most people will only need the quick start guide to get started.

I did notice a flaw, however: The instruction manual seems to have a misprint for step #2 in the omelet directions. Somehow some of the text was duplicated, making it confusing. (It looks to me like someone forgot to double-check it for mistakes before printing).

Most people should find the paperwork well-done & helpful, and the addition of it all nicely packed into a folded card paper packet is a nice, classy touch.

Cleaning & special care

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker cleaning after cooking example images

The company recommends using a 10:1 mixture of water to vinegar for cleaning if needed. After cooking the eggs, it’s not uncommon to have a brown residue you’ll need to wash off. After washing, the stainless steel heating plate still had water spots that the company recommends using a Magic Erase cleaning product to remove.

After using the egg cooker, several times there was a brown residue left over from the eggs in the stainless steel metal base. You can use a water & vinegar mixture if needed, although so far it’s been easy to clean with a standard sponge and soap & water.

However, the steel plate does have a tendency to build up water spots. Dash recommends using a Magic Eraser product to remove these. Unfortunately, at the time of my review, I didn’t have one to try.

Regardless, the water spots are a trivial concern and don’t affect the cooking in any way, so it’s up to you if you’d like to put in the effort to remove them.

Review summary & score: Is it a good choice?

My honest opinion? I like it – and love not having to deal with dangerous, hot, and bothersome boiling hot water. The result is easy, tasty eggs in a matter of minutes. 

However, it’s not perfect, as good as it is. Poached eggs and omelets take several times longer to make than by using microwave egg cookers. You’re limited to 1 egg per poaching cup for a total of 2 at a time as well, so that may not be a good fit for everyone.

There’s also no adjustable timer control but just a simple on/off switch instead.

Overall, though, I have to say it’s some of the best (very affordable) money I ever spent!

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker review summary final product imagesIf you want safe, fast, and easy eggs you’ll enjoy, find out why it's one of the most popular egg cookers at Amazon.

Need more eggs? Feel free to have a look at the handy 12 egg model for only a few dollars more.

Overall
8.7/10
8.7/10
  • Quality - 8.5/10
    8.5/10
  • Value - 9/10
    9/10
  • Ease of use - 9.2/10
    9.2/10
  • Features - 8.4/10
    8.4/10
  • Food quality/taste - 8.8/10
    8.8/10
  • Noise levels - 8.5/10
    8.5/10

A good compromise between features, simplicity, and price, the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker is a smart choice for easier, delicious eggs.

Are there fancier products out there for cooking eggs? Definitely. However, the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker is a smart choice and does what it’s supposed to well for less money. It offers inexpensive & easy egg cooking that takes away the hassle. It’s super easy to use – just prick the eggs (or mix for poached or omelets) and use the included accessories as needed.

While the poached eggs and omelets made are good, they’re not quite the same – or fast – as dedicated microwave cookers. The egg cooker removes the dangerous super-hot boiling water of traditional boiled eggs, uses less energy, and makes choosing one of 3 egg softness a breeze. It’s a solid bet for a budget price, with the same quality I’ve come to expect from Dash. Storage is excellent, too. While the portion sizes are limited and you can’t adjust cooking times, it’s a good choice for egg lovers.

Pros

  • Simple to use
  • Low price
  • Auto-off heating element
  • “Food is done” chime sound
  • Stainless steel heating area
  • Pre-measured water cup
  • Stores easily
  • Several colors available
  • 3 boiled egg styles provided
  • Poached & omelette features
  • Works in minutes
  • Use 1/4 the power of stove
  • No dangerous boiling water
  • Well-made & good quality
  • Clear, easy instructions
  • Quick start guide
  • Tasty eggs
  • 1 year warranty

Cons

  • Poached/omelet not fast like microwave models
  • No adjustable timer provided
  • Water spots on stainless steel require additional cleaning
  • Limited portion sizes
  • Lid does not lock
Grant Williams

About the author

Grant is a professional engineer by trade and has experience with both maintenance and do-it-yourself home projects. He enjoys sharing his expertise & ideas with others to help them improve their comfort and quality of life. Read more »

Your comments are welcome!

    • Hi there. If you’re handy with tools you should be able to open it up and do that, yep.

      You’ll likely just need to disconnect one of the wires going to it to disable it (and tape off the unused ends to be safe).

      Reply

Leave a Comment