Breakfast on the road

Hi travellers,

I'm hoping to get your feedback:
When travelling to new locations I often wake up feeling excited to get out there and explore. However, the growl in my stomach reminds me that I have to find food first if there is any hope of staying energized. When moving around a lot, this repetitive and time-consuming search for breakfast has led me to seek out quick and easy breakfast solutions for travelling. More specifically, solutions that don't require a kitchen or restaurant.
At home, I love having a simple boiled egg and toast for breakfast and I thought, why can't this simple electric egg steamer be portable (rechargeable battery), durable (lightweight metal cylindrical body so it can get thrown in a bag and store eggs safely before cooking) and more compact (ie. just big enough to fit two eggs on top of each other in a small thermos-like container). When looking for something like this online, I can't find anything but plastic, electric egg steamers that fit 6+ eggs!

So, I am wondering from you if a) have you seen a compact battery powered egg steamer? and b) if not, would you use something like this on the road?

Any feedback on the idea would be greatly appreciated!

Nope, never seen one and wouldn't buy any travel appliance that only did one thing. We do travel with a small kettle (we have them in 2 different voltages for US and Europe) but it can be used for instant coffee, tea, hot chocolate, noodles, dry soup mixes, oatmeal...pretty much anything requiring nothing but boiling water. Can even deep clean a toothbrush or face mask with it if need be.

Honestly, we've never found breakfast to be that time-consuming or difficult when we travel but eggs aren't our gotta-have either.

[ Edit: Edited on 25 Feb 2021, 22:41 GMT by goodfish ]

I don't take any cooking equipment or food with me. I've never found it difficult to find breakfast anywhere I've been (bakeries, for example, are always open very early) and even if I did I certainly wouldn't bother cooking my own eggs. I don't need to eat breakfast before I set off for the day (most people can manage a couple of hours exploring before eating, surely?) but if it was really necessary I'd just buy something simple and suitable the night before e.g. bread, fruit, cheese, nuts, biscuits/cookies....

Even such a portable egg-steamer existed you'd have to find somewhere to buy the eggs first and it's rare to find just one or two on offer. And if you're staying less than a couple of nights (plenty of time to find a bakery or worker's cafe) what do you do with the rest ? Take them with you (not a good idea imo)? Chuck them away (wasteful)?

You say you like eggs and toast for breakfast but even with an egg-steamer how are you going to make the toast? And would you eat it dry (buying and carrying butter etc would be a major hassle)?

I wonder if you're just exploring the potential market for a portable egg-steamer? Having eggs for breakfast really isn't an international 'must' and imo the majority of travellers don't find getting a simple breakfast a major issue.

[ Edit: Edited on 26 Feb 2021, 08:03 GMT by leics2 ]

Was puzzling the same about the toast and extra eggs, Leics.

Thanks for the comments!

I actually do really want to find one of these as I eat eggs with fresh non toasted bread nearly daily but totally understand that this isn’t for everyone :P In my previous travels, I have resorted to stopping at a bakery etc in the am but depending on where you are traveling this isn’t always as convenient as in a city.
The kettle is a good idea to explore, I would be unsure if it could sustain the boiling temp to cook eggs though unless it doesn’t auto turn off. I’ll look into kettles that may be able to avoid this.

Really appreciate the feedback! I will keep on the hunt and please share if you ever come across one :D

If I want boiled eggs I just use the in room kettles. It works all the time even figured out the timing to get soft boiled eggs

Ah interesting! I will have to experiment with boiling times on our kettle! Thanks for this.

Depending on where you travel to, you may be able to find pre-made boiled eggs in the refrigerated section of some convenience stores, like in the "deli" section with sandwiches and cheeses, etc. These prepared eggs are sealed and sold individually, or in a multi-pack. If you find these at convenience stores, you may even be able to find them at some supermarkets as well.

Of course, this again depends on where you are - you won't find pre-made boiled eggs everywhere while on the road. Here in Mexico, you can buy pre-toasted bread at almost any shop, big or small - it's sold alongside bagged loaves of regular, untoasted bread and is quite popular. You can also find pre-boiled eggs here, too.

Pre-boiled eggs and ready-toasted bread, no matter how odd these may sound to some, can be something within reach depending on where you are in the world. Just a thought...

[ Edit: Edited on 26 Feb 2021, 16:38 GMT by road to roam ]

When you Google up "electric travel pot that works in car to boil water" you will get several links.

Same way when you Google up "portable electric pot for boiling water when traveling" you will find links.

For over 40 years I always travel with a little electric coil thing that heats water. (Packs in a bag, inserted in a cup and stuffed in my carry on bag.) I include instant coffee packets too. You pour a cup or small container with water. Hang coil in water and plug in. I have 2 one for 120 voltage and one for 210 v. The 210-220 v will work with lower voltage in US but it takes longer. Place coil in water FIRST before plugging in or you will melt the coil. I have used this for coffee hundreds of times, even in airports with long layovers. Hot water for instant ramem type noodles too. Google up "cheap electric coil for boiling a cup of water for coffee" if interested.

I use a lot of cheap hotels. Some have free coffee in the hotel room. If there is a pot it will boil eggs. Just make sure you clean it out if you screw up. I never turn down free coffee (or tea) if included with the hotel room.

My preference is a cheap hotel that includes "all you can eat" breakfast. Otherwise, for a cheap egg sandwich I am okay with a fast food place like Mickey D's. No problem finding something the day before that you sneak into the hotel for early morning departures.

Quoting road to roam

Depending on where you travel to, you may be able to find pre-made boiled eggs in the refrigerated section of some convenience stores, like in the "deli" section with sandwiches and cheeses, etc. These prepared eggs are sealed and sold individually, or in a multi-pack. If you find these at convenience stores, you may even be able to find them at some supermarkets as well.

Saw this is in Japan a lot, they even had the version soaked in soy sauce.

[ Edit: Edited on 27 Feb 2021, 01:28 GMT by Teoni ]