How to Fry an Egg
The basic steps for frying an egg are simple:
Heat a pan over medium or medium-high.
Once the pan is hot, add your fat of choice and swirl to coat the surface.
Crack the egg into the pan.
Continue to cook the eggs until the whites and yolks reach your desired consistency
Optional: Place a lid on the pan to trap the heat and cook the eggs from top to bottom at the same time (this will create a cloudy surface on the yolk).
But, there is more than one way to fry an egg!
TYPES OF FRIED EGGS
There are several varieties of the basic fried egg, but the most common types are sunny side up, over easy, and hard. Here’s how they differ and how you can get these different types of fried eggs in your kitchen.
Sunny side up
A “sunny-side-up” egg is an egg that is fried without flipping until the white is set but the yolk is still runny. This is, by far, my favorite type of fried egg. It’s so pretty and that liquid golden yolk is perfect for dipping a piece of buttered toast into!
To get a sunny side up egg, use medium heat to give the whites time to set slowly before the edges get too brown and before the yolk is cooked.
OVER EASY
Over-easy eggs are perfect for those who still like runny yolks but want to make sure the whites are well cooked. They’re also great for adding to sandwiches, burgers, or other dishes where you want a runny yolk but nothing quite as delicate as a sunny-side-up egg.
To fry an egg easily, fry the egg over medium or medium heat (depending on how browning you like the whites), then flip the egg when the whites are about 75% set. Cook the egg on the other side for 15-30 seconds to cook the whites and set the top of the yolks. The center of the yolk should still be runny.
OVER HARD
A hard-fried egg is an egg that is fried on both sides until the yolk is completely set. This type of fried egg is great for those who don’t like runny yolks. It’s also the easiest, in my humble opinion, because you can use a little more heat and because you cook on both sides it’s a little faster.
To “hard” fry an egg, fry the egg on one side until the white is about 50% set, then flip and cook on the other side until the white and yolk are completely set. It won’t happen. You can tell when they are set by pressing lightly on the yolks with a spatula. When it feels firm, it’s set.
Over medium
Over-medium fried eggs are halfway between over-easy and over-hard. The yolk is firm in texture. To get an over-medium egg, cook the egg on the other side until the yolk is partially set. As with more hard-boiled eggs, you can test the doneness of the yolk by pressing lightly with a spatula. It should have a little give, but should not feel soft and liquid.
TROUBLESHOOTING FRIED EGGS
Runny whites: If your egg runs all over the skillet instead of staying in a nice compact shape, either your skillet wasn’t hot enough before you added the egg or your egg isn’t fresh (or both!).
Burnt edges/undercooked whites: If your egg whites on the bottom and edges are too brown before they are cooked, the pan is too hot. Try using lower heat next time, or add a lid to cook from top to bottom at the same time. To save this egg for the last minute, flip it over and cook briefly on the other side to finish cooking the whites without browning the bottom (make it easier or tougher).
Cracked Yolk After Flipping: Be gentle, my friend! Flipping too aggressively can cause the yolk to break when flipping the egg. Trying to flip the egg too early can also cause the yolk to break. If you’re planning to hard-boil your eggs, broken yolks won’t be a problem, but if you’re planning to over-easy it can be annoying.
Eggshell in the skillet: To avoid small pieces of eggshell in your fried eggs, be sure to tap the eggshell to a flat surface rather than the edge of the pan, which can push into the egg whites. . For extra precaution, you can crack the eggs into a bowl first, then slide them into the pan after making sure there are no bits of shell in the eggs.
HOW TO FRY AN EGG
There’s more than one way to fry an egg! Learn the techniques and tools needed to get your fried egg just the way you like it!
Cooking time: 8 minutes
Total time: 8 minutes
INGREDIENTS
1/2 tsp butter
1 large egg
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat a pan over medium-high, allowing it to preheat completely (3-5 minutes).
Add the butter (or fat of choice) and swirl to coat the surface of the skillet.
Crack the egg into the frying pan and cook until the white is set and the yolk is still runny (sunny side up).
For over-easy, over-medium or over-hard, cook the egg until the white is 50-75% set, then flip the egg and cook the other side until the yolk is done to your desired doneness. Do not cook according to
Transfer the eggs to a plate and season with salt and pepper. Enjoy!
HOW TO SERVE FRIED EGGS
Scrambled eggs aren’t just for breakfast! You can add a fried egg to any meal for a quick and cheap protein boost. Here are some delicious recipes that will go great with scrambled eggs.
