How to Make a Fried Egg
The seemingly simplest way to prepare an egg in a frying pan is to simply crack the egg and wait for it to cook. However, there are a few small details to pay attention to in order to achieve a perfect fried egg.
When preparing a fried egg, special attention should be given to the heat of the pan because it determines whether the egg will be tasty and juicy or burnt and dry. While it’s true that you can eat a fried egg even if it’s slightly burnt, controlling the heat of the pan will help you achieve perfect doneness.
There are several levels of doneness that can be served with a fried egg. Typically, the egg white (the clear part of the egg) will be fully cooked, and the yolk will be cooked to various degrees depending on the preferences of the diners.
The egg can be cooked without flipping it, but it can also be flipped onto the other side during cooking. There are also different levels of doneness for flipping. usually, it’s only for a second before transferring it to a plate with a spatula.
Ingredients:
- Egg (as needed)
- Oil (as needed)
How to Make a Fried Egg – Sunny Side Up:
- Heat the frying pan over medium-low heat and add the oil.
- Crack the egg directly into the pan, or crack it into a bowl and then transfer it to the pan if it’s easier.
- Keep the pan at medium-low heat until the egg is cooked. You can gently touch the egg to check its doneness.
How to Make a Flipped Fried Egg – Over Easy:
4. Before the egg is fully cooked (at step 3), use a spatula to flip it, and wait a few seconds until the desired doneness is reached.
Tips for Proper Technique:
- To prevent the egg from sticking to the pan, it’s recommended to start with a pan that’s already heated or at least on its way there. Don’t place the egg on a cold pan.
- It’s better to add a little oil and spread it around the pan. If the pan is clean and in good condition, the egg shouldn’t stick even without oil.
- To get a fully cooked egg without flipping, use medium-low heat and give it time to cook through.
- You can add salt with a salt shaker once the egg is in the pan.
- If you decide to cover the egg while cooking to speed up the process, be aware that the egg might cook very quickly, even reaching a hard-boiled texture within seconds.
Upgrades for a Fried Egg:
- After cooking, you can lightly sprinkle chopped herbs such as chives, green onions, parsley, cilantro, etc.
- The fried egg can be served on toast (to eat with a knife and fork) to soak up the yolk’s liquid.
Good luck and enjoy your meal!
Thank you for reading!