Fried eggs are a breakfast classic, yet they are notoriously tricky to get just right. While even a less-than-perfect egg can still deliver a tasty dish, there are straightforward methods to elevate your eggs to something truly special.
The Simple Pre-Crack Method
The culinary experts at Simply Recipes have suggested cracking your egg into a bowl instead of straight into the frying pan. Julie Laing writes: "To make a restaurant-worthy fry-up, I have reverted to slowly pouring raw eggs into a hot skillet from a small bowl. Yes, it is that simple and easy."
Cracking the egg directly into the pan releases both the whites and the yolk at once, and while Julie observes that breaking the yolk using this approach is uncommon, the egg white can spread erratically until it sticks to the pan and tears. Cracking into a bowl beforehand gives you far greater control over the egg, with the food expert writing: "For the magic move, I tilt the bowl over a hot buttered skillet just until the egg white pours and spreads evenly. As soon as it begins to set, I tip the bowl until the yolk plops dead centre, a golden orb surrounded by an even halo of egg white." This nifty trick works no matter how you prefer to cook your fried eggs, whether in butter, oil, or with additional ingredients.
Alternative Methods
Sharing another hack for fried eggs, Andrea Rivera Wawrzyn, Associate Food Editor at The Kitchn, reveals that ditching oil and butter altogether actually produced the best outcome for her. Instead, after heating the pan and adding the egg, she simply pours in a teaspoon of water before placing a lid on top. This creates the "perfect environment for gentle, even egg cooking," she wrote. Wawrzyn recommends using a non-stick pan for optimum results, along with a clear lid so you can monitor the egg's progress. Just ensure you protect your hands when removing it.
Meanwhile, recipe book author Dannii Martin, creator of the Hungry Healthy Happy food blog, claims you do not even need a frying pan to achieve perfectly cooked fried eggs — and can have them ready in just two minutes by using the microwave instead.
