Fried eggs are usually thought of as diner breakfast fare, but they’re a easy way to add protein to all kinds of meals— salads, sandwiches, burgers or in a classic Huevos Rancheros. There a four basic styles of fried eggs—sunny side up, over easy, over medium and over well—indicating the level of doneness.
- Sunny side up: The egg is fried with the yolk up and is not flipped.
- Over easy: The egg is flipped and the yolk is still runny.
- Over medium: The egg is flipped and the yolk is only slightly runny.
- Over well: The egg is flipped and the yolk is cooked hard.
Once you master this technique at home, you’ll never think of a fried egg the same way again.
Things You'll Need
- A good non-stick frying pan
- Non-stick spatula
- Cooking spray, butter or oil
- Fresh eggs
- Salt and pepper (optional)
Instructions
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Step 1
Coat a non-stick pan with cooking spray or butter. Heat pan over medium heat depending on your stove (you may need experiment the first few times to get the right temperature). Making sure the pan is well-oiled is key to making sure the eggs don’t stick.
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Step 2
Once the butter is melted crack your eggs into a bowl and drop the egg in the pan. Season lightly with salt and/or pepper.
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Step 3
Let the eggs cook until white is set and the corners begin to curl ever so slightly, about 3 - 4 minutes depending on your heat source. No need to fuss with them either, they’ll turn out better if they’re left alone. For sunny side up eggs, simply slide the eggs onto a plate and season again if desired. For over easy or over medium eggs carry on to Step 4.
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Step 4
Using a very thin spatula, jiggle it gently under the egg and flip. You don’t need to get it all the way under, but make sure it’s under the yolk before you flip. Allow to cook for about another minute for over-easy, 2 minutes for over medium and so on. Flip once more and serve immediately.
And there you have it. Perfect fried eggs at home!
FAQs
Step 1In a small nonstick over medium heat, melt butter (or heat oil). Crack egg into pan. Cook 3 minutes, or until white is set. Flip and cook 2 to 3 minutes more, until yolk is completely set.
How do you fry an egg like a chef? ›
Over Medium Egg – Cook at low to medium heat in a pan with oil for 90 seconds on each side. Over Hard Egg – Cook at low to medium heat in a pan with oil for 2 to 2 ½ minutes per side. Make-Ahead: These are meant to be eaten as soon as they are done cooking.
Do you fry an egg on high or medium heat? ›
Choose the Right Heat
A nice, steady medium heat is perfect for frying eggs. If the pan is too hot, the bottom cooks while the top is still liquidy. If the pan is cooler, the egg will take longer to cook. The pan should be just hot enough that you get a little bubbling action when the egg hits the skillet.
How to keep eggs round when frying? ›
All you need to achieve perfectly round fried eggs is a clove of garlic. "Just use the garlic to draw patterns in whatever shape you want in the pan, and the egg will turn into this pattern," he explained in the video.
How long should you fry an egg for? ›
Let the eggs cook until white is set and the corners begin to curl ever so slightly, about 3 - 4 minutes depending on your heat source. No need to fuss with them either, they'll turn out better if they're left alone. For sunny side up eggs, simply slide the eggs onto a plate and season again if desired.
When frying an egg lid on or off? ›
Most fried egg recipes will tell you that using a lid to cook fried eggs is a must. Placing a lid on the pan helps cook the egg with steam, while preventing it from overcooking. Trying to fry eggs without the help of a lid will result in a longer cook time, which may burn the egg whites.
Why do people eat half fry eggs? ›
A half fry eggs are highly nutritious as they are rich in proteins, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids with vitamins and minerals. Therefore, they are used to make several recipes like a boiled egg sandwich, egg curry, egg quesadilla, Turkish eggs, egg pepper fry, and Parsi scrambled eggs.
Why do fried eggs taste different than scrambled eggs? ›
Browning a fried egg or omelette also changes its taste. This is down to a chemical reaction between proteins and glucose called the Maillard reaction, which creates colour and gives the egg a slightly nutty flavour.
Is Sunny side up the same as over easy? ›
For a sunny side up egg, the egg is cracked in the pan and cooked simply—no flipping required. That results in a golden, runnier yolk and a perfectly cooked white. For over easy eggs, you'll flip the egg partway through cooking, which results in a more even cook for the egg overall.
What are the 4 ways to fry an egg? ›
There a four basic styles of fried eggs—sunny side up, over easy, over medium and over well—indicating the level of doneness.
"When they are fried, it gives them a little toasted brown butter flavor, which only adds to the eggs," she says. "Butter also makes everything better!" Butter certainly works for fried eggs, but oil is the fat of choice for cooks who want a runny yolk with a satisfying crispy white.
