A perfectly cooked fried egg can upgrade practically anything, from avocado toast to a double cheeseburger and beyond. If you’re looking to start making diner-worthy eggs right at home, we’re here to show you how to make perfect fried eggs, whether you prefer yours over-easy, sunny-side up, medium-hard, or over-hard. Follow our top tips below, and you’ll be slingin' eggs like a pro in no time.
What kind of pan is best for frying eggs?
When it comes to pretty much anything else, I'm all about a cast iron skillet. For eggs though, nothing works better than nonstick. I basically bought a nonstick pan just for cooking eggs, and it's worth it. Nonstick skillets typically have a shorter lifespan, so don't feel bad about buying one on the cheaper side—this one is my favorite . If you're like me and usually make 1 to 2 fried eggs at a time, an 8" pan is perfect. If you cook up breakfast for a crowd on the regular, go for something bigger.
If you don't have a nonstick pan, you can use a cast iron or carbon steel pan in a pinch. Just make sure to up the amount of fat to avoid scraping burnt bits of egg off your pan.
Should I use butter or oil to fry my eggs?
Butter is the most classic choice for frying eggs, and in my opinion the best. Why? It's just... so, so, good. BUT! If butter isn't your thing, there are plenty of other options. Olive oil is a great choice as well—it'll still add some flavor and will give your eggs some deliciously golden crunchy edges. Vegetable oil works fine if it's all you've got, but it's not preferred. If you have some bacon fat (the holiest of fats), then you're really in business.
Cook 'em your way.
Everyone likes their eggs differently, and that's ok! I, along with many others, prefer my yolks runny—which is why I usually go the sunny-side-up or over-easy route. In both, the whites are set and the yolks are runny. The difference is that over-easy eggs are flipped before removing from the pan, while sunny-side-up eggs only cook on one side. Eggs over-medium and over-hard just require longer cook time on their flipped side so the yolk is semi or completely cooked, respectively.
Followed our top tips on frying eggs? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
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- Yields:
- 1 serving(s)
- Prep Time:
- 1 min
- Total Time:
- 5 mins
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp.
butter, or fat of your choice
large egg
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
For sunny-side up:
- Step1In a small nonstick over medium heat, melt butter (or heat oil). Crack egg into pan. Cook 3 minutes, or until white is completely set. Remove from pan and season with salt and pepper.
For over-easy:
- Step1In 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 30 seconds until white is just set.Remove from pan and season with salt and pepper.
For over-medium:
- Step1In 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 1 minute more, until yolk is slightly set.Remove from pan and season with salt and pepper.
For over-hard:
- Step1In 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 3minutes more, until yolk is completely set.Remove from pan and season with salt and pepper.
