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Learn how to make the perfect fried egg every single time. Make fried eggs, sunny side up with no flipping, in minutes using my best tips and tricks. Perfect to serve as part of a breakfast. brunch or main meal.
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Table of Contents
I embark upon today’s post in the full and certain knowledge that many of you already know how to fry a perfect egg (Note here, I am aiming for the perfect fried egg – sunny side up. No flipping involved.)
If you are completely confident in your abilities, and never find yourself disappointed by a burnt egg white that’s too tough and tastes like chewing through a hairball, or tragically hard and chalky yolk, then pat yourself on the back and then move along – I can teach you nothing.
Be sure to check out my techniques for how to make scrambled eggs and how to make perfect hard boiled eggs.
What Is The Perfect Fried Egg?
It seems that many people have different definitions of what the perfect fried egg is. Some like it with very crispy egg whites, others with crispy edges, some like runny yolks, others – set yolks.
My perfect fried egg is perfectly set egg white (not crispy, but might have slightly crispy edges) and perfectly soft & runny egg yolk (not very runny but also not completely set). I have also included in the recipe below couple more ways how you can achieve crispy egg whites or set egg yolks if that’s what you like.
Is There A Right Way To Fry A Egg?
I myself didn’t realize until recently that there are so many articles & tutorials published on how to cook the perfect fried egg. Frying eggs was one of the first things I learned how to cook in the kitchen. It’s simple, easy & quick. I’ve never given it a thought what are the proper techniques for frying the perfect egg, I just did it.
Over the years, I have developed my own preference for the perfect fried egg. I had to do some testing in the kitchen though in order to perfect my technique for frying a sunny side up egg and share it with you.
The great Fernand Point, who is considered to be the father of modern French cuisine, is said to have judged a chef, by the way, he fried eggs. Many culinary giants have shared their ways of frying eggs, some techniques are very different from each other, and some of them are unnecessarily complicated.
In an attempt to simplify the process, I decided to share with you my way of cooking a perfect fried egg. It’s quick and easy enough to make a great breakfast in the morning, and guaranteed to hit the spot every time. So I’ll be sticking with this simple but effective method.
The Technique for Perfect Fried Egg:
- Cook on medium heat
- Cover with a lid
- Cook only for about 2 – 3 minutes depending on how you like the yolk.
How do you cook your perfect eggs, and what else do you serve them with apart from bacon?
Ingredients You Will Need:
- Egg: Make sure that your egg is fresh and at room temperature before you crack it. If you can, use free run / organic eggs.
- Olive oil: Olive oil is my choice of fat. It has a low smoke point and heats quickly in the pan so that the white cooks and the yolks remain runny.
How To Make The Perfect Fried Egg
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Prep: Let the eggs come to room tempertaure and heat the olive oil in a cast iron skillet (or non-stick skillet) over medium heat.
- Cook: Crack in the egg and cover the pan with the lid.
- Serve: Once the white is set, serve immediately.
Recipe variations
If you want crispy egg whites & runny egg yolk: Cook egg over high heat uncovered for about 1.5 – 2 minutes or until desired crispiness.
If you want slightly crispy egg whites & set egg yolk: Cook egg over medium-high heat covered for about 2.5 – 3 minutes or until desired crispiness.
What Do You Serve With Them?
Fried eggs make a great for a great quick and easy breakfast. I love serving them with a couple of pieces of bacon and some sliced avocado. You can serve them in a muffin or sandwich or on top of some savory waffles.
They are also a great addition to a main meal when served up with sweet potato fries and a side of protein like chicken kebabs.
Can you make them ahead of time?
Fried eggs are best served as soon as they are ready so that the white is perfectly soft and the yolk is runny. If you cook too many, you can keep them in an airtight container in the fridge once they have cooled.
To reheat already cooked fried eggs, it’s best to use a microwave. You can reheat them in a skillet, but do it on a low heat so that you don’t overcook them and they become rubbery.
Why Eat Eggs?
Eggs are a great source of protein, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. They are low carb and naturally gluten-free so they fit in with a lot of different diets and lifestyles including keto, whole30 and paleo.
Because frying them is quicker than other methods, the eggs retain a lot more of their vitamins and the protein is easier for the body to digest.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Use room temperature eggs. If your eggs are cold you can overcook the yolks.
- Use fresh eggs. Check if your eggs are fresh by placing them in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom but eggs passed their prime will sink.
- Use a mild flavored oil with a high smoking point. I like to use olive oil, but I would suspect that avocado and sunflower seed oil will both work well.
More Egg Recipes
- Sweet Potato, Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole
- Breakfast Egg Muffins
- Classic Deviled Eggs
- Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
Perfect Fried Egg
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Ingredients
- 1 fresh egg, at room temperature
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- As ever, if you keep your eggs in the fridge, then you should let them come to room temperature before cooking – if you start with a cold egg, then you’re more likely to end up overcooking the yolk trying to get the white to set. Very fresh eggs are best for frying.
- Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet (or non-stick skillet) over medium heat. When the oil is hot, carefully add an egg to the skillet.
- Immediately cover with a lid and let egg cook for 2 minutes. This helps speed up the process, which results in a perfectly cooked egg – a soft, but firm white, and a gorgeously soft & runny yolk.
- Remove skillet from heat and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use room temperature eggs. If your eggs are cold you can overcook the yolks.
- Use fresh eggs. Check if your eggs are fresh by placing them in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom but eggs passed their prime will sink.
- Use a mild flavored oil with a high smoking point. I like to use olive oil, but I would suspect that avocado and sunflower seed oil will both work well.
It’s really nice healthy recipe. So creative, and that is why I love to read your blog regularly. Thanks for posting such a recipe. Keep sharing.
Now, this is how a perfect fried egg looks like! Have to try again! hope mine will turn the same 🙂
We frequently have eggs on the weekend – thanks for sharing this recipe!
Why is it the things that should be so easy to cook are always the most trouble. Eggs are a tough one for me. Thanks for the tips. This weekends breakfast will be a nice change from the regular scrambled eggs.
Truly Perfect Recipe
I am so excited I found this! My mom made perfect eggs like you do in her cast iron skillet and I have never been able to replicate them. Thank you so much ?
That makes me so happy! Glad you find it helpful! Have a great week, Valerie! ?
This is great…I’ve never been able to get quite the perfect fried egg. Thanks for the tips!