How to Cook Eggs: Fried, Poached, Scrambled, Boiled

They’re packed with nutritional goodness, available almost everywhere, and relatively cheap compared to the soaring cost of other proteins like meat and poultry. But the cheapest and most available eggs worldwide will not likely impact your food budget unless you know how to cook eggs perfectly.

In keeping with my belief that it’s good to know how to cook well, I want to share with you several seriously amazing ways to prepare eggs. And I’m talking about the simple things like frying, scrambling, poaching, and boiling. Concerning well-prepared eggs, it’s 10% eggs and 90% technique.

 

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Fried

A properly fried egg should have a tender, fully cooked white with crisp brown edges that look a bit like lace. The yolk should be slightly thickened but still fluid.

The great thing about the following method for making perfectly fried eggs for two: no turning or flipping required. Just follow these instructions exactly— no changes and no cheating—and they’ll turn out perfect every time. You will need:

• A large skillet
• 2 small bowls
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs
• Salt and pepper
• 2 teaspoons cold butter, cut into 4 pieces

Place the oil in a large skillet and set over low heat for 5 minutes. While the pan is heating, crack two eggs into each of the small bowls. Season with salt and pepper.

Increase the heat to medium-high and heat until the oil looks shimmery. Add butter to the skillet and quickly swirl to coat the pan. Working quickly, pour one bowl of eggs onto one side of the pan and the second bowl of eggs onto the other side. Quickly cover and cook for exactly 1 minute. Exactly. Leaving the cover in place and undisturbed, remove the skillet from the burner and let it stand, covered, for 15 to 45 seconds for runny yolks with just barely opaque whites, 45 to 60 seconds for soft but set yolks and about 2 minutes for medium-set yolks. Seriously, watch the clock or set a timer. Slide the fried eggs onto plates and serve. Enjoy.

 

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Poached

A poached egg should be a neat-looking pouch of tender egg, evenly cooked all the way through, with a barely runny yolk.

5-Step Method

1. Pour enough water into a 2-quart saucepan so it is about 2 inches deep. Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and 2 teaspoons of white vinegar. Place the saucepan on the stove over medium heat and wait for it to simmer. While the water is heating up, crack a large egg into a small custard cup or ramekin. Then, take the handle of a spatula or spoon and give the water a quick stir in one direction until it’s all swirling around smoothly.
2. Gently pour the egg from the cup, right in the middle of the swirling whirlpool. The whirl of water should stop the egg white from spreading too much in the pan.
3. Turn off the heat, pop a lid on the pan, and set your timer for 5 minutes. Hands off! No peeking, poking, stirring, or bothering the egg in any way.
4. Remove the egg with a slotted spoon and serve immediately.

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Scrambled

Scrambled eggs should be light and velvety, not dry or runny. To achieve this, forget everything you’ve ever learned about making scrambled eggs. You will need:

• 6 eggs
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, cold and cubed
• 1 tablespoon creme fraiche (or sour cream)
• Salt and pepper
• Freshly chopped chives (optional)

1. Break eggs into a skillet and add the cubed butter.
2. Set over medium heat and constantly stir until the eggs begin to solidify. Keep stirring.
3. Remove from the heat and continue stirring.
4. Return to heat as needed to thicken and continue stirring. Back and forth, on and off the heat, constantly stirring until the consistency is right.
5. Once the eggs are about done, remove them from the heat and add the creme fraiche to stop them from overcooking. Continue to stir until incorporated. Season with salt, pepper, and a sprinkling of chives. Do not season until the end. This will make all the difference in the world.
6. Prepare to be amazed.

• MORE: 34 New and Improved Ways to Make Fabulous Meals from Leftovers

 

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Boiled

Place eggs in a large saucepan to hold them in a single layer. Add cold water to cover eggs by 1 inch. Heat over high heat just to boiling.

Remove the eggs from the burner and cover the pan. For large eggs, allow them to stand in hot water for about 12 minutes (9 minutes for medium eggs; 15 minutes for extra-large eggs).

• MORE: How to Cook Perfectly Boiled Eggs

Drain immediately, peel, and serve warm. Or cool completely under cold running water or in a bowl of ice water, then refrigerate to be eaten the same day. Left unpeeled hard-boiled eggs can be refrigerated for up to one week.

Very fresh eggs can be difficult to peel. To ensure easily peeled hard-boiled eggs, buy and refrigerate them a week to 10 days before the day you want to boil them.

Hard-boiled eggs are easiest to peel right after cooling as that causes the egg to contract slightly in the shell.

To peel a hard-boiled egg, gently tap the egg on the countertop until the shell is finely cracked. Roll the egg between your hands to loosen the shell. Start peeling at the large end, holding the egg under cold running water to help ease the shell off.

 

Question: Eggs are such a versatile ingredient! Besides breakfast, how do you incorporate eggs into your meals throughout the day? Any favorite recipes or dishes you’d like to share?

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