How To Fry An Egg

Knowing how to fry an egg is one of the first skills to learn in the kitchen. Fried eggs are so versatile, nutritious and absolutely delicious. Here I’ll walk you through frying an egg, step-by-step, making sure you fry the perfect egg. Every time!

What pan is best for fried eggs?

There are a few choices when it comes to frying an egg. I prefer using a stainless steel pan but a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet or non-stick pan can also be used. The important thing to remember with both stainless steel and cast-iron is that the pan should be heated thoroughly before cooking.

How to fry an egg

1. Pre-heat the pan: Place your pan over medium-high heat and allow to preheat for a minute or two. This is particularly important with stainless steel as the pan needs to be hot before you add the oil to prevent sticking.
2. Add fat/oil: Add 1-2 tbsp oil and allow to heat for a few seconds then add the eggs. Use fresh eggs to prevent the whites from running/spreading too much. To avoid small bits of shell in the pan, break the eggs into a small bowl or ramekin then slide into the hot pan. Reduce the temperature to medium-low then allow to fry for a minute or so.
3. Cook and serve: Cover with a lid and allow to cook for another 1-2 minutes then season with salt and black pepper and serve.

Do you fry eggs in butter or oil?

Eggs are delicious cooked in a variety of fats or oils and whichever you use is up to your own preference.

• Oil: Vegetable oil, olive oil, avocado oil and canola oil are all good options and will result in slightly crispier edges.
• Fat: Butter, bacon fat or duck fat are all scrumptious with eggs. Using one of these fats will result in a richer, more flavorful egg.
• Other: If you’ve seen one of the viral hacks for frying eggs on social media, you’ll know that people use everything from pesto to chilli crisp/chilli oil to cook their eggs. These are excellent options that will add a ton of flavor to your eggs.

Fried Eggs Variations

There are a variety of ways you can fry an egg. The method will depend on the texture and flavor you’re after. If you want a softer egg with less crispy edges, poach-frying is the method for you. For lots of crispy edges you HAVE to try an olive-oil fried egg. If you want something in the middle, sunny side-up or over easy eggs will be perfect.

• Sunny side up: A sunny side up is a simple egg that has been fried over medium-low heat and hasn’t been flipped. For the best sunny side up egg with a runny yolk, add a tablespoon or so of oil to the hot pan. Add your egg and cook for a minute before covering with a lid for 1-2 minutes until the whites are cooked but the yolk is still runny/jammy.
• Crispy egg: My favorite way to make a crispy egg is to use olive oil. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil to your hot pan then break in the egg. Allow to cook for a minute until the whites are mostly-set then use a large spoon and carefully spoon the hot oil over the egg yolk until the egg is cooked to your preference.
• Over easy: An over easy egg is an egg that gets flipped over to allow even cooking. This is the best way to get a fried egg with a firm yolk (over hard). Once the egg has cooked for a minute or so and the whites are almost completely set, carefully flip over the egg using a spatula or egg lifter. Allow to cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minutes until the yolk is done to your liking.
• Poach-fried: This is my favorite way to cook a fried egg as the edges aren’t too crispy. Heat a tablespoon of oil in the hot pan then add the egg. Add a splash of water and cover with a lid then allow to steam until the egg is done. I allow the water to evaporate for a few seconds before serving.

Fried Egg FAQ’S

Basic Ways to Cook Eggs