Learn how to make perfect Fried Eggs with our fool-proof method. There are 4 types of fried eggs depending on the yolk texture you prefer, from runny to well done. Each type adds a tasty flare to any savory dish, including burgers, rice bowls, and salads.
Fried eggs are one of our go to recipes for extra protein. Typically, we pick the dish we want to make then make the eggs to match. If we want to make make breakfast fried rice or avocado toast, we use runny sunny side up or over easy eggs because the yolk melds perfectly with the rest of the ingredients. If we are in the mood for a salad or breakfast sandwich, we make jammy over medium or over hard eggs to keep the dish neater and easier to eat.
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Where to Get Your Eggs
We are strong proponents for pasture raised eggs. Pasture raised eggs are laid by hens who have access to outdoor pastures. As a result, the eggs are flavor-packed and have lots of vitamins. This is reflected in the deep orange and red color of the egg yolks.
Our favorite pasture-raised eggs are distributed by Vital Farms. Vital Farms works with carefully-selected farmers throughout the United States.
About the Types of Fried Eggs
- Sunny Side Up Eggs - Sunny side up eggs feature a golden runny yolk and lightly crisped egg white. In oder to make sunny side up eggs, cook them on one side until the whites are set, but the yolk is still liquid.
- Over Easy Eggs - Like sunny side up eggs, over easy eggs also feature a runny yolk, but are flipped over briefly to sear the top of the egg.
- Over Medium Eggs - Over medium eggs are cooked a little longer than over easy eggs, until the yolk is a little less runny. As a result, the yolk is jammy and the egg white is crispy.
- Over Hard Eggs - Over hard eggs have a completely cooked through yolk, similar to a hard boiled egg and are great for breakfast sandwiches.
How to Crack Open an Egg
The key to cracking open an egg is to do it gently so the yolk stays intact and pieces of the egg shell stay out. In order to crack it, lightly tap it on a flat surface like a counter top. Once the egg cracks, use your fingers to gently open it along the cracks and allow the yolk to fall lightly into the skillet.
If you haven't cracked eggs before or are worried about shell pieces falling into the yolk, crack the egg in a small bowl before transferring it to a skillet. This will give you the chance to remove any shell pieces before you to start cooking the egg.
Ingredients
- Butter - Butter adds a thin layer of fat that keeps the eggs from sticking to the pan.
- Fresh Eggs - Eggs are an excellent source of protein. We use pasture-raised eggs because they are have a delicious flavor. They also contain more vitamins and omega-3 fats than cage-raised eggs.
- Salt - Salt accentuates the rich flavor of the eggs.
- Pepper - Pepper adds a little spice.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Perfect Fried Eggs
Sunny Side Up Eggs
- Heat butter - Heat butter in cast iron skillet or pan over low-medium heat.
- Crack and season the egg - Once the butter is melted and slightly foamy, crack egg onto skillet and sprinkle salt and pepper on top of egg.
- Cook egg - Cook for about 2 to 2½ minutes. Once the egg whites go from clear to white and edges start to crisp, use spatula to transfer egg to plate and enjoy.
Eggs Over Easy
- Heat butter - Heat butter in cast iron skillet or pan over low-medium heat.
- Crack and season egg - Once butter is melted and slightly foamy, crack egg onto skillet. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top of egg.
- Cook egg - Cook egg for for about 2 minutes. Once egg whites go from clear to white and edges start to crisp, use a spatula to flip egg over and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Use spatula to transfer egg to plate and enjoy.
Over Medium Eggs
- Heat butter - Heat butter in cast iron skillet or pan over low-medium heat.
- Crack and season egg - Once butter is melted and slightly foamy, crack egg onto skillet. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top of egg.
- Cook egg - Cook egg for 2-3 minutes. Once whites go from clear to white and edges start to crisp, use a spatula to flip egg over and cook for another 2 minutes. Use spatula to transfer egg to plate and enjoy.
Over Hard Eggs
- Heat butter - Heat butter in cast iron skillet or pan over low-medium heat.
- Crack and season egg - Once butter is melted and slightly foamy, crack egg onto skillet. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top of egg.
- Cook egg - Cook egg for 2 to 3 minutes. Once whites go from clear to white and edges start to crisp, use a spatula to flip egg over and cook for another 2½ to 3 minutes. Use spatula to transfer egg to plate and enjoy.
Hint: Only cook 1-2 eggs in a pan to make it easy to flip the eggs.
How to Enjoy the Different Types of Fried Eggs
There are so many awesome ways to enjoy eggs, it just depends on how they are cooked. Sunny side up and over easy eggs are particularly delicious over fried rice or in a bacon breakfast rice bowl. The runny yolk mixes with the rice to create a uniquely delicious combination. We love over medium and over hard eggs in a breakfast sandwich, over avocado toast, or with a scrumptious salad.
FAQ
Yes, olive oil will also work to cook the eggs. However, we use butter because it is tastier.
Yes! Eggs are a rich source of protein, biotin, iron, vitamins, zinc, and magnesium. In order to make sure the eggs maintain all of their nutrients, don't overcook them. The longer you cook your eggs, the more nutrients you lose.Â
Yes, they are great source of nutrients and vitamins for your dogs too. Just be careful to only feed them in moderation, up to 1 egg per day (less than 1 egg if you have a small dog).
Generally, it's okay for an adult to eat 1 to 2 eggs per day unless you have high cholesterol or risk factors for heart disease. If you have high cholesterol or other health concerns, you should check with your doctor to see how many you can eat.
It is unknown where or when fried eggs originated since humans have enjoyed cooked eggs in various forms for thousands of years. For example, humans were believed to have roasted eggs over coals after discovering fire and later, the Romans enjoyed eggs with honey for dessert.
Other Types of Eggs
While we love fried eggs, we enjoy all other types of eggs too. Here are a few different ways prepare eggs:
- Soft Scrambled Eggs - Whenever we make scrambled eggs, we make them soft and fluffy. We love making a Soft Scramble with Burrata, Tomatoes, and Arugula.
- Soft Boiled Jammy Eggs - Soft Boiled Jammy Eggs have a soft yolk with a spreadable jammy texture. Just boil eggs for 7 minutes then enjoy them in bowl of ramen, in an egg salad sandwich, in a scrumptious salad, or on top of avocado toast.
- Soft Boiled Runny Eggs - If you want your eggs runny and perfect for going over rice, follow the steps for Soft Boiled Jammy Eggs, just boil the eggs for 5 minutes instead of 7. Our Bacon and Egg Rice Bowl is an example of how to integrate this runny egg into a delicious breakfast.
- Hard Boiled Eggs - Hard Boiled Eggs are great for an egg salad sandwich if you prefer a firm yolk. In order to hard boil eggs, just boil the eggs for 10 minutes then cool them and peel the shell.
- Poached Eggs - Poached eggs are famously used in eggs benedict due to their runny consistency. They are usually cooked in simmering water then pulled out when the white is set but before the yolk is cooked.
Equipment
Fried eggs require just a few kitchen essentials. You will need a non-stick pan or standard skillet and a silicone baking spatula. If you use a standard skillet, we suggest seasoning it so it becomes non-stick and the eggs will flip more easily.
To explore more kitchen items to make your kitchen complete, head to our Kitchen Essentials Shop.
Storage
You can refrigerate fried eggs in an air tight container for up to 2 days. In order to reheat them, heat in a covered pan over low heat. These ingredients do not stand up well to freezing.
Egg Grades
The USDA grades eggs AA, A, or B based on their interior quality and the condition of their shell. Grade AA eggs tend to be the most expensive while Grade A eggs are the most widely available. Given that AA and A are the highest quality eggs, they are best for cooking. Grade B eggs are a lower standard and are usually used for frozen or dried egg products.
Top tips
- Use fresh eggs for the best results! We highly recommend pasture-raised eggs for an extra delicious and nutritious yolk.
- Cook eggs low and slow to avoid over-cooking them.
- If cooking multiple batches, allow the pan to cool for a couple of minutes between batches to avoid burning the butter and over-cooking the eggs.
- Figure out what you want to make with your over fried eggs before you start making them so your eggs are ready at the same time as your other food and you can enjoy everything hot and fresh.
- If possible, use a non-stick pan to cook the eggs. This will ensure that the eggs come out easily once they are done cooking.
Related Recipes
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Perfect Fried Eggs (4 Types)
Equipment
- 1 spatula
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon butter
- 1 egg
- sea salt
- freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
Sunny Side Up Eggs
- Heat butter - Heat butter in cast iron skillet or pan over low-medium heat.2 teaspoon butter
- Crack and season the egg - Once the butter is melted and slightly foamy, crack the egg onto skillet and sprinkle salt and pepper on top.1 egg, sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper
- Cook egg - Cook for about 2 to 2½ minutes. Once the egg whites go from clear to white and edges start to crisp, use spatula to transfer egg to plate and enjoy.
Over Easy Eggs
- Heat butter - Heat butter in cast iron skillet or pan over low-medium heat.2 teaspoon butter
- Crack and season the egg - Once the butter is melted and slightly foamy, crack the egg onto skillet and sprinkle salt and pepper on top.1 egg, sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper
- Cook egg - Cook egg for for about 2 minutes. Once egg whites go from clear to white and edges start to crisp, use a spatula to flip egg over and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Then transfer egg to plate and enjoy.
Over Medium Eggs
- Heat butter - Heat butter in cast iron skillet or pan over low-medium heat.2 teaspoon butter
- Crack and season the egg - Once the butter is melted and slightly foamy, crack the egg onto skillet and sprinkle salt and pepper on top.1 egg, sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper
- Cook egg - Cook egg for 2-3 minutes. Once whites go from clear to white and edges start to crisp, use a spatula to flip egg over and cook for another 2 minutes. Use spatula to transfer egg to plate and enjoy.
Over Hard Eggs
- Heat butter - Heat butter in cast iron skillet or pan over low-medium heat.2 teaspoon butter
- Crack and season the egg - Once the butter is melted and slightly foamy, crack the egg onto skillet and sprinkle salt and pepper on top.1 egg, sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper
- Cook egg - Cook egg for 2 to 3 minutes. Once whites go from clear to white and edges start to crisp, use a spatula to flip egg over and cook for another 2½ to 3 minutes. Use spatula to transfer egg to plate and enjoy.
Notes
- Use fresh eggs for the best results! We highly recommend pasture-raised eggs for an extra delicious and nutritious yolk.
- Cook eggs low and slow to avoid over-cooking them.
- If cooking multiple batches, allow the pan to cool for a couple of minutes between batches to avoid burning the butter and over-cooking the eggs.
- Figure out what you want to make with your over fried eggs before you start making them so your eggs are ready at the same time as your other food and you can enjoy everything hot and fresh.
- If possible, use a non-stick pan to cook the eggs. This will ensure that the eggs come out easily once they are done cooking.
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