My husband and I have made fried eggs and toast at least four times per week for the past two years. That’s over 400 times making fried eggs! So it’s safe to say I’ve learned quite a bit about the different types of fried eggs, along with how to fry the perfect egg. And I’m excited to share my success tips with you!
Tips for Frying Eggs
There are a few ways to increase your success rate and improve the overall flavor of fried eggs, before we even turn the stove on.
Egg Quality
First, use fresh eggs. It may go without saying, but rotten eggs will just make everyone gag. I usually use large chicken eggs from the grocery store.
And if you’re trying to impress someone over breakfast, go for pasture raised eggs. They have a brilliant orange yolk, like a romantic sunset.
Pan Quality
I recommend using a non stick pan. It’s so frustrating when you go to ease your perfectly fried egg out of the pan, and it’s completely stuck to the bottom.
You could also use a cast iron skillet or a stainless steel skillet, but make sure it’s well-seasoned to prevent your egg from sticking to the bottom.
Cooking Utensil
I use a cheap plastic spatula to flip my fried eggs, and it works well every time. Plus it doesn’t risk scratching the non-stick pan like a metal spatula.
Cooking Fat
I usually use butter or olive oil to make all different types of fried eggs.
If you use butter, I suggest using unsalted butter so you can control the amount of salt going into your food.
And if you’re using olive oil, I recommend to get one in a glass bottle. Plastic bottles are porous, so they allow air to pass through, causing the oil to oxidize and go bad faster.
Seasonings
If you’re using iodized table salt, you run the risk of adding a bitter flavor to your eggs. For more details on different types of salt, check out my post.
When it comes to the perfect fried egg, I say less is more. Just a little pinch of salt and black pepper on each egg does the trick. Maybe sprinkle a little garlic powder and paprika on there too, but don’t go overboard.
Types of Fried Eggs
Sunny Side Up Eggs
Classic sunny side up eggs are fried for just a couple minutes on one side, so the egg whites are set, and inside is a very runny yolk. Sunny side eggs are not flipped in the pan.
Over Easy Eggs
To make an over easy egg, the egg is flipped in the pan to cook both sides. But the yolk is still quite runny, like a sunny side up egg.
Over Medium Eggs
For over medium eggs, each egg is flipped in the pan to cook both sides, and the yolk is just slightly runny and has a “jammy” texture. These are my favorite!
Over Hard Eggs
Over hard eggs are also called over well eggs. They are flipped in the pan to cook both sides, and the yolk is cooked completely and not runny.
Ingredients and Notes
- Butter - Use unsalted butter so you can control the amount of salt added. Or substitute olive oil.
- Eggs - Use fresh eggs. The better the quality of eggs, the better your fried eggs will taste.
- Salt - Use kosher salt, fine sea salt, or non-iodized table salt for the best flavor.
- Ground black pepper - Adds an optional kick of peppery flavor.
How to Make the Perfect Fried Eggs
Below are the general steps to making fried eggs. For the full directions and ingredient measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
1. Melt the Butter: Melt the butter in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Allow the butter to melt completely and start bubbling.
2. Add the Eggs: Crack the eggs into the pan. Try to crack them quickly, so there isn’t much time in between adding them, so they cook at relatively the same time.
3. Season: Add a pinch of salt and a pinch of ground black pepper to the two eggs.
How to Cook Sunny Side Up Eggs: Turn the stove down to low heat. Continue cooking for at least two minutes, until the whites are set to your preference. Use a spatula to transfer the eggs onto a plate to serve.
How to Cook Over Easy Eggs: Cook the eggs for another minute or two, or until the whites on the bottom and sides are set. Use a spatula to flip each egg over, careful not to break the yolk. Cook for an additional minute, then transfer to a plate to serve.
How to Cook Over Medium Eggs: Cook the eggs for an additional minute beyond over easy eggs after flipping them, to allow the whites and yolks to set more.
How to Cook Over Hard Eggs: Cook the eggs for an additional two or more minutes after flipping them, until the yolks are cooked through and not runny.
You can poke the yolk with the tip of a knife or a fork to check if it’s cooked through before removing it from the pan.
What to Serve with Fried Eggs
Now that you know how to make the four different types of fried eggs, you can perfect your technique and make them for breakfast along with other tasty recipes!
- Irish Soda Bread
- Lemon Lavender Scones
- Miso Caramel Scones
- Caramelized Mushroom Oatmeal
- Hot Cross Buns
- Sourdough Matcha Swirl Bread
Perfect Fried Eggs
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 pinch fine sea salt or non-iodized table salt (about 1/16 teaspoon)
- 1 pinch ground black pepper (about 1/16 teaspoon)
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a non-stick pan on medium-low heat. Allow the butter to melt completely and start bubbling.
- Crack the eggs into the pan. Try to crack them quickly, so there isn’t much time in between adding them, so they cook at relatively the same time.
- Add a pinch of salt and a pinch of ground black pepper to the two eggs.
- Sunny side up eggs: Turn the heat down to low, and continue cooking for at least one minute, until the whites are set to your preference. Use a spatula to transfer the eggs onto a plate to serve.
- Over easy eggs: Cook the eggs for another minute or two, or until the whites on the bottom and sides are set. Use a spatula to flip each egg over, careful not to break the yolk. Cook for an additional minute, then transfer to a plate to serve.
- Over medium eggs: Cook the eggs for an additional minute beyond over easy eggs after flipping them, to allow the whites and yolks to set more.
- Over hard eggs: Cook the eggs for an additional two or more minutes after flipping them, until the yolks are cooked through and not runny. You can poke the yolk with the tip of a knife or a fork to check if it’s cooked through before removing it from the pan.
Notes
- First, use fresh eggs. Use pasture raised eggs for added nutrition and brilliant orange yolks.
- Use a non-stick pan or a very well-seasoned cast iron skillet.
- I recommend using a plastic spatula to flip your fried eggs. A metal spatula could risk scratching the non-stick pan.
- Iodized table salt could add a bitter flavor to your eggs. I recommend using either non-iodized table salt or fine sea salt.
strawberryandcream
Practice makes perfect! I would try decreasing the time it is off the heat but still covered by 30 seconds and see how that turns out.
That still sounds like a delicious breakfast! â¤ï¸ and turmeric on eggs is delicious! I also like a dash of ground cumin on mine 😉
Jim
I tried to make perfect fried eggs for breakfast on Friday. Unfortunately I was slathering my country toast with cream cheese and my eggs ended up a bit firmer than I prefer. I did add a bit of turmeric spice on the top of the eggs which made then a beautiful golden color.