How to Fry an Egg
Published 8/7/2023
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Learn how to make fried eggs like a pro with this tutorial. Melt butter or oil in a hot pan and then crack an egg into the center. Cook for 2-3 minutes for over-easy, 3-4 minutes for over-medium, or 4-5 minutes for over-hard.
We’ve done the dirty work for you to figure out how to fry an egg perfectly every time, whether it’s over-easy, over-medium, or over-hard. We tested different fat sources, different pans, and different cook times to make sure you get that perfect egg.
PS: in case you’re wondering, I take my eggs over-medium 😀
What You Need for Fried Eggs
- Pan: A non-stick skillet is ideal. However, we tested this recipe with cast iron and stainless steel and those can work with the correct technique.
- Fat: Choose between butter for a rich, nutty flavor or oil (like avocado or olive) for crispy edges.
- Eggs: Fresh is best! Check the date for peak freshness.
- Seasoning: Salt and pepper to taste.
Butter vs. Oil
There are two kinds of people in this world. Butter people and oil people. Which one you use all depends on your preference.
Butter- using butter will leave you with a nutty flavored egg and when cooked over medium-high will leave you with a fried egg with minimal browning for a over easy or over medium egg.
Oil- if you use avocado oil or olive oil you will be left with a bubbly egg white that has those burn, crispy edges that some people adore in a fried egg.
Variations of Fried Eggs
There are a few different ways you can order a fried egg. Some people love a runny yolk, some a jammy yolk, and then there are those people who can’t stand any jiggle to their yolk at all.
How your yolk turns out depends on how long you fry your egg and if you do the flip or not.
- Over-easy eggs (sunny- side up eggs)- Cook the eggs over medium heat until the egg white is just cooked (about 2-3 minutes) and your egg yolk is just set but still jiggly. Remove from heat and enjoy.
- Over-medium eggs. Cook the eggs over medium heat until the egg white is cooked and there is no sign of any raw egg white. Cook until the yolk is set and only jiggly in the center of the yolk (3-4 minutes).
- Over-hard eggs. Cook the eggs over medium heat until the egg white and egg yolk are completely cooked (4-5 minutes). To ensure the egg is completely cooked, flip the egg over and cook the egg for an additional 20-30 seconds.
What Pan + Material is Best?
There are so many different options for pans out there for frying eggs. Our favorite pan is a nonstick skillet. No matter what fat or oil you use, the egg tends to come out, no problem!
Whatever pan you do use, be sure not to overcrowd your eggs in the skillet. Always remember to use a larger skillet for when you are frying multiple eggs at a time.
Pans You Can Use to Fry an Egg
- Non-stick– a non-stick pan is your best bet for frying an egg. We love that it makes an easy recipe even easier.
- Cast Iron– a cast iron skillet will work because it gets hot fast and retains heat. However, be sure you have enough oil or butter and check the edges of your egg frequently to make sure they aren’t sticking to the pan.
- Stainless Steel– if you only have a stainless steel pan you can still use it. Just be very diligent when frying the eggs because stainless steel can heat inconsistency and have some very hot spots.
FAQ
You fry you eggs for a sandwich the same way as you would if you were eating them alone. If you are looking for a less messy fried egg we suggest frying your egg over hard so you don’t have yolk dripping all over the place.
If you want to fry an egg without oil be sure you use a non-stick pan. Crack the egg into the pan and then add a bit of water (1-2 tablespoons) to the skillet and cover the pan with a lid. Let the egg cook to your desired yolk.
Yes, you can fry an egg in the oven. Wipe a baking sheet with oil and crack a few eggs onto the baking sheet. Bake the egg for 15-20 minutes at 350ºF until the eggs reach your desired yolk.
We are the kind of people that eat eggs for breakfast, lunch, and quick dinners. You can serve your fried eggs with toast and a side of bacon or sausage or in a breakfast sandwich with cheese.
If you want to add fried eggs to the menu for lunch or dinner we love making steak and eggs or serving a fried egg over rice in a rice bowl.
Different Ways to Make Eggs
Do you love eggs as much as we do? Make any of these egg recipes when you’re craving a protein packed egg-y meal.
Storage
Let your fried eggs cool completely. Then, transfer them into an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat: Reheat eggs on low in the microwave to be sure you don’t over cook them.
Serving Suggestions
There is nothing better than a fried egg topped with a little hot sauce served next to toast and bacon. If you’re feeling fancy, serve your fried eggs next to a garden breakfast hash, breakfast sausage, or French toast.
Easy Fried Egg Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or oil
Instructions
- Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat (8-inch or 10–inch work best). Add butter.
- When the butter has melted, crack the eggs into the pan. Try not to overcrowd the pan with more than 2 eggs.
- Cook the eggs over medium heat until the egg is cooked to your liking. – For over easy eggs: cook the eggs over medium heat until the egg white is just cooked (about 2-3 minutes) and your egg yolk is just set but still jiggly. Remove from heat and enjoy. – For over medium eggs: cook the eggs over medium heat until the egg white is cooked and there is no sign of any raw egg white. Cook until the yolk is set and only jiggly in the center of the yolk (3-4 minutes). – For over hard eggs: cook the eggs over medium heat until the egg white and egg yolk are completely cooked (4-5 minutes). To ensure the egg is completely cooked, flip the egg over and cook the egg for an additional 20-30 seconds.
- Remove the eggs from the pan and enjoy with salt and pepper.
Tips & Notes
- What pan you use matters, we recommend using a non-stick skillet and still using butter. You want a pan that has a slippery surface so the eggs are easy to move and flip. We do not recommend using a cast iron skillet.
- Try not to overcrowd your eggs in the skillet. For more eggs, use a larger skillet.
- We use butter as the fat to cook the eggs in so we end up with consistently cooked whites. If you like crispier edges on your egg whites, use olive oil .
- This recipe is written for a sunny side up fried egg. Feel free to flip the egg, no matter how you like your eggs. The longer you cook the egg after flipping the harder your yolk will be.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This tasted like an egg
Hah! I sure hope so!