Every Way to Fry an Egg

Summary

This video explores various methods of frying an egg, showcasing techniques like Sunny Side Up, Over Easy, Over Hard, and deep frying. The script also introduces less common methods, such as butter poaching, olive oil frying, and steaming, each offering unique textures and flavors. It touches on popular cooking styles from the UK, Asia, and France, and concludes with a creative take on cloud eggs. The video is a fun, informative journey through egg frying, highlighting both traditional and experimental ways to cook the perfect egg.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sunny Side Up is the simplest egg fry method: just crack the egg and cook without flipping, ensuring a soft yolk and runny whites.
• 😀 Over Easy eggs involve flipping the egg to cook both sides, with the yolk still runny and the outside lightly seared.
• 😀 Over Medium eggs are flipped and cooked for a few more minutes, resulting in fully cooked whites and a firmer yolk, but not overdone.
• 😀 Over Hard eggs are cooked well beyond over medium, making the yolk fully firm and the egg crispy around the edges.
• 😀 Greasy Spoon Fried eggs are cooked in oil to cover the yolk, providing a quick, comforting dish, especially helpful when you're hungover.
• 😀 Deep Fried eggs involve cooking in hot oil (around 180°C), creating a crispy exterior while maintaining a runny yolk inside.
• 😀 Butter Poached eggs are cooked gently in butter at a very low heat, resulting in soft whites with a rich, buttery flavor.
• 😀 Olive Oil Fried eggs use hot olive oil to fry the egg, offering a slightly crispy texture with a fragrant, aromatic flavor.
• 😀 Steamed Eggs involve cracking an egg into a pan, covering it with a lid, and using steam to cook the egg without frying.
• 😀 Flip and Press eggs are cooked on high heat, flipped, and pressed down for extra crispiness and a golden-brown edge, often with a broken yolk.
• 😀 Charred Yolk eggs are a unique trend where the yolk is cooked alone, developing a crispy outer layer and leaving the center runny.
• 😀 Cloud Eggs are made by separating the egg whites and yolks, cooking the whites into a fluffy cloud, then placing the yolk back in for a light and airy texture.

Q & A

What is the main difference between a Sunny Side Up and Over Easy egg?

A Sunny Side Up egg is cooked on one side only, leaving the yolk exposed and runny, while an Over Easy egg is flipped midway through cooking to sear the top, leaving the yolk still runny but with a slight sear on the outside.

How does the cooking time differ between an Over Easy and Over Medium egg?

An Over Medium egg is cooked a little longer than an Over Easy egg—around 2 to 3 more minutes—until the egg is firmer, with no runny yolk but still soft in the middle.

What is an Over Hard egg, and how is it cooked?

An Over Hard egg is cooked until both the yolk and white are fully set and firm, with no runny yolk. It's cooked for a longer period than Over Easy or Over Medium eggs.

What is a 'greasy spoon' egg and when would you typically cook it?

A 'greasy spoon' egg is fried in oil at a low temperature (around 110-120°F) until the yolk is covered with oil, making it moist and delicately cooked. This method is commonly used in diners and is particularly favored for hangover breakfasts.

What makes a deep-fried egg different from other egg frying methods?

A deep-fried egg is cooked by submerging the egg in hot oil at 180°C (356°F) for a very short time, usually 10 seconds, resulting in a crispy exterior while keeping the yolk runny.

How does butter poaching differ from traditional frying when cooking an egg?

Butter poaching involves cooking an egg in melted butter at a low temperature, usually just above the point where the butter begins to bubble. This method creates a very delicate texture with a soft white and a rich, buttery flavor.

Why is olive oil used to fry eggs, and how does it affect the egg's texture?

Olive oil is used for frying eggs because it adds an aromatic flavor and helps the egg crisp up. The oil also caramelizes the edges of the egg white, giving it a more flavorful and crispy texture compared to regular frying oil.

What is the method for steaming an egg and how does it affect the egg's consistency?

To steam an egg, you crack it into a pan, cover it with a lid, and let the steam cook the egg. This method produces a soft, tender white with a perfectly cooked yolk and minimal browning on the bottom.

What is the 'flip and press' method of cooking eggs, and why is it considered controversial?

The 'flip and press' method involves frying an egg on high heat, flipping it, and then pressing it down. This results in a crispy, browned egg, but it’s often controversial due to the risk of breaking the yolk and the preference some have for a softer egg.

What are cloud eggs, and what makes them unique compared to traditional fried eggs?

Cloud eggs involve separating the yolk from the white, whipping the egg white until fluffy, and then baking the egg white with a space in the middle to hold the yolk. This creates a light, pillowy texture with a runny yolk in the center, offering a unique and airy take on a fried egg.