How To Make The Perfect Fried Egg

Erika Wassall, the Jersey Farm Scribe here with how to make the perfect fried egg sunny side up (without flipping). I am talking about how to cook a “fried” egg with out frying it in a bunch of oil or butter. Yeah… sounds crazy, I know. But, it is the breakfast favorite for myself and my husband. Two eggs and two pieces of toast for him, one egg and a piece of toast for me. This method for how to fry an egg is simple, quick, and perfect every time, no matter how you like your eggs done- hard, over medium, or over-easy.

For the home cook, mastering the perfect fried egg is a small triumph that brings big satisfaction. While there are various ways to fry an egg, the best way often comes down to choosing the right cooking method and the kind of pan you use—carbon steel pans, for instance, offer excellent heat retention. Start with a flat surface and make sure you’re using just enough oil to prevent sticking. This easy recipe focuses on simple steps that help ensure a golden bottom and a tender top of the egg every time.

This egg recipe was first published February 4, 2015. I have made a few updates and republished it here for my new readers to enjoy.

Perfect Fried Egg Tutorial

You’ll use one of those small non-stick pans (a big one will work fine too, but it’ll cook faster the more full the pan is). A small non-stick pan can easily be used for one, three or even four eggs at once. What’s more important than size, is that the non-stick skillet has a COVER.

Spray some extra Pam on the pan (especially if your non-stick cookware is old like mine!!) If you prefer a healthier cooking spray, use olive oil in a Misto spray bottle (affiliate link).

Break the eggs right into the non-stick pan. Nope, you don’t even have to heat the pan up first. Put the heat on medium-low (this will vary depending on your stove) and cover the pan with a fitted lid.

How long should you cook a fried egg?

Cook for anywhere from 3-7 minutes (or more depending on how you like your eggs). Three minutes for over-easy eggs, around 5 minutes for over medium, and about 7 minutes for over hard. The exact times will depend on your stove heat but go ahead and remove the lid allowing any steam to escape away from you when the desired suggested time is up. Then touch the yolk with your finger to determine how soft or hard it is. Read up on proper egg terminology here.

Basically that’s it. Fried eggs with no flipping and no sticking!

The idea is, the cover keeps the heat in so you never have to flip the egg to get the top cooked as well. BUT the yolk itself and the top will still cook slower, so your eggs can be perfectly medium, or runny eggs, or however you like it!

And the nonstick pan means you don’t have to add a bunch of butter, which is what makes for the “fried” part of the egg without frying.

The egg whites cook faster than the yolk, so it’s easy to get runny yolk, just the way we like it!! Perfect eggs, every time.

YUM! All warm and yummy. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

To test for how done then are, just shake the pan a little. This gives you a good idea of how much the yolk has cooked so far.  You may have to do this a few times to get the timing just right, because everyone’s idea of the “perfectly cooked” egg is different, and things from the thickness of the pan, the number of eggs, the size of nonstick skillet and the stove heating unit itself will come into play.

But it’s easy to test along the way when you’re cooking.  Don’t be afraid to take the lid off every minute or so. Obviously the heat does escape when you take the top off, but it’s not a big deal. Especially in a small pan, the heat will build up pretty quick once you put the lid back on.

Fried eggs go great with homemade biscuits, Southern style! Or serve them with buttered toast. Or in a perfectly cooked fried egg sandwich with ketchup (my grandma used to make me those)!

So umm… why is the egg yolk orange??

In case you’re wondering what causes the egg yolks to be different colors, it has to do with nutrition of the hens. Notice how those egg yolks are such a DEEP orange color, it’s because they are good eggs. Our chickens have constant access to grass, which has much richer nutrients than any chicken feed (INCLUDING “organic” chicken feeds!).

You can see the difference extra well here:

The yellow yolk is a store-bought (organic!) egg. The bright orange color yolks are from our free range chickens.

I highly suggest keeping an eye out for those signs you see that say “Farm Fresh Eggs for Sale” and then asking them if their chickens have access to grass (not all farm fresh chickens do!). Not only will you probably pay less than you’d expect but you’ll also be helping out a local farmer.

How To Fry The Perfect Egg Conclusion

Frying a great egg might seem like a simple task, but small details make all the difference. Starting with the best eggs—ideally at room temperature—can help you avoid issues like under-cooked whites or hard yolks. Whether you’re after a jammy yolk for a breakfast sandwich or a firm yolk for other egg recipes, the simplest way is to use a bit of oil (or enough olive oil) and control the heat. Avoid cracking a cold egg straight into a hot pan, and always keep an eye on total time to get the result you want. With just a little oil and a little care, you’ll crack the code on the easy way to fry eggs like a pro—no egg shell drama required! LOL.

So what do you think? Will you be trying out my cooking tips for how to cook the perfect fried egg?

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