How to fry eggs well


How to fry eggs well
You've probably heard the expression: "S/he can't even cook an egg," suggesting that the person referred is a hopeless cook. In reality, frying eggs well isn't as easy as it might appear. The two most frequent errors: the white develops a brown crust around the outside which is unpleasant in the mouth, or the yolk is surrounded by white that is still raw and runny. Here is a foolproof and easy method that will help you avoid both.
528 K 3.8/5 (226 reviews)
Grade this recipe:
Keywords:
Last modified on: March 11th 2018
For this recipe: Comment Send to a friend Ask me a question Follow Printable Diaporama
For 2 eggs, you will need:

Change these quantities to make:
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 15 min.
Cooking: 6 min.
All in all: 20 min.
When should you start or finish this recipe?
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time

Step by step recipe


Stage 1
Heat the serving plates.

Gently separate the yolks of 2 eggs.

Stage 2 - ⌛ 10 min.
How to fry eggs well : Stage 2
Take care not to break yolks from the whites.

Stage 3 - ⌛ 1 min.
How to fry eggs well : Stage 3
Melt 1 knob butter in a non-stick pan on medium heat.

When the butter is melted, add 1 teaspoon water. This is the secret of how to cook the white without it forming a crust.

Stage 4 - ⌛ 1 min.
How to fry eggs well : Stage 4
Tip the egg whites all at once into the pan...

Stage 5 - ⌛ 5 min.
How to fry eggs well : Stage 5
...and cook until they are just set.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Stage 6 - ⌛ 3 min.
How to fry eggs well : Stage 6
Turn down the heat and very gently place the yolks on top of the cooked whites, spacing them evenly.

Leave like this on low heat for about 3 minutes to heat the yolks through.

Stage 7
How to fry eggs well : Stage 7
Transfer to a hot plate. Your fried eggs are ready and perfectly cooked: the whites are set, the yolks runny. Serve immediately as they spoil quickly.

Stage 8
The video on the right will show you the method in more detail.

You will have to excuse the brown edge on my egg white - I didn't clean the pan after the first two...
Remarks
These fried eggs have nothing in common with those served up in a typical "greasy spoon" café. Do not salt the yolk, as this will mark it with unsightly white spots.

You can season eggs many different ways: simple salt and pepper, a pinch of paprika or a few drops of vinegar (which I adore!).
And to drink?
Follow my dad's sound advice: "With fried eggs, there's nothing like a drop of white!" And he was right. I would just add that my preference is for a Bourgogne aligoté, or any other fresh dry white wine.
Keeping: Fried eggs don't keep. .
Source: Learned from Bernard Loiseau who showed to Joel Robuchon, explaining that he'd learned it from Pierre Troigros. You decide if it's worth a .
Nutritional information
Proteins (gr)Carbohydrates (gr)Fats (gr)Energy value (in k-calories)Energy value (in k-joules)
Whole recipe12 RDI=19 %018 RDI=26 %221 RDI=11 %929 RDI: 11 %
Per 100 g10 RDI=17 %016 RDI=23 %192 RDI=10 %808 RDI: 10 %
Per eggs6 RDI=10 %09 RDI=13 %110 RDI=6 %465 RDI: 6 %
The % figures are calculated in relation to the Recommended Dietary Intake , or RDI of 2,000 k-calories (or 8,400 k-joules) per day for a woman
Possible allergens in this recipe: egg, milk
How much will it cost?
  • For 2 eggs : 0.40 €
  • Per eggs : 0.20 €

Change currency:

Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Other recipes you may also like
Sweetcrust pastry (pâte sablée)
Sweetcrust pastry (pâte sablée)
Sweetcrust pastry is one of the basic pastry of French patisserie, used in many tart and cakes recipes, but it can also be rolled out and cut into biscuits, delicious with tea or coffee. This recipe is given for those who have a mixer (Kenwood, KitchenAid or other), but it can also be done with your hands. Please note that it's very important to make it several hours before using it, if possible the day before, as then it's much easier to work.
July 1st 2019508 K 23.8 35 min.
Marinated tuna with herbs
Marinated tuna with herbs
Here is a very simple recipe, preferably for a barbecue or plancha, but could be made in the kitchen. As for any summer-barbecue-backyard recipe, all proportons can be varied according to taste.
February 21th 2011288 K4.3 1 hour 25 min.
How to prepare an avocado
How to prepare an avocado
Here is how to get from an avocado only the flesh of the fruit.
January 9th 2010213 K 14 15 min.
How to butter a dish or a mould easily
How to butter a dish or a mould easily
Often when making gratins, crumbles or other oven-cooked dishes, you will need to butter the dish or mould. To butter (or grease) means to rub inside the mould with a knob of butter to prevent the mixture sticking too much. Instead of putting a knob of butter in the dish and wiping with paper, here is a smart and quicker way.
February 21th 2011157 K4.1 1 min.
Tagliatelle and courgette spaghetti, carbonara style
Tagliatelle and courgette spaghetti, carbonara style
Classic pasta: tagliatelle mixed with courgette "spaghetti", and like for carbonara, with a sauce of egg yolks, cream, lemon juice and fried ham.
February 21th 2011316 K4.7 55 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com

Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2026-04-26)

*Your e-mail Your first name or nickname
I am not a leaving thing
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Posted by:
I am not a leaving thing
The 1 comment already posted on this recipe
  • When icook they turn green a little
    sumaria march 22th 202116:47 1

Follow this recipe (as 15 people already do)
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
I am not a leaving thing
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.

Back to top of page