Perfect fried eggs can be yours every time with an unexpected method! So break out the frying pan and the eggs and let’s make breakfast. Oh, and don’t forget to pair them with the world’s best bacon recipe!
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Why we love this recipe
When I finally mastered the art of making perfect poached eggs every single time (and the art is pretty dang easy), I figured I had crossed the final frontier, egg-wise. I can poach, I can scramble, I can fry, I am all set on egg preparation for the rest of my born days.
Back in the BPFE era (Before Perfect Fried Eggs), I would grab my handy little frying pan, turn the heat on to medium, add some butter and/or oil and when things were looking nice and hot, I would crack in a few eggs.
Things would snap and crackle when the eggs hit the hot pan. The whites would start to get golden and lacy on the edges when things were just about done, and if I was feeling extra sassy I would flip them and make ’em over easy.
And life was good. Sure, I tended to leave the chewy edges of the egg white on my plate, but for the most part my eggs were just fine.
But fine is not perfection, and we are entitled to the ultimate in egg happiness. So if you are as dedicated to the pursuit of the perfect fried eggs as I am, read on about my fried egg hack that will give you egg perfection!
Ingredients you need
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Eggs: We usually go for extra large, but any size egg will work.
- Oil: We like canola oil because it doesn’t add any extra taste to the eggs (olive oil can do this) but you can use any kind of vegetable oil that you have on hand.
- Extras: I like to sprinkle a little dried oregano on my eggs along with some salt and pepper, but that’s just me!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Get out your trusty skillet and pour a couple of tablespoons of canola oil in it. Swirl it around.
Step 2: Okay, here comes the part that makes all the difference. Crack four eggs into that skillet BEFORE you turn on the heat. Yep, crack them into a cool skillet.
Step 3: Sprinkle on some salt and pepper, and I also like a pinch of oregano (that’s optional!).
Step 4: Cover the skillet and NOW you turn on the heat. Cook them on medium low for 6 minutes (and no peeking under the cover). This is going to give you nice soft yolks – if you like your egg yolks firmer, leave them on for another minute or two.
Step 5: Now uncover that skillet. The yolks will be their usual perfect creamy selves.
But the whites – those egg whites that are usually crunchy and chewy all around the sides? The edges will have steamed rather than frying, and so the entire egg white will be as delicate and soft and fluffy and wonderful as the center.
IT IS AN EGG MIRACLE.
Recipe FAQs
It will! Use the smallest skillet you have if you are doing one egg, and a larger skillet if you are cooking a big batch.
These eggs are pretty much going to slide right out if you tip the pan. I usually use a small knife to cut them into sections and then tip each section on to the plate.
They can! Separate them with a knife, gently run a spatula under them, flip them and cook them for about 30 seconds or so.
Oh yes! I have sprinkled on Parmesan cheese, dollops of goat cheese, crumbled cooked bacon…use your imagination!
Pop your question in the comments below and I will answer pronto!
I feel like this is the kind of thing that I should have known for years, and the kind of thing they tell you about on Day One of cooking school. For me, I’m just going to chalk it up to the fact that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.
Want to round out your meal?
Well OBVIOUSLY you want some perfect bacon to go with your perfect eggs, and this brown sugar bacon is the best kind I know. And we do love us some buttery cheesy grit cakes, especially on the weekend.
And how about a lovely Mimosa fruit salad on the side? Maybe with some orange juice crumb cake?
Other egg recipes we love!
Looking for more egg inspiration? Here is our complete collection of egg recipes!
Let’s fry some perfect eggs!
Could you leave us a review?
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.
Perfect Fried Eggs
Perfect fried eggs can be yours every time with an unexpected method! So break out the frying pan and the eggs and let’s make breakfast.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 13 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- A generous grinding of black pepper
- A teaspoon or so of your favorite dried or fresh herbs (optional)
Instructions
- Pour oil into a cool frying pan and swirl it around until the bottom is coated.
- Crack the eggs carefully into the pan, keeping the yolks intact.
- Sprinkle the salt and pepper over the eggs, along any toppings if you are using those.
- Cover the pan and turn the heat on to medium low. Cook for 6 minutes with no peeking! This will produce eggs with creamy runny yolks – leave them on for another minute or two if you like them more well done.
- Run a knife between the eggs to separate them, slide them out of the pan onto plates and serve at once.
Notes
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- Eggs: We usually go for extra large, but any size egg will work.
-
- Oil: We like canola oil because it doesn’t add any extra taste to the eggs (olive oil can do this) but you can use any kind of vegetable oil that you have on hand.
-
- Extras: I like to sprinkle a little dried oregano on my eggs along with some salt and pepper, but that’s just me!
Debbie says
I’ve been cooking my eggs like this FOREVER! I refuse to eat an egg with any crunchy, brown, frizzled part. Gross.
Same here!! Hurray for tender, non-frizzled eggs! :)
Janine says
Kate!!! I was so intrigued by these eggs so I tried them this morning … special breakfast with my daughter home from school… so fantastic. they are perfect!!! thanks so much..
So happy for you with your beautiful girl home for vacation – I miss those days! Happy fried eggs to both of you. :)
Joanne says
I need a perfect fried egg miracle in my life!! Definitely using this technique to fry all the eggs.
All the eggs! This is going to be my new catchphrase. xo
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
I love this! We seriously eat fried eggs almost every weekday morning! My youngest loves fried eggs!
Aren’t they the best? A super protein-filled way to start the day. :)
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says
Fried eggs are one of my favorite foods :) Great tips!
Thanks Cathleen – sounds like we have the same favorites! :)
Mir says
Wow. I am not the best at cooking anything except scrambled eggs (which I rock), so I’m taking all the tips I can handle! These look so amazing. No wonder you had to make them over and over!
Somehow I think you are pretty fabulous at cooking a lot more than scrambled eggs! But hope you love this fried egg method, Mir. :)
Joseph says
I will give your method whack, but get similar results by simply adding a tablespoon of water to a medium heat skillet. The trick is it must be covered it at least tin foiled.
The yokes are creamy, the whites are delicate smooth.
Cook time for three eggs is about four minutes.
Thanks for your method! Hope mine works out for you too. :)
Elisabeth says
I tried this for lunch today and, WOW, these are my dream egg. I might try 5 minutes to see how that pans out, as I like my yolk fairly runny. I like that you use olive oil, too. Between this and your poached egg miracle, it’s official – you’re my Egg Queen.
Dream Eggs are so, so important! You are my gorgeous earrings queen btw – wearing a pair of your creation right now! xx
grace says
man, i love eggs. i use this method too, and it has never let me down!
I’m never making them any other way again!
Lorraine says
We have great tasting eggs and have for years, anybody hear of bacon drippings. No plastic edges, silky smooth and that little fat doesn’t hurt. Southern girl give it a try????????
I am ABSOLUTELY trying this. Because, bacon. :)
cupcakes says
the perfect recipe for a perfect breakfast, I love half cooked eggs
Creamy eggs are the best!
Kennedy Cole| KCole's Creative Corner says
I used to eat fried eggs with avocado toast almost every day for breakfast. But I’m 100% certain that I didn’t fry my eggs to perfection. So I will definitely have to try this method next time! :D Thanks for sharing this great tip! Pinning! :D
Oooh, eggs with avocado toast – can’t get better than that!
Trudy L says
For Heaven’s Sakes! I just came here to refresh myself on your perfect poached egg method (I tried it for just myself, and it IS perfect) but I was going to make eggs for the whole family, and wanted to make sure I remembered the whole process, though I was a little concerned about how they’d come out because I’d have to get eight eggs in the water, and the first ones might be done before the last ones, and I want them all runny! I was wishing there was a method to perfectly fry eggs, but thought I’d just have to poach ’em and hope they were all perfectly runny. Anyway, what a surprise! You’re teaching me how to perfectly fry eggs today!!! What a happy coincidence! These are going over some grits tonight! Thanks!
Oh my gosh, it was meant to be! Hope the eggs (and the grits!) were delish!
Dani @ Dani California Cooks says
I have a mini skillet that would be perfect for this!
Sounds like it is meant to be that you try these fried eggs then, right? :)
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Fried eggs are the best! You are reminding me that I haven’t made them in a long time!
Time for some eggs then, right? :)