How to fry an egg

Fried eggs are an essential part of so many cuisines. Just consider a full English breakfast – it really isn’t the same with scrambled or poached. Further afield, a fried egg is de rigueur for a classic French croqué Madame, or a German schnitzel à la Holstein while, in exotic Indonesia, they are the crowning glory for nasi goreng.

Sunny-side up, a fried egg will cheer up a salad and go equally well with different grains and lentils. They are an excellent takeaway food slotted into burgers, pitta bread, bacon sarnies and Indian naan or roti, if you so desire. Your only decision is whether to cook them with a softly set white and just cooked yolk (see below), a frill of crispness around the edge (turn the heat up when cooking them) or over-easy (flipped to make sure the white is fully cooked). The yolk should always be soft.

Choose the freshest eggs and note that hens' eggs are slightly easier to cook than ducks' eggs. The fresher an egg, the stronger the proteins are in the white, which means the egg will form into a neater shape in the frying pan. Old eggs will spread out very thinly.

You can fry an egg in any fat but choose one that will give you the flavour you want. For example, at breakfast you might use the bacon fat left in the pan or a knob of butter. If adding the egg to a rich dish, olive or rapeseed oil may work better, while for nasi goreng or dhal you may like the hint of coconut that comes from using coconut oil.

Next, find out how to make hard boiled eggs, how to poach an egg and how to make scrambled eggs (as well as how to make scrambled eggs in the microwave). We also have our guides on how to freeze eggs and the ultimate guide to eggs.

For new recipe inspiration, see our collection of boiled egg recipes, baked eggs recipes, poached egg recipes and scrambled egg recipes. We also have our round-up of 20 egg recipes for dinner.

Basic recipe for a fried egg

Serves 1 (easily doubled)

Ingredients

• 1 fresh egg at room temperature
• 1 small knob of butter or 1 tbsp oil

Sunny-side up egg method

1. Heat the butter until it melts but isn’t yet hot enough to brown – it should be sizzling gently (or heat the oil).
2. Crack the egg into the pan. If you are worried about getting shell in the pan, crack the egg onto a small plate or saucer, then slide it off the saucer into the pan.
3. Season and let the eggs cook for 2-3½ mins, or until the white is set and yolk is still runny. Don’t set the heat too high or the egg may spit and bubble, and the edges might get too crisp. You can set the white more firmly by covering with a lid and leaving for 3-3½ minutes over a low heat. Bear in mind that this will make the yolk look milky.

Over-easy egg method

1. Heat the butter until it melts but isn’t yet hot enough to brown (or heat the oil).
2. Crack the egg into the pan. If you are worried about getting shell in the pan, crack the egg onto a small plate or saucer, then slide it off the saucer into the pan.
3. Season and let the egg cook for 2 mins, or until the white is just set.
4. Flip the egg over using a fish slice and cook briefly on the other side. Don't be tempted to flip too early or the yolk might break.

Crispy-white egg method

1. Heat some oil in a deep frying pan until it is almost smoking.
2. Crack the egg into the pan. If you are worried about getting shell in the pan, crack the egg onto a small plate or saucer, then slide it off the saucer into the pan. The white will spit and bubble so be careful.
3. Season and let the egg cook for 45 secs-1 min, or until the white is set and the yolk is still runny. Tip the pan away from you and spoon the oil over the white to help it cook.

Watch our video for step-by-step instructions on achieving perfect fried eggs.

Recipes to make with a fried egg

Fried egg Milanese

Similar to à la Holstein, this recipe for fried egg Milanese marries a crisp, crumbed escalope (chicken in this dish) with a fried egg. Heaven.

Fried egg Milanese

Avocado on toast with chorizo

Take avocado on toast up a notch with chorizo and a fried egg. A brunch that can’t be bettered.

Avocado on toast with chorizo

Sushi rice bowl with beef, egg & chilli sauce

Make a quick dinner with a difference – top sushi rice and sesame-marinated steak with a fried egg. Once the yolk is broken you’ll have an instant sauce.

Sushi rice bowl with beef, egg & chilli sauce

Great British breakfast bap

All of breakfast, including the fried eggs, in a bun. Simple but effective.

Great British breakfast bap

Easy bibimbap

Here's a Korean classic with a twist. Bibimbap is usually made in a hot stone bowl with a raw egg yolk stirred in, but we’ve made things easy with a fried egg.

Easy bibimbap

Tips for frying an egg

• A non-stick frying pan helps prevent sticking and makes it easier to slide the egg onto your plate.
• Using a lid helps the egg white to set while keeping the yolk runny, especially when frying sunny-side up.
• A flexible spatula is useful for lifting the egg from the pan without breaking the yolk.
• A small knob of butter imparts a rich flavour. Options such as vegetable oil, sunflower oil, olive oil or rapeseed oil can be used depending on the flavour you desire.
• Use enough fat to lightly coat the base of the pan. Heat the butter until melted but not browned, or heat the oil until it shimmers.
• Fry the egg over a low heat. This allows the white to set gently without overcooking the yolk.
• For a runny yolk, cook the egg for about 3 minutes, checking that the white is set but the yolk remains soft. If the white is not set, continue cooking for 30 seconds at a time, checking frequently.
• Using eggs at room temperature helps them cook more evenly and reduces the risk of the white spreading thinly in the pan.
• Crack the egg onto a small plate or saucer first, then slide it into the pan. This helps avoid shell fragments and allows for a neater shape.
• Fresher eggs hold their shape better when fried, as the proteins in the white are stronger.

Enjoyed this? Find more fabulous fried egg recipes...

Chorizo & kale hash with a fried egg
Fried egg Florentine toastie
Fried egg with rosemary sauteéd potatoes
Chorizo & fried egg wraps
Potato, pepper & chorizo stew with fried egg
Korean fishcakes with fried eggs & spicy salsa
Full English crumpets

Have you got any other tips for serving fried eggs? Leave a comment below...