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American · Breakfast

Fried Eggs

Photograph of the finished dish Photograph of the finished dish
Photograph of the finished dish Photograph of the finished dish

Background

Frying is one of the oldest and most widespread ways to cook eggs. Adjusting heat, fat, and whether the egg is flipped produces sunny-side-up, over-easy, over-medium, or firm yolks from the same basic method.

Ingredients

  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper

How to cook

  1. Heat butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat until foaming.
  2. Crack eggs into small cups, then slide them into the skillet without breaking the yolks.
  3. Season and cook for 2 to 4 minutes, until the whites are opaque. Cover briefly to set the tops for sunny-side-up eggs, or flip and cook 20 to 60 seconds for over-easy through over-medium.
  4. Remove with a thin spatula and serve at once.

Recipe photographs link to their original publishers.