How to Fry an Egg
February 9, 2012
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Boston
• 0 Comments
How to Fry an Egg
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and there is no better addition to a complete breakfast than eggs. High in protein, eggs can not only give you the energy you need to get through the day but they are also good for muscle development, brain function and vision. At around 15 cents apiece and only 70 calories can you afford not to include eggs in your diet? While a cooking school in Boston can teach you hundreds of ways to use eggs, in all aspects of the culinary arts from baking desserts to preparing entrees, one of the best techniques for you to practice is making a simple fried egg. Fried eggs are just as good on sandwiches for lunch as they are with toast and bacon first thing in the morning so this one preparation can be used in many different ways, here are the basics on how to fry an egg.
Step One: Assemble Your Ingredients
Always start with the freshest eggs possible, if you cannot buy them from a local farmer look for free-range of cage-free, hormone free, organic eggs. Next pick out the type of fat you would like to use for frying. Vegetable oil always works well but depending on your preference you can also use butter, olive oil or bacon fat it is just a matter of your own taste preference. You will also need a spatula and a skillet. For the skillet, choose a pan with a non-stick coating or a well-seasoned cast iron pan that is large enough to hold all the eggs you want to cook (usually an 8-14 inch will work).
Step Two: Heat Your Pan
Using a medium heat setting, put your skillet on the stove top and give it a few minutes to warm up. Once the pan is warm add your oil or butter, be sure to use enough to coat the entire bottom of the pan. Once your butter is melted or your oil is hot you are ready to add your egg.
Step Three: Crack Open Your Egg
Crack your egg into a small bowl, being careful not to break the yolk. Discard egg shells. Add the egg to the pan by slowly sliding it out of the bowl letting the whites hit the pan before the yolk; this will ensure that your egg yolk stays in the middle of the cooking egg.
Step Four: Cook Your Egg
Let your egg cook for about 3 minutes, the whites will become solid and the outside edge will curl up just a little. Some cooks like to baste their eggs if you would like to try this just take a teaspoon of the fat in your pan and pour it over the egg yolk. If you like your eggs sunny-side up (meaning that only one side of the egg is cooked) you are ready to remove your egg from the pan. Sunny-side up eggs are a great addition to pasta dishes, pizza, salads and vegetable dishes. If you would like to learn more about the creative uses for eggs in the culinary arts consider enrolling in a cooking school in Boston.
Step Five: Making Eggs Over Easy
If you prefer your eggs over easy, flip the egg in the pan taking care to not break the yolk. Continue to cook for a minute or so. The time depends on how well done you like your eggs, if you like a fully cooked yolk you will have to give it a few minutes longer. Finally, remove your egg and enjoy!
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Boston. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Boston offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs in the Boston, Massachusetts area. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/Boston for more information.
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