A sunny side up egg is the perfect addition to your breakfast or brunch plate. With tender, just-set whites and a bright, runny yolk, it’s no wonder they’re a breakfast staple.
It’s easy to get them right, but it takes a little bit of practice. So we’ve put together a few tips to help you nail them every time!
1. Heat the Pan
Sunny side up eggs are perfect for a delicious breakfast, or as an easy weeknight dinner. They’re great with toast, on top of a veggie burger or rice bowl, or even on a salad.
Making perfect fried eggs is a skill that every home cook needs to master. Whether you’re making them for your family or yourself, you don’t want a rubbery, overcooked egg.
To make a perfectly cooked sunny side up egg, you need to follow a few simple steps. The first step is to make sure your pan is hot enough. The pan must be warm enough to melt the butter and/or oil without burning the bottom, but not too hot that the egg sizzles when it hits the pan.
When the pan is heated, swirl some of the melted butter or oil around the bottom to evenly coat. Using a nonstick skillet is ideal, but you can also use cast iron.
Once the oil or butter has melted, crack an egg on top and season with salt and pepper. You can also add herbs like chives or parsley to add more flavor.
Then, cover the pan and cook the eggs over low heat until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny. This will take about 3 minutes, but you can add a little more time if you prefer a soft egg or if your eggs are thicker.
After the eggs are set, remove them from the pan and immediately transfer them to a plate. Sprinkle them with a little bit of kosher salt and pepper and serve.
2. Crack the Eggs
Whether you’re making fried eggs for breakfast or for a quick meal, this easy method yields perfectly cooked whites and runny yolks. You can serve these eggs on their own, or top them onto avocado toast, veggie burgers, rice bowls, and more!
The most important ingredient when making sunny side up eggs is a good non-stick pan. This will ensure that the egg will slide off the pan and not tear the yolk or stick to the bottom of the pan.
Heat the pan on medium-low heat. Do not let the pan get too hot, as this will scorch the eggs and ruin their appearance.
After the pan is hot, crack one or more eggs into the center of the pan. Then drop a small sprinkle of water into the pan (about half a teaspoon) to help the eggs cook evenly.
Once the eggs are in the pan, cover them with a lid and cook on low for two minutes. You can also use a thermometer to check the temperature of the egg to make sure it’s cooked.
To keep your fried egg yolks from breaking, tap the cracked eggs on a flat surface instead of the edge of the pan. This will prevent little shards of shell from pushing into the egg’s whites, says Julia Turshen, author of “Small Victories.”
When you are done cooking, place your eggs on a plate and serve with some finishing salt and pepper. You can even add some bacon to your plate if you like!
A final tip for perfect sunny side up eggs is to use a little butter or oil when cooking. This will help the eggs from sticking to the pan and will add some flavor as well!
3. Cover the Pan
There is nothing quite as satisfying as a plate of crispy, perfectly-fried eggs with runny yolks and tender, just-set whites. A sunny side up egg is as delicious as it looks, and it’s easy to make at home with just a few simple steps.
To make the best sunny side up eggs, you need to know how to cook them at the right temperature and to use the right tools. For example, you need to ensure that the melted butter or oil is very hot when you add the egg so that the whites can cook quickly. And you need to use a lid so that the egg cooks quickly and evenly.
Heat the pan over medium-high heat until you can hear the oil sizzle and a few wisps of smoke rise from it. Gently break the eggs into the hot pan, taking care to keep them separate and away from one another (a splatter screen helps if you have one).
Continue cooking until you can no longer hear the eggs hissing or bubbling at all, about 4 minutes. When the edges are crisp and the rest of the whites have set, remove them from the pan.
A few minutes before the eggs are done, cover them with the lid and reduce the heat to low. This will allow them to steam a little, making the eggs firmer and less likely to crack.
When the eggs are cooked, transfer them to a bowl and top with a pinch of salt and pepper. You can also sprinkle them with herbs such as parsley or thyme for an extra kick.
4. Cook the Eggs
Sunny side up eggs are a classic fried egg — and they’re easy to make. But it’s important to cook the egg right if you want them to be perfect every time.
The secret to sunny side up eggs is to cover the pan so that the whites cook quickly while the yolk stays runny. This can be done using a nonstick skillet, cast iron pan, or even an oven-safe frying pan.
Once the whites are cooked, use a spatula to carefully slide them from the pan onto a plate. Season with salt and pepper and enjoy!
If you’re looking for a way to serve breakfast, lunch, or dinner with a healthy twist, try making sunny side up eggs. They’re quick and easy to prepare, plus they’re packed with protein and healthy fats.
You can also make a poached egg, which is another nourishing option for your breakfast. However, it can be difficult to make a poached egg that comes out perfectly.
The trick is to heat the pan just enough that it doesn’t burn on the bottom, but not so hot that it sizzles when you add the egg. You may need to use a little oil in the pan instead of butter to keep the whites from sticking.
Lastly, you need to keep an eye on the eggs so that they don’t overcook. This can happen if you cook them too high, which could cause the whites to burn while the yolk remains uncooked.