12 Proven Methods To Cook Eggs Perfectly Every Time 🍳

When it comes to cooking eggs, the possibilities are endless! Eggs are incredibly versatile ingredients that can be transformed into a delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The cooking method you choose depends on the desired outcome of your dish.

Here's a guide to some of the most popular types of egg cookery methods to help you unlock their full potential.

⬇️ Table of Contents

How To Cook Eggs
🍳 Ways to Cook Eggs
1. Fried Egg
2. Omelet
3. Scrambled Eggs
4. Soft-Boiled Eggs
5. Hard-Boiled Eggs
6. How To Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs
7. Poached Eggs
8. Sunny-Side-Up Eggs
9. Over-Medium Eggs
10. Egg-in-a-Basket
11. Deviled Eggs
12. Baked Eggs

How To Cook Eggs

Perfectly cooked eggs are the sign of a talented chef. When it comes to egg preparation, there are various ways you can cook eggs, depending on your personal preference.

Additionally, for those looking for more health-conscious options, fresh eggs enriched with omega-3 enriched provide higher amounts of fatty acids such as EPA and DHA and are a high-quality protein source. These fatty acids are important for neurological and heart health.

🍳 Ways to Cook Eggs

Egg cookery has been around since ancient times when humans discovered the culinary potential of eggs. Egg cookery can take many forms, each providing unique flavors and textures.

Here are some of the most common types of egg cookery:

1. Fried Egg

One of the easiest ways to cook eggs, the addition to almost any plated dish, brings cheers from your guests.

For the perfect fried egg, get your non-stick or cast iron skillet hot over medium-high heat.
Then add a pat of butter or spoonful of oil to sizzle before placing eggs carefully into the pan for approximately two minutes.
Utilize a spatula to delicately flip it over and cook another minute until both sides are golden brown with the yolk cooked through.

2. Omelet

The classic Italian omelet is a quick and easy way to cook eggs to perfection.

Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat, and then add 1 tablespoon of butter or oil (or both).
Whisk eggs, 2 or 3, in a bowl to combine the whites and yolks. Add a pinch of salt.
Once the melted butter is ready and the pan is hot, pour in the eggs and let it sit undisturbed for 15 seconds.
Let the eggs start to set up; after 15 seconds, use a rubber spatula to pull back the edges of the omelet so that the uncooked parts can flow underneath into contact with the hot pan.
When most of the egg has been set (but before it becomes too dry or overcooked), sprinkle your prepped ingredients evenly over one-half of the omelet.
Fold the other half over the top so that all of your fillings are sealed inside.
Let cook for 2 minutes more and then slide onto a plate using a spatula for serving.
During the last 2 minutes, you can add a pat of butter to the pan for presentation and browning.

Try making a Sous Vide Omelete

3. Scrambled Eggs

To make the perfect scrambled egg, all you need is eggs and butter (or oil). For additional flavor, consider adding salt, pepper, and/or herbs of your choice. If desired, add some shredded cheese for extra cheesy goodness.

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat before adding butter or oil. This helps ensure the eggs won’t stick to the pan while they cook.
Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk them together until completely combined. This helps ensure even cooking throughout the entire dish!
Add any additional ingredients, such as salt, pepper, herbs, or cheese if desired, and stir until completely incorporated into the egg mixture.
Once the pan is hot enough, add your butter or oil and let it melt before continuing on to step. Once everything is ready to go in the pan, pour in your eggs and reduce heat to a low-medium heat setting.
Stir continuously with a rubber spatula while slowly scraping along the bottom of the pan so nothing sticks or burns on it.
As soon as your eggs have cooked through (they should look fluffy), remove them from the heat immediately so they don’t overcook and become rubbery.

4. Soft-Boiled Eggs

This egg cookery is new to many, often found in fine-dining restaurants. This key is testing your timing. Each kitchen temperature control is slightly different. It may take time and a few tries to perfect the doneness.

Bring water to a boil in a pot.
Once the water boils, lower the eggs gently into the boiling water to prevent the cracking of the shell.
Allow them to boil for four minutes before removing the soft-boiled egg from the heat, letting them cool slightly before handling.
The egg white should be set, and the yolk will be soft enough to dip toast or vegetable sticks into.
Tap around the middle of the egg, making it easy to peel the eggs. Often only the top half of the egg is removed for presentation.

5. Hard-Boiled Eggs

Hard boiled eggs sliced in half displaying the perfectly cooked egg on wood cutting board.

Honestly, a hard thing to master for home cooks. Did you know elevation above or below sea level affects cooking times? The number is 500 feet per additional minute.

To start, place the eggs in a pot and fill the pot with just enough water to cover the eggs.
Once this has been done, bring the water to a boil.
Once to a rolling boil, turn off the heat and cover the pot with a lid.
Set cook time for 12 minutes.
After the timer goes off, remove the eggs and shock them into (ice water / ice bath) to stop the cooking process.
They are easier to peel if peeled as soon as you can stock them in cold water. Then peel the hard-boiled egg asap to avoid the shell sticking to the egg membrane.

6. How To Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs

Peeling eggs is no easy feat! Fresh eggs can be especially hard to peel, as the new membrane that develops around the egg makes it nearly impossible. To help make your life a bit easier, try these tips and tricks for how to easily peel an egg neatly and efficiently:

Use older eggs – as the whites and yolks age, they shrink away from the shell, making them much easier to remove the shell. (Look on the cartoon for the born date, it is a number system from 1 to 365, and the number equals the day of the year the hen laid the egg.
Add some baking soda – adding ⅓ teaspoon of baking soda per quart of water can help separate the shell from the white, making removing the eggshell a breeze.
Shock them in cold water – after you have boiled your eggs, shock them in a bowl of ice-cold water. This will cause the air pocket at the end of each egg to expand, which should aid in easily removing the shells.
Roll it - once cooked, gently crack the eggshell all over by rolling it between both hands as if you are trying to soften butter with a rolling pin. The cracks provide leverage to remove them more effectively than before.
Start peeling under running water; move your egg into a bowl of warm running water and begin peeling away from there.

7. Poached Eggs

This type of egg cookery is a show-stopper. When an egg is perfectly poached, it almost creates a sauce that can elevate many dishes.

Heat the water bath to 160 to 170 degrees
Add vinegar to the water to help the egg whites to coagulate, which happens at 70 C or 158 F degrees.
Add the eggs, one egg at a time.
Poach the eggs for 3 minutes. Tip: Use less time for small eggs.
Remove from the water using a slotted spoon and pat dry.

Pro Tip: If serving a crowd. Cook the eggs in advance, and cook them until they are slightly underdone. Once cooked, stock and store them in cool water until it's time to eat. When its time, lower them back into hot water for 45 seconds using a slotted spoon.

8. Sunny-Side-Up Eggs

To make sunny side up eggs, also called over easy eggs.
Melt butter in a medium-high heat skillet.
Crack open your egg and place it on a preheated skillet.
Once your egg whites are cooked through, use your spatula to gently flip each over-easy egg over smoothly (try not to break any yolks).
Once the white of the egg cooks, cover the pan and let it cook for a few more minutes just until the yolk has set to your preferred doneness.
Salt and pepper as desired. Let them cook until their whites are opaque and have set around their yolks—this should take about 2 minutes or so.

9. Over-Medium Eggs

Personal favorite, a nice balance between the white eggs and yolk coming together. Try placing them on top of crispy hash browns.

Heat your nonstick skillet on medium heat and add one tablespoon of butter or olive oil. You can also use cooking spray if desired.
Once the butter is melted, crack both of your eggs into the pan.
Allow them to cook for about 30 seconds before adding salt and pepper.
After 30 seconds, begin flipping the eggs with your spatula in order to cook evenly on both sides.
Flip them again after about 10 seconds for an over-medium egg (where the yolk is still slightly runny).
Repeat flip until desired doneness.

10. Egg-in-a-Basket

Transform a simple slice of bread into an exciting breakfast idea with this easy method.

Begin by carefully cutting out the middle of your bread using a round cookie cutter or drinking glass - whatever you have on hand!
Next, heat up a skillet to medium and add butter or cooking oil before laying down the egg-filled bread.
Crack an egg inside into the hole in the bread.
Enhance your egg-in-a-basket with any preferred herbs or spices for extra flavor.
After cooking the whites for about two minutes, flip it over and simmer on low heat until the desired doneness is achieved - approximately two more minutes.

11. Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are a classic staple on many summer meals, particularly for outdoor picnics, BBQs and potlucks. The recipe comes together quickly and easily with some simple ingredients.

Typically made from hard-boiled eggs, the yolks are mashed and combined with mayonnaise or sour cream for extra creaminess and flavor.
Additional ingredients, like pickle relish, Dijon mustard, and hot sauce, can be added to give the "deviled" eggs additional zip.
The combined mixture is then spooned back into egg whites, sprinkled with seasoning such as smoked paprika or cayenne pepper, and finished off by adding a sprinkle of freshly minced parsley or chives to enhance color.

Deviled Eggs Recipe | Hard-Boiled Egg Facts & Techniques

12. Baked Eggs

Egg baked in small personal serving cookware

Preparing delicious baked eggs is a cinch!

Whisk together your desired egg ingredients in a bowl, then pour them into a greased baking dish.
Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, depending on how cooked through you want your eggs.
When done, the egg top surface should be slightly puffed and lightly golden brown. Top with salt and pepper or your favorite herbs and spices.