Eggs are delicious, healthy, and versatile, which is why they’re a great breakfast food. Well, we say they’re for breakfast. But actually, they’re a great choice for any meal. There’s nothing tastier than a burrito for dinner filled with eggs, cheese, and salsa.
It’s the versatility of the egg that makes it such a great food choice. People have come up with hundreds of ways to cook them. You can pair eggs with almost anything. Throw them in some boiling water and when cooked through, slice them up and add them to a salad. Or if you’d rather have a quick breakfast, just toss some eggs in a pan with butter. You’ll have a tasty meal within minutes.
Everyone has a preferred way of cooking eggs. Any brunch party needs to include the question, “How do you like your eggs?” Maybe you prefer them soft-boiled, meaning they have a runny yolk. You can then pair the eggs with toast. Or maybe you like a classic omelet filled with ham, cheese, and veggies.
But just because eggs are a classic meal doesn’t mean you have to make them the same way every time. These 50 new ways of cooking them might help you find a new favorite. If nothing else, it’ll make you hungry.
1. Hard-boiled
While hard-boiled is one most people know, its soft-boiled cousin is a little less understood (see next slide). Hard-boiled eggs are a great choice for salads or packed lunches. Just cover the eggs in two inches of water and boil for 10 to 12 minutes.
If you prefer a softer yolk and a milder aroma, soft-boiled eggs are a perfect choice. They’re just as easy to make as the hard-boiled version. Just cut the time they boil to about six minutes.
Nothing’s easier than a delicious scrambled egg, but if not careful, they can come out overcooked and rubbery. The key to creamy scrambled eggs is to mix them in a bowl — not directly in the pan. Then cook the eggs over low heat.
Soft scrambled eggs are a little firmer than the creamy scrambled ones without being overcooked. They’re incredibly easy to make. All you have to do is monitor them in the pan and remove them from the heat when they’re still soft.
Hard scrambled eggs are also called American scrambled eggs because this is how most restaurants in the US cook them. This involves letting the eggs cook to a slightly firmer consistency, with little moisture.
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has a secret for making perfect scrambled eggs every time. All you have to do is cook them over medium heat with butter while stirring constantly. Then turn the heat off and let the eggs continue cooking in the pan for another 90 seconds.
Sunny-side-up eggs are a classic simply because they’re easy and delicious. For this, simply grease the pan, then crack an egg and cook it until the edges turn brown. There’s no need to even stir them.
It should come as no surprise that sunny side-down eggs are, well, the opposite of sunny-side-up. “Sunny” refers to the yolk, of course, meaning these eggs are cooked with the yolk on the bottom.
Eggs over easy are similar to eggs sunny-side-up with one small difference. When the edges start to brown, gently flip the egg over, being careful not to break the yolk. Only let it cook for a few seconds on the other side so yolk stays runny.
As you might have guessed, cooking eggs over-medium is the next step up from making eggs over-easy. In this case, fry the egg on the second side for a few moments longer. This lets the egg cook on the outside while staying soft inside.
Of course, the last step on the fried egg’s journey is eggs over-hard. This time, when you flip the egg, let the yolk cook all the way through and the membrane seal on the outside. No runny yolks here.
There are a couple of different ways to poach an egg. One of these is the whirlpool method. You’ll heat water to a close boil, add a splash of vinegar, then crack the egg directly into the water while stirring to draw it together.
Who doesn’t love an omelet? They’re healthy, delicious, and easy to customize. Omelets are made by mixing eggs with water or milk and then cooking them in a pan before folding them in half. You can add whatever cheese, vegetables, or meat you like.
A frittata is closely related to an omelet with one important difference. It’s more like an open-faced sandwich. While omelets are folded in half, frittatas aren’t.
Quiche is a savory egg pie that’s featured on brunch menus around the world. There are dozens of variations. You can make a super-simple version by mixing eggs, milk, spices, and add-ons, which you then pour into a premade, unbaked pie crust. To finish, simply bake the quiche according to the recipe.
Yes, believe it or not, you can microwave eggs. It might not be glamorous, but it’s a great way to make a quick breakfast when you’re in a rush. Just pop in a microwave-safe dish, cover, and heat the egg for 45 seconds.
Baking eggs is a super-easy way to make them but without hovering over a pan. Often, these are called shirred eggs, referring to the baking dish. They can be baked in a regular baking pan or for individual portions, use a muffin tin.
Basted eggs are cooked through a combination of liquid and steam so there’s no need to flip them. You can either continually scoop melted butter over the top or add a little water to the pan and cover.
A favorite of breakfast diners, a hash can be made with pretty much anything. All you have to do is cut up your preferred ingredients into small pieces and then cook them with eggs in a pan. Some of the more popular choices include ham, potatoes, sausage, and veggies.
Deviled eggs are a divisive dish, with fierce fans and even fiercer opponents. If you love those bite-sized party appetizers, they’re easy to make. Just hard-boil eggs, cut in half, and remove the yolks. Then, you’ll mix the yolks with salt, pepper, mayo, and mustard. If wanted, you can sprinkle the tops of the eggs with paprika.
Marbleized eggs could be considered the lazy man’s way to make them. It’s essentially what happens when you throw eggs in a pan and break the yolks. It’s a cross between a scrambled and fried egg — but it’s still pretty tasty.
Spanish fried eggs take the greasiness and decadence to another level. Fry the eggs at high heat in olive oil, continually spooning it over the top. Just be careful you don’t get splashed.
Sheet pan dinners are all the rage, but you can follow the same trend for breakfast too. It’s super simple: just mix eggs with spices, milk, and any add-ons, pouring the mixture onto a baking sheet. Then bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit until set.
Did you know you can make a perfectly-cooked omelet in a plastic bag? You can by mixing all your ingredients in a large Ziploc and then suspend it in a pot of boiling water. It’ll cook perfectly with almost no supervision.
Coddled eggs aren’t well known these days, but they’re delicious. For this, you’ll need to buy coddling cups, which are made of ceramic. The cups are placed in a steam bath to gently cook a soft egg.
This one may surprise you but it’s possible to make delicious, perfectly-cooked eggs in a waffle maker. And, it’s quick and simple. Just add eggs pre-mixed with any seasonings or add-ins. Then enjoy with minimal clean-up or hassle.
Regular poached eggs cook in water. The butter poaching method uses, of course, butter. Add a significant amount of butter to a pot, then add the egg. Continue spooning the butter over the top until cooked.
Want a poached egg that’s out-of-this-world decadent? Poach an egg the standard way. Then, coat it in raw egg, flour, and breadcrumbs. Next, fry it — preferably in a deep fryer.
If you dread the thought of trying to make a souffle, there’s no need to worry. An omelet souffle involves separating the whites and yolks, then beating the whites until they form stiff peaks. Recombine the whites and yolks, cooking them in a pan for a super-fluffy omelet.
Strata is a delicious Italian recipe that’s essentially a breakfast casserole. While there are many versions, they all involve basic ingredients of cheese, eggs, and bread baked in a casserole dish.
For the easiest way to cook eggs ever, just place some whole on the oven rack. Bake them at 325 for 30 minutes for perfect hard “boiling”. Bonus: eggs cooked this way don’t have that classic sulfur smell.
Because Scotch eggs are popular in the U.K., you might not have heard of them. Hard-boiled eggs are wrapped in sausage, then coated with breadcrumbs. As the last step, you can either bake or fry them.
Eggs in a basket are known by more than 66 names, including toad in a hole. It’s a pretty simple concept: the eggs are pan-fried in the middle of a piece of toast with a hole in it. Simple, delicious, and kind of fun.
If you want an omelet that’s a little different, this is a perfect choice. Separate the whites and yolks. Whip the whites, cooking them omelet-style. Before folding, plop the yolks back in the middle.
After hard-boiling eggs, slice and lay them in a greased baking dish. Add potatoes, cheese, or bacon as desired. Season, then cover with a mixture of sour cream, flour, and breadcrumbs. The final step, bake and enjoy.
Who knew you could cook eggs on a grill? You can and there are a couple of ways to do it. You can either fry them in tinfoil or lay them whole on the grill while in the shell.
Hard-boiled eggs are highly absorbent, which makes them perfect for marinating. Soy sauce and spices are great choices for a salty, highly flavorful hard-boiled egg variation.
If you have an air fryer, you know what a handy tool it is. But you might not know you can use it to cook eggs. It’s easy to achieve perfect hard-boiled eggs in just a few minutes.
If you’re a foodie, you’ll love these out-of-the-box cured eggs. The only thing is they take time. For this, you would place the eggs in a well of sugar and salt, followed by placing them in the refrigerator for one week. Then you can bake them at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
Most of us don’t have a blow torch at home, but if you do, break it out for breakfast. Soft-boil some eggs, then sprinkle them with salt and sugar…torch gently. The sugar will caramelize, turning the eggs into a sweet-salty bite.
Don’t be fooled by the fancy French name — it’s easy to cook these delicious soft-boiled eggs. Heat your water to 149.9 degrees Fahrenheit, then gently drop the eggs in and let them cook for 45 minutes. Remove the eggs and run them under cold water.
These eggs are Instagram-worthy: separate the whites and yolks, then whip the whites until fluffy. Cook the whites in a ring mold, adding the yolk at the last minute for a barely-cooked center.
If you want some party food that’s out of the ordinary, try these crispy deviled eggs. Cook the eggs as if making the standard hard-boiled version. Remove the yolks for the filling. Then, coat the cooked white portion in raw egg, flour, and breadcrumbs. Fry the coated eggs in a deep fryer. Once cooled, spoon or pipe in the yolk filling using your favorite recipe.
Do you want to give some hard-boiled eggs an extra kick? After boiling them, remove the shells and place them on the grill for a few minutes. It’ll give them a delicious, smoky flavor.
Imagine a savory crepe — but it’s made of eggs. That’s what you get with this Japanese egg roll. For this, cook the eggs in a pan, then slowly rolled them into a tight log. You can add seaweed or soy sauce to give this authentic flavor.
No, we’re not talking about the egg noodles you’ll find in Asian cuisine. These are made by beating eggs, frying them in a pan, and cutting them into thin strips. After tossing them, serve with sauce.
As you can probably tell from the name, cloud eggs are super light and fluffy. Start by separating the yolks and whites. Whip the whites with a hand mixer until soft peaks form. Add salt and pepper and bake 10 minutes. Finally, add the yolks and bake three minutes longer.
You can make super-easy hard-boiled eggs by tossing them in your pressure cooker. With some water, you can achieve perfectly-cooked eggs in about six minutes.
This is the perfect way to make sure your yolk is never overcooked. The next time you fry an egg, separate the white and yolk. When the white is set, add the yolk, then cover and let steam for about a minute.
What ‘over-easy’ means plus 49 other ways to answer “how do you want your eggs?”
Cedric Jackson
12.02.19
Eggs are delicious, healthy, and versatile, which is why they’re a great breakfast food. Well, we say they’re for breakfast. But actually, they’re a great choice for any meal. There’s nothing tastier than a burrito for dinner filled with eggs, cheese, and salsa.
It’s the versatility of the egg that makes it such a great food choice. People have come up with hundreds of ways to cook them. You can pair eggs with almost anything. Throw them in some boiling water and when cooked through, slice them up and add them to a salad. Or if you’d rather have a quick breakfast, just toss some eggs in a pan with butter. You’ll have a tasty meal within minutes.
Everyone has a preferred way of cooking eggs. Any brunch party needs to include the question, “How do you like your eggs?” Maybe you prefer them soft-boiled, meaning they have a runny yolk. You can then pair the eggs with toast. Or maybe you like a classic omelet filled with ham, cheese, and veggies.
But just because eggs are a classic meal doesn’t mean you have to make them the same way every time. These 50 new ways of cooking them might help you find a new favorite. If nothing else, it’ll make you hungry.
