Daily Dish the Nugget Markets blog
Foodie FAQs: Eggs
Crack the code on perfect hard-boiled, scrambled or over-easy eggs and more with our egg-cellent edition of Foodie FAQs!
Crack the code on perfect hard-boiled, scrambled or over-easy eggs and more with our egg-cellent edition of Foodie FAQs!
How do I crack an egg? Hold an egg in one hand and crack it against a clean, flat surface with a quick, firm tap, then separate the shell with your thumbs and pour into desired vessel. Cracking eggs on edges like the rim of a bowl may result in unwanted eggshell bits or broken yolks.
What’s the best way to separate eggs? Crack an egg on a flat surface, then pour it either into half of the shell or your hand, catching the yolk and allowing the white to fall into a bowl below.
How can I tell how fresh an egg is? Do the float test! Put an egg in a bowl of cold water. If it sinks, it’s fresh. If it tilts up slightly, it’s older but still edible. If it floats, throw it out!
How do you hard boil eggs? Put cold eggs in a pot with cold water. Bring to a gentle simmer, then remove from heat and cover. After 8 minutes, remove eggs and place them in an ice bath (this will help prevent them from turning green).
Is there an easy way to peel them? Wait about 10 minutes after cooking the eggs, then crack the shell all over and peel under running water or in a bowl of water.
I boiled some eggs and forgot which ones… What do I do? Play spin the egg! Spin an egg on a flat surface then very briefly stop it with your hand. If the egg continues to spin after you’ve removed your hand, it’s raw (the centrifugal force from the liquid inside keeps it spinning). If it stops spinning, it’s hard-boiled.
Any tips for scrambling? Whip eggs until completely liquid and cook until just set. You can also add fat such as milk, cream, half and half or sour cream in the whipping stage to add extra creaminess. Use a nonstick pan with rubber or wooden utensils to avoid scratching.
What about frying? When frying eggs, use butter instead of oil to avoid splattering.
- For Sunny Side Up, cook until the egg white is almost set, then add a teaspoon of water, cover and steam for 15-20 seconds.
- For Over Easy, cook until white is almost set, then flip and cook 10-15 seconds for a runny yolk.
- For Over Medium, cook slightly longer to achieve a creamy yolk.
- For Over Hard, cook until yolk is completely solid. Optional: crack the yolk before flipping so it spreads after you flip it.
How do I poach eggs? Crack eggs into a bowl. Simmer water with 1 tablespoon of vinegar in a pot, then stir with a slotted spoon to create a gentle whirlpool. Slowly pour cracked eggs into the hot water and don’t disturb for 45 seconds. If needed, gently separate eggs, then poach 2–3 minutes longer, or until the whites are set and the yolks are still liquid. Remove from water with a slotted spoon.
Now that we’ve got the “how” down, want to learn why eggs are so eggs-traordinary? Check out our Health Notes by Dr. Liz!
Article originally published in March of 2018 and updated in February of 2024.
