How to Make the Perfect Lightweight Egg
Of all the simple breakfasts, my favorite is the simple toast with egg. These hardworking eggs work equally well for a paint job, a hamburger, or even a slice of pizza. Getting to that sweet spot where the whites are completely cooked, but the yolk still stays pretty and runny, isn’t difficult – you just need to know what you are doing.
First, you’ll need a right-hand skillet, and this skillet is a non-stick skillet with beveled sides. If you don’t have the most hardened cast iron skillet known to man, and if you don’t have experience in cooking eggs, working with a nonstick skillet will be much easier.
Then add at least a tablespoon of butter there, grate everything around and heat a pan over low heat. Once the butter has stopped foaming, it’s time to add the egg. I usually split mine right in the skillet, but Alton Brown likes to break it into a mold first for more even cooking and more control over where the egg goes. Place the egg along the edge of the pan farthest from you, then tilt it farther away from your body to keep the protein from spreading all over the place. If you need extra help keeping the white in place, use a silicone spatula to gently push it back.
Once the protein will settle and assimilate its place (it will take about 7-10 seconds), lower the pan back and allow the egg to cook until the whites become opaque and not zastynut (about a minute). Push the egg lightly with a spatula so it can slide easily, then turn over. You can do this with a thin silicone spatula by gently pulling it under the egg while tilting the pan and then turning the egg yolk down in one smooth, quick motion in the pan. If you’ve never done this before, it’s very possible that you will break an yolk or two while perfecting the flips. This is fine. These broken yolks are still edible.
You can also flip the egg using just the pan by quickly pushing the pan away from you and flicking the far edge up. This also takes some practice, but once you master this sexual technique, you will never look back. After turning the egg over, let it hang for another 7-10 seconds, then transfer to a plate, slice of toast, hamburger, or any other food you think would benefit from a perfectly cooked ultralight egg.
This story was originally published in 2017 and has been updated with new information on 02/28/2020.