perfect fried eggs

Serves 2

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Cook Time: 2 to 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 to 8 minutes

• 2 tablespoons cooking fat
• 4 eggs, large
• Salt and black pepper

Heat the cooking fat in a medium skillet over medium heat and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. When the fat is very hot, crack the eggs one by one into the pan. Step back, as these eggs will sizzle! Do your best not to break the yolks—but if they do, just keep going with the instructions.

If you really like runny yolk, carefully scoop some of the cooking fat from the pan over the egg yolks with a spoon. Repeat 5 or 6 times, helping the yolks cook faster. When the egg white is just barely opaque, slide a spatula under the egg and transfer yolk-side up to a plate.

If you prefer your yolks cooked a bit more, skip the spoon part; when the egg white is just barely opaque, carefully slide a spatula under the eggs and flip them over. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes for “over easy,” 3 to 4 minutes for “over medium.” If you prefer your yolks “over hard” (not soft at all), carefully flip the eggs over again and cook for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Remove the eggs from the pan, transfer them to a plate yolk-side up and serve hot with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

✪Pro Tip You could use a cast-iron pan for fried eggs, but it’s hard to keep them from sticking. This is where it’s nice to have at least one non-stick pan.