Eggs have become the ultimate breakfast companions and some fancily cooked eggs are also great for dinners. Ranging from medium eggs to poached eggs and boiled eggs, there are just too many methods of cooking eggs.
However, with this article, we are sharing about over easy vs. over medium eggs. Truth be told, the only difference is few seconds. So, are you ready to know more about these two cooking methods of eggs?
Over Easy vs Over Medium
Over Easy Eggs
The over easy eggs are cooked from both sides but it doesn’t harden the yolk. This means that yolk will be running. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that you can make sunny side-up eggs and flip them on the other side and cook for thirty seconds (yes, the egg will have on the below). When served on the plate, the over easy eggs will appear white. Similarly, when you puncture the egg with a fork, the egg yolk will run out since it will have a liquid-y and runny texture.
To be honest, the over easy eggs don’t look appealing which means you cannot serve them on top of polenta and salads. For making over easy eggs, you need half a tablespoon of butter or dairy-free oil along with eggs.
When you have the ingredients, use the non-stick pan or big cast iron skillet and melt the butter (if you are using oil, heat it on medium-low heat). Now, add the eggs and top it with a pinch of black pepper and kosher salt. Cook the eggs for up to three minutes on medium-low heat.
In simpler words, you have to cook the egg until the white part is firm. Once done, flip the egg and cook it for twenty to thirty seconds to make sure the yolk is still running. After these seconds, take out eggs from the pan and serve them.
When you make over easy eggs, the white part will remain wet but some parts might get brown and crispy. If we consider the name, over means flipping the eggs while easy defines the yolk’s doneness. The secret to keeping the yolk runny is cooking the other side for a few seconds only.
While you are making over easy eggs, make sure that you get fresh eggs because such eggs tend to hold the shape much better as compared to refrigerated eggs. However, if you are using old eggs, the white part will spread around you can pull it back with the spatula (it won’t look as good but still works fine if you don’t have fresh eggs available).
In addition, while you are making the over easy eggs, keep in mind that temperature matters a great deal because the slightest increase in temperature will result in overcooking.
To illustrate, it’s best to use medium-low heat temperature because it cooks the white perfectly and won’t harden the yolk when you flip it around. Even more, if you have to cook multiple batches of over easy eggs, it’s best to lower the temperature even more to ensure the eggs don’t overcook (this is important because skillet or pan will already be hot from cooking previous batches). So, this is how you can make over easy eggs!
Over Medium Eggs
The over medium eggs tend to be the eggs with jam-like center and they won’t be runny enough (it will be barely running). Over medium eggs are cooked in a longer shape which is why the yolk has a jam-like consistency.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that over medium eggs are the goldilocks form of eggs. These eggs have just-right firmness in the white part while the yolk remains golden and runny. If you are concerned about ease, the over medium eggs are pretty easy to make.
To illustrate, over medium eggs have the jam-like and loose consistency (the yolk feels like custard, to be precise) while the white part remains firm. The over medium eggs are cooked from both sides but the second side is cooked only for solidifying the white part because the yolk remains somewhat runny. The best way to retain the egg’s shape is cracking the egg into a bowl and fresh eggs will also help keep the shape perfect.
While making over medium eggs, it is suggested that you use the thin spatula because it will slide just right under the eggs and flipping will be easier as well. Similarly, some people tend to use a fork for poking the egg white thinking that it helps with cooking but it’s not the right choice.
Even more, you must use the right pan because the egg shouldn’t stick to the surface. For this purpose, always try to use the non-stick pan, so the eggs flip and roll easily. In addition, the pan should be enough size to handle the egg’s spreading.
As far as cooking is concerned, you need to be slow and use low heating temperatures because eggs are delicate and need to be handled carefully. It’s best to cook the first side for two to three minutes and then cook the other side for one minute (yes, after flipping).
In addition, you can sprinkle the eggs with black pepper powder and kosher salt to enhance the flavor. As for the spatulas, it’s best to use a fish spatula or nylon spatula for cast iron pans or nonstick pans, respectively.
If you don’t know if over medium eggs are ready or not, the best choice is to touch the yolk and see if it feels liquid-y. If it does, you need to cook the egg for a bit longer. To be honest, making perfect over medium eggs take practice. As for heating, it’s best to use medium-low heat because it ensures eggs don’t overcook.
Additional Tips
- Butter is better for frying eggs because it imparts a nutty flavor profile because olive oil doesn’t taste as good
- Both these eggs can be served in breakfast and also make a great addition to sandwiches
- They are can be served with oatmeal pancakes, hash browns, potatoes, bacon, and savory oatmeal