An all-natural “fast food,” eggs are an extremely healthy source of protein, vitamins and minerals. They’re also cheap, easy to prepare, extremely versatile… and delicious!

How to tell if an egg is fresh

  1. Place the egg in a bowl of water.
  2. If the egg lays on its side at the bottom, it is still quite fresh.
  3. If the egg stands upright on the bottom, it is still fine to eat, but should be eaten very soon, or hard-boiled.
  4. If the egg floats to the top, it’s past its prime, and not good for eating.

Poaching

  1. For good poaching, your eggs need to be fresh.
  2. Cracking into a ramekin or saucer first is recommended just in case the yolk breaks.
  3. When the water is ready, stir it in circles to create a whirlpool, then gently slide the egg into the centre.
  4. Adding a tablespoon of vinegar to the water will help the egg white to hold together.

Boiling

  1. For a perfect soft-boiled egg, start it in a pan of cold water. Bring the water to the boil, and then immediately remove it from the heat. Leave the egg in the pan for six minutes. It will be cooked gently, leaving a nice runny yolk.
  2. For a hard-boiled egg, leave it in the hot water for 8-10 minutes. When ready, immediately run it under cold water to stop it cooking and prevent the dreaded grey ring forming around the yolk.

Frying

  1. A steady medium heat is the right temperature for frying eggs.
  2. To be sure the whites are totally set on a sunny-side-up egg, cover the pan halfway through cooking. The steam from the egg and the oil/butter will gently cook the top.
  3. Alternatively, carefully flip the egg over and cook for a minute on the other side. This is known as an over-easy egg.

Scrambling

  1. Thorough whisking the eggs just before you add them to the pan is crucial to getting a soft, fluffy scramble.
  2. Be patient. Scrambled eggs need to be cooked low and slow.
  3. Remove the pan from the heat when the eggs are still soft, and just before they’ve fully set. The residual heat in the pan will continue to cook the eggs for about another minute.

 

Here are 5 ways with eggs you should definitely make at home!


Bonus Tip

If you drop a piece of shell into the bowl when cracking an egg, use one of the broken halves of the shell to fish it out!