The only way I remember eating eggs as a child was scrambled, in fact most everyone in my family ate them that way. I have faint memories of my grandmother eating what I now know to be an over medium egg, although at the time it was just a runny egg in my book.
Fast forward several years and I began waiting tables at Cracker Barrel. The first time someone ordered a basted egg they had to explain to me what that even was. I remember asking one of the waitresses about the different ways eggs were prepared and she shook her head and said “bless your heart,” which we all know is southern speak meaning you’re an idiot. She was kind enough however to make me a list of the most popular ways eggs were ordered and I quickly studied up.
These days I find myself asking “how do you like your eggs?” hundreds of times a week. That chart I studied long ago is put to good use.
I thought I would take a break from the traditional recipe this week and give you your own little list of the most popular way breakfast eggs are ordered. Maybe there will be a cooking method on the this you haven’t tried yet and next time you’re out for breakfast you can give them a go. If I’ve missed your favorite way to order eggs leave me a comment and let me know.
Boiled Eggs:
Soft boiled eggs have a yolk that is still creamy and deep yellow in color if not a bit on the opaque side. Hard boiled eggs are done all the way thru and the yolk is completely set and takes on a light yellow tone. If crushed the yolk of a hard boiled egg crumbles easily.
The Scrambled Eggs:
Soft scrambled eggs are almost, but not quite all the way set with the yolk and the white being whisked together before hand but not so completely that they combine fully. You will still see the whites and yellows both when these eggs are cooked. Hard scrambled eggs have been whisked together completely before cooking and the whites are not distinguishable from the yellow once they are cooked. Hard scrambled eggs are completely set and there will be no runny parts to these eggs.
The Not Flipped Eggs:
Sunny side up eggs are eggs that are cooked without flipping or cooking the yolk side down. The whites can be partially set or cooked completely but the yolk remains up on top and liquid. Basted eggs are cooked almost the same except they are basted with hot oil from the skillet they are cooking in. Basted eggs will have a nice crispy outer edge and the yolks will be slightly more set than a sunny side up egg.
The “Over” Eggs:
Over easy eggs are eggs that are cooked and flipped until the whites are partially set and the yolks are still extremely runny.
Over Medium eggs are cooked and flipped until the whites are completely set and the yolk begins to take on a nice velvety thickness to it.
Over medium well eggs are cooked and flipped until the whites are fully set and the yolk begins to set just on the outside with just a small bit of runny in the center. These eggs will often have the yolk begin to take on a darker yellow ring right at the point where the yolk and white meet.
Over well eggs are cooked and flipped until the whites and the yolk are cooked completely thru with the yolk remaining intact.
Over hard eggs are cooked and flipped with the yolk being busted at the beginning of the cooking process and then being cooked all the way thru with the whites. Sometimes these are called fried eggs.
Poached:
Poached eggs are gently slid into a skillet that has a bit of simmering, but not boiling, water in it. The eggs are cooked until the white is just set and the yolk is still runny.
