How to Cook Eggs Four Ways

Eggs are cheap, quick and versatile, but each method has its own small tricks. Here is how to get reliable results with the four everyday basics.

Boiled eggs

Bring a pan of water to a gentle boil, lower the eggs in with a spoon and start timing. Timings depend on egg size, starting temperature and your pan, but as a starting point for large eggs straight from the fridge:

Move them straight into cold water to stop the cooking. Slightly older eggs tend to peel more easily than very fresh ones.

Poached eggs

Fresh eggs hold their shape best. Crack each egg into a small cup or sieve first; a sieve lets the watery part of the white drain away, which means fewer wispy strands. Bring a pan of water to a bare simmer, with small bubbles rather than a rolling boil, then slide the egg in gently. Cook for about three minutes, until the white is set and the yolk still soft, then lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.

Scrambled eggs

Beat the eggs with a pinch of salt. Melt a little butter in a non-stick pan over a low to medium heat, add the eggs and stir slowly with a spatula, pushing the set parts from the edges into the middle. Take the pan off the heat while the eggs still look slightly wet, as they keep cooking. Low heat and patience give soft, creamy curds; high heat makes them dry and rubbery.

Fried eggs

Heat a little oil or butter in a frying pan over a medium heat. Crack the egg in and cook until the white is set. For a set top without flipping, cover the pan with a lid for the last minute or spoon some of the hot fat over the white. For "over easy", flip gently and cook for just a few seconds more.

Food safety

Store eggs in a cool, consistent place and use them by the date on the box. If you are cooking for anyone who is pregnant, elderly, very young or unwell, follow your local food safety guidance on runny eggs.

Ideas

Add a boiled egg to salads and ramen, a poached egg to toast or grain bowls, and turn leftover vegetables into an omelette or frittata. More egg ideas are at relishrealm.com.