A Basted Egg

Ready to enjoy a basted egg?

I used to cringe at how bad I was at flipping eggs to make them over easy, until I learned that I could make them without flipping them!

Get ready for an easy process to make a really good egg.

Step 1: Get Out Your Skillet

I personally like to use a medium size skillet for 2 eggs. It's probably over kill, but it allows some room in the pan for the spatula. Too big and it runs all over, too small and you don't have enough room to move.

For those of you new to the pan world, a skillet is also called a fry pan, and has slanted sides. If you are using a pan with straight sides (which is totally fine) it would be called a sauce pan.

Use whatever pan you want that makes you feel comfortable while cooking, it's key!

T-FAL makes a skillet that works well

A lot of people I know love using the copper non-stick pans as well, again whatever you are comfortable with!

Step 2: Heat It Up!

While you get out your ingredients put your stove on medium-low heat.

This will help when you oil and season the pan. Putting cold oil (spray or not) on a cold pan makes a mess, and will also break down the oil as it heats up.

Step 3: Add Your Oil

Butter, spray, EVOO, whatever you like.

If you use butter, just 1 tsb will do.

If you spray, coat the bottom of the pan

If you use EVOO, just 1 tsb will do

For my example, i am using cooking spray

Step 4: Salt the Pan - It's Science!

let's get a little scientific with eggs

Eggs are better cooked at lower temperature, but at lower temperature a basted won't coagulate like you will want. The salt neutralizes the negative charge in the protein molecules and helps it to bond at a lower temp. This makes for a moist, soft egg.

Also, have you ever cooked an egg at a high temp and smelled that sulfur like/bad egg smell? Turn the temp down! You are cooking to hot!

Use any salt you have, but if you have it, sea salt or pink salt works the best.

Step 5: Eggs On!

Put two eggs in the pan, let them cook until the bottom layer of the egg is white (about 3 minutes)

Step 6: Get Some Water

When the bottom of the egg is white and you can no longer see the pan through the whites it's time to add some water.

Grab about 3 table spoons of warm (or hot, just not cold) water. Ensure the water is not cold!

If you see the amount of water I have in that cup, it is too much! I only used about 1/2

Step 7: Cover!

Immediately after placing the water in the pan place a cover over the skillet. Don't have a cover that fits? no problem, use a bigger pan, a huge cover, anything that fits over it will work!

The goal is to allow the water to steam and cook the top of the eggs, so anything that recycles that warm air within the pan will work just fine.

Step 8: Set Your Watch

The steaming should take about 30 seconds up to one minute, depending on how you like your eggs cooked. If you like them soft, 30 seconds should create a white yolk that will run all over your delicious potatoes and you'll be able to dip your toast.

If you like them more firm, a minute will do the trick.

Step 9: Serve and Enjoy

Enjoy your basted eggs over toast, potatoes, or plain.