How to Make over Medium Eggs

Co-authored by Vanna Tran

Last Updated: May 19, 2021

Fried eggs are a definitely a classic breakfast food, but cooking them just right at home can sometimes be a challenge. If you prefer over medium eggs, which are fried and then flipped over to create a slightly runny yolk, you don't have to be intimidated. As long as you preheat and grease the skillet, the only trick to making perfect over medium eggs is cooking them on low heat and flipping them after just a few minutes to keep the yolk soft.

Ingredients

1 egg
Nonstick cooking spray or butter

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting the Pan Ready

1
Preheat the pan on the stove. Place a medium skillet on the burner, and turn the heat to medium-low. Allow the pan to heat for about 5 minutes, so it’s fully preheated.^{[1]
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2
Grease the pan. Once the pan is preheated, it’s important to oil it so the eggs don’t stick. Spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray or add a pat of butter. If you’re using butter, let it melt completely before adding the eggs.^{[2]
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- It should take 1 to 3 minutes for the butter to melt completely.
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3
Crack the egg into a small bowl. It’s usually easier to add the egg to the pan if you break it into a bowl first. Use a small bowl, and be careful not to break the yolk.^{[3]
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- If you prefer, you can crack the egg directly into the pan.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Cooking the First Side

1
Pour the egg into the pan. When the pan is properly oiled, carefully drop the egg into the pan. Take care not to break the yolk, and season the egg lightly with salt and/or pepper if you like.^{[4]
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- Even if you’re using a large skillet, it’s best to cook just one egg at a time so the whites don’t run together.
2
Cook the egg until the underside sets. Once the egg is in the pan, let it cook until the white sets and the edges begin to curl a bit. It should take approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
3
Flip the egg. When the underside of the egg is set, slide a wide spatula under it. Make sure to get it directly under the yolk so you can support its weight as you lift and turn the egg over.
- It’s best to use a thin spatula when you flip the eggs. Use a jiggling motion to slide it under the egg.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Finishing the Egg

1
Cook the egg on the other side to set. After you’ve flipped the egg over, allow it to cook for another 2 minutes on the opposite side. This will set the yolk as well as the white on the other side.
2
Turn off the heat and let the egg set for a minute. When the egg has cooked for another couple of minutes, shut off the stove. Leave the egg in the hot pan and allow it to sit for another minute so it can finish cooking.
3
Transfer the egg to a plate and serve. When the egg is finished cooking, use the spatula to lift it out of the pan and onto a plate. Over medium eggs are especially tasty served over a piece of toast or English muffin.^{[5]
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- If you didn’t season the egg before you added to the pan, sprinkle some salt and pepper over it after you take it out of the pan.

Expert Q&A

Question

What is an over medium egg?

Vanna Tran
Experienced Cook
Vanna Tran is a home cook who started cooking with her mother at a very young age. She has catered events and hosted pop-up dinners in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 5 years.

Vanna Tran

Experienced Cook

Expert Answer

When an egg is over-medium, the yolk should be creamy and soft, but not overly runny.