Eggs are a common ingredient in cooking. Although it may seem simple, it is easy to overcook them, break the yolk when flipping, or splash hot oil everywhere. In response to this, experts suggest substituting oil or butter with a commonly used household item when frying eggs to avoid these issues.
Kaitlin, the founder and chef of the blog “Modern Vintage Cooking,” expressed her love for eggs, especially fried eggs. For her, fried eggs paired with crispy hash browns and whole wheat toast make a heartwarming meal.
However, she had always been hesitant to fry eggs at home out of fear of accidentally breaking the yolk when flipping them, resulting in a mess. Even though she knew that restaurants use butter to fry eggs, the sight of them sizzling in oil at home made her uncomfortable.
She shared that she discovered a method called steam frying with a small amount of water. This method can be applied to all foods, but she particularly enjoys using it for frying eggs. It’s like a combination of boiling and frying eggs. While she also enjoys boiled eggs, she finds the process a bit cumbersome.
When using the steam frying method to fry eggs, the steam heats the entire egg, including the top, quickly cooking it. You don’t need to flip the egg like traditional frying methods, and you can achieve a perfect golden yolk.
Kaitlin explained that you will need a non-stick skillet with a lid, an egg, a teaspoon of water, and cooking spray (a thin layer of oil spray on the pan to prevent sticking). The steps are as follows:
(1) Heat the skillet over medium-high heat. Spray the skillet with cooking spray. Crack the egg into a small bowl and quickly pour it into the center of the skillet. Reduce the heat slightly below medium, do not cover with a lid, and let it cook for a minute. The egg white should start to turn white, but the top should not be fully set.
(2) Pour a teaspoon of water along the edge of the egg, cover with the lid, and reduce the heat to low. Cook for another minute.
When you lift the lid, the egg should be cooked. The egg white should be set, but the yolk should not be fully cooked. Carefully transfer the egg to a plate with a spatula, being mindful not to break the yolk. If you prefer a fully cooked yolk, you can cook it a bit longer.
Kaitlin noted that while eggs are high in cholesterol, they are also a good source of protein and nutrients, so enjoy your butter-free fried eggs without guilt!
It is worth mentioning that some people are concerned about consuming too many eggs leading to high cholesterol levels. Dr. Zhang Shiheng, the director of the Qilin Clinic in Taiwan, previously stated that eating one egg a day is absolutely fine, but it’s important to choose a healthy cooking method.
Among common egg dishes like boiled eggs, braised eggs, tea eggs, fried eggs, poached eggs, scrambled eggs, and omelettes, omelettes and Western-style scrambled eggs often contain butter, cream, and excessive salt, making them less healthy options.
Dr. Zhang recommended not eating raw eggs as they may contain salmonella on the shell, causing infections. Having partially cooked eggs (cooked egg white but slightly runny yolk) is less risky since most salmonella are killed during cooking, but there may still be traces, making this method suitable for individuals with normal immunity.
He advised that individuals with weakened immune systems, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and those with low resistance like cancer and dialysis patients, should opt for fully cooked eggs.