Simple Methods for Cooking Eggs

By: rwakefield

Eggs are one of the most versatile cooking ingredients. They cross all national boundaries and are present in most styles of cooking. Everybody can learn how to cook eggs using a few simple methods. Knowing how to cook basic egg recipes like scrambled eggs and boiled eggs is the base needed to cook a wide range of uncomplicated, speedy hearty dishes.

So lets get going, here are a few basic techniques:-

1. Boiled Eggs
Hard or soft boiled eggs are nutritious and can make a quick and easy meal. For most people, a soft boiled egg with 'soldiers' is the ultimate comfort food.
To boil a soft-boiled egg to dip toast in, first remove your eggs from the fridge and let them stand for a while to get them up to room temperature. Heat some water in a pan and, when it is simmering, drop the eggs into the water carefully. Simmer for just 60 seconds then turn off the heat, put a lid on the pan and leave for 6-7 minutes. Experiment with the timing, it will depend on how you like your eggs.
In the case of hard boiled eggs, gently boil the eggs in the pan, on the heat, for about 7 minutes and then rapidly remove from the water and put into cold water for a minute or two. Some people leave them to cool in a bowl of icy water.
Hard boiled eggs are wonderful for taking on picnics or for mixing with mayonnaise to make egg sandwiches.

2. How to Make an Omelette
An omelette is really simple to prepare and is wonderful served with a salad or chips.
Beat two eggs in a bowl and add a little salt or pepper. Add a teaspoon of milk or water. In an omelette pan , melt a knob of butter or margarine and coat the pan. Add the beaten eggs to the pan and move them around so that they cover the base of the pan. Use a spatula to keep bringing in cooked bits from the side to let uncooked liquid run into gaps and cook evenly. Once you have a soft but firm circle of omelette you may also add grated cheese or cooked mushrooms to the centre and carefully fold the omelette over the filling to make a crescent shape.

3. Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled eggs on toast is delicious and is a good standby when you're in a rush or are too tired to cook much. If you have got a microwave, then these are really easy – simply beat 2-3 eggs together, season, add a tiny dash of milk and cook on high. Stir with a fork every ten seconds and stop cooking when they are at the perfect consistency for you.
You can also scrambled eggs in a pan – Heat a knob of butter in a frying pan, beat the eggs in a bowl or jug, season and add a dash of milk. Once the butter is melted, pour the eggs into the pan and stir constantly with a wooden spoon. Cook until the egg mixture only has a bit of liquid left. Stir in a little butter and add cream if you want – delicious.
For a special breakfast, chop up smoked salmon and mix into the scrambled egg.

4. How to Poach Eggs
To poach eggs the easy way, you can buy a specific poaching pan which has round compartments into which you crack your eggs and then they cook over the pan which is filled with boiling water.
To poach eggs without a poacher, pour boiling water into a frying pan until it is about 2 ½ cm deep, put the pan on the cooker and, when the water is bubbling gently (little bubbles under the surface), crack an egg into the water. Simmer for 1 minute and then take from the heat. Leave for 10 minutes and then remove with a slotted spoon and drain. Serve on toast or with bacon, sausage and baked beans.

These are the four basic, quickest and healthiest ways to cook eggs but you can also fry an egg in oil. Simply heat oil in a frying pan, crack an egg gently into the pan (gently, so you don't break the yolk) and fry until cooked. Even though you may favour frying eggs, try to remember that poaching is much better than frying because it only uses water.

R.Wakefield is an ethusiastic amateur cook and writer who writes content for 'The Recipe Collection' internet site. If you want to impress your friends with your culinary skills, and want to cook tasty and nourishing egg and omelette recipes, then you should check out 'The Recipe Collection', a recipe collection which includes many egg and frittata recipes, (amongst many others). You will find an egg recipe there to please anyone.

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