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Basted eggs are one of the easiest and tastiest ways to prepare an over-easy egg that is perfectly cooked every single time.
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Basting eggs is a cooking technique that uses steam to cook the tops of the eggs. It is super easy and it is actually one of my favorite ways to cook eggs. The whites are so creamy and soft and the yolks are perfectly runny.
Take your eggs to the next level with this simple process of basting eggs. It is an easy way to cook an egg and still have a sunny-side-up appearance. These eggs are perfect for cooking one to six eggs at a time in a pan. Save time on those early mornings and make this delicious basted egg recipe your family will love!
Ingredients You Need for Easy Basted Eggs
Make sure to wake up with a healthy and nutritious breakfast by cooking these basted eggs on the stovetop. Get the full flavor with these refrigerator staple ingredients to make breakfast the best way in the morning. You will be making these basted eggs daily knowing just how easy it is to make!
- Butter – Greasing the pan with melted butter before cooking helps the basted eggs not to stick and adds a buttery flavor. You can also use cooking spray or olive oil or even bacon fat. A small amount of oil goes a long way.
- Eggs – I use large eggs for this recipe. Simple crack one at a time in a bowl and then slowly pour in the uncovered pan or crack them above the heated pan directly.
- Water – When added to the hot pan, the water creates steam that evenly cooks the tops of the eggs. Just a small amount of water is added to achieve this reaction.
- Salt and black pepper – Keep it simple with a pinch of flaky sea salt and pepper or add your favorite spices like paprika or Everything But the Bagel seasoning.
How to Cook Basted Eggs at Home
A basted egg is similar to a fried egg with the help of water and steaming the egg rather than frying the egg. Instead of leaving the egg in an uncovered pan, the egg will be covered to hold in the steam from the water. Wake up and make these easy-basted eggs in the morning for a healthy alternative from cereal.
- Heat skillet – Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add butter to the skillet. When the butter is melted and bubbly, gently crack the eggs into the pan.
- Cook – When the bottom of each egg is opaque white, add the water to the pan and cover with the lid.
- Season – Cook covered for two minutes, or until the egg whites are cooked through, but the yolk is still runny. Top with salt and pepper to taste.
Three Types of Cooked Eggs for Basted Eggs
There are three basic ways of cooking eggs and you have probably heard of most of them: Over easy, over medium, and over hard. We will go through each method in detail so you will get perfect basted eggs, your favorite way, every time. The nice thing about these different types of basted eggs is they are basically all done the same way, just for different amounts of time.
- Over-easy – Over-easy eggs are the first cooking level you can achieve with basted eggs. They have a runny yolk, much like a sunny-side-up egg, however, the yolk isn’t as visible. Basting the egg causes the white on top of the yolk to become opaque. Over-easy eggs hold up better when served in breakfast sandwiches because the yolk doesn’t break as easily.
- Over medium – Over medium eggs can have yolks that are still quite runny to only slightly runny. The spectrum here can be quite wide. Most of the time, over medium eggs, have yolks that are only about halfway cooked through. When you cut the basted egg open, you can see the runny yolk surrounded by hardened yolk. You should be able to tell the doneness by pressing on the outside of the yolk. It should still be somewhat soft and bounce back.
- Over hard – Over hard eggs’ yolks cook completely through. You can either break the yolk to hurry the process or you can allow the yolk to harden without breaking it. One advantage to breaking the yolk is that it can be more evenly distributed throughout the cooked egg. Those who want to still experience the taste of the yolk can keep it intact.
How to Use Basted Eggs
There are so many variations to enjoying basted eggs. Simply enjoy them on their own with a side of fruit or make them into a meal for breakfast. These choices are all great ideas when eating basted eggs!
- Recipes – You can use basted eggs in any recipe where you would use fried eggs. Substitute the fried eggs for these basted eggs and chop them up to create the fried egg appearance.
- Toast – Eat them on toast or avocado toast. Lay the basted egg overtop the toast and enjoy it handheld or cut up on a plate.
- Protein – Serve them with sausage links, ham slices, or bacon for a protein-packed breakfast.
- Sandwich or burger – Add a basted egg to a burger or sandwich for added flavor. This is always our dad’s favorite way to order a burger at the restaurant. It is the best add-in with the most flavor!
- Pizza – Throw a basted egg on a pizza or over a sweet potato hash. Sounds crazy but this is a MUST try meal!
- Fried rice – Top a bowl of fried rice with a basted egg. These eggs are so versatile and delicious!
Recipe Tip
Make sure your pan is nice and hot before cracking the eggs. If the pan is not hot, then the egg whites will not cook fast enough.
“Amazing! These were so easy to make, all of the kids loved them!”
-Paula
Frequently Asked Questions
A basted egg is between a sunny-side-up egg and a poached egg. Basted eggs are fried on the bottom and steamed with water on the top. The appearance of a basted egg looks like a sunny side-up egg but the yolk is slightly more set.
A basted egg is cooked in a frying pan with a few tablespoons of water. A poached egg is an egg dropped into boiling water and a little vinegar. They both produce a soft egg white with a runny yolk.
In cooking, basted means adding liquid during the cooking process. When you baste a turkey, for example, you take the juices from the bottom of the pan and redistribute them onto the turkey. These are called basted eggs because you add water to the eggs during the cooking process.
It isn’t necessary for the lid to be clear, but it makes it easier to see when the eggs are done. If you don’t have a clear glass lid, then just cook the eggs for two minutes and lift the lid to check the doneness.
Storing and Meal Prep with Basted Eggs
Basted eggs are a great way to meal prep but also best to enjoy the day of when making them. They are simple to make ahead and store in an airtight container. The eggs can lay over each other to fit. Place in the refrigerator for three days long. When ready to heat up, place in the microwave or on the stove top until it is warmed through. It usually takes about 30 to 45 seconds to warm through.
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How to Make Basted Eggs
Basted Eggs
Video
Equipment
- large nonstick skillet with a lid
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add butter to the skillet. When the butter is melted and bubbly, gently crack the eggs into the pan.
- When the bottom of each egg is opaque white, add the water to the pan and cover with the lid.
- Cook covered for two minutes, or until the egg whites are cooked through, but the yolk is still runny. Top with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve the eggs on their own or on toast.
This is so handy for breakfast! Thank you for explaining this!
Amazing! These were so easy to make, all of the kids loved them!
Perfect!!! What an easy & great way!! Love egg on toast & this recipe makes a delicious egg!