How to Make Over Medium Eggs Like a Real Chef

Eggs are a staple breakfast food. Depending on your preference, you can prepare them boiled, scrambled, over easy, over medium—the list goes on and on!

Today, we'll be discussing one of my favorite ways to prepare eggs: over medium eggs.

Knowing how to make over-medium eggs perfectly can be a bit tricky. I can’t count the number of times I've ended up making sunny-side-up instead of over-medium. And while I do like sunny-side up, nothing beats the warm, creamy center of over medium eggs.

Make the Perfect Over Medium Eggs in 5 Easy Steps

The secret to making over medium eggs is the timing. Leave the eggs too long in the pan, and you'll end up with over hard eggs. Leave it too little, and you'll get over easy. Once you have that down, you'll make the perfect over-medium eggs like a real chef.

Step 1: Get the Pan Ready

Place a medium-sized skillet or pan on your stove. For the best results, I recommend you use non-stick pan.  I prefer ceramic non-stick pans.

Turn the heat of your stove to medium-low. Leave it for about 5 minutes to ensure that it's fully pre-heated.

Step 2: Melt the Butter

Add about a half tablespoon of butter per egg directly on the pan. Allow the butter to melt evenly and spread it throughout the pan with a silicone spatula. The butter should melt entirely in 1 to 3 minutes.

If butter isn't readily available, you can instead use non-stick cooking spray  or a bit of oil.

Step 3: Crack the Egg

There are two ways to start cooking the egg. The first is to crack the egg directly into your buttered pan. The second is to crack the egg into a small bowl.

I prefer the second method because I find it easier than cracking it directly into a pan. Removing shells is easier this way, too.

If you're not used to cracking shells open, you can get yourself a handy egg cracker. The egg cracker will allow you to break the eggs open without the fear of shells or dirtying your hands.

Either way, make sure you don’t break the yolk. You want the yolk in one piece, like the way it was inside the egg.

Step 4: Cook the Egg

Once your egg is on the pan, allow the underside to set. It shouldn't take longer than 2 minutes. You'll know your eggs are ready to flip when the egg whites don't look liquidy anymore.

Gently shake or shimmy the pan around to get the yolks in the position you want it in. Once done, it's time to flip the eggs!

To guarantee that the yolk doesn't split, make sure to get the spatula directly under the yolk so you can support its weight when you flip it over.

Leave the egg to cook for another 30 seconds. Once done, turn your stove off.

Step 5: Serve the Egg

Before serving the egg, let it sit for about a minute so it can finish cooking. Then, you can either slide the egg directly into a place or use a spatula.

And that's it! Remember to add fresh pepper using a pepper grinder and sprinkle salt to taste.

How to Make Over Medium Eggs Without Flipping

Believe it or not, you can make over medium eggs without flipping. So if you’re worried about breaking the yolk, follow these steps instead:

Step 1: Prepare the Egg

Follow steps 1, 2, and 3 as is. Once the egg’s underside has set, instead of flipping it, you'll need to pour half a tablespoon of water in the pan around it.

Step 2: Cover Immediately

Cover the pan for about a minute. If you prefer a runnier center, leave it for 30 seconds.

Step 3: Serve the Egg

Uncover the pan and turn off the heat. Slide it into a plate and sprinkle some salt and pepper!

Over Medium Eggs in the Oven

Cooking eggs in the oven is ideal if you're making more than 3 eggs. Instead of spending more than 10 minutes cooking a dozen eggs, over medium eggs in the oven are done in about 5 minutes.

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Step 2: Prepare the Pan

In this method, you can either use a sheet pan or a muffin tin. Grease the pan or tin with butter, nonstick spray, or oil.

Step 3: Crack the Eggs

Once your pan or tin is sufficiently greased, crack the eggs directly onto it. Make sure the yolks are solid and intact. Season it with salt and pepper before sliding it gently in your oven.

Step 4: Leave it to Cook

Leave your eggs to cook for about 5 minutes or until it reaches the desired consistency. I've found that over-medium eggs shouldn't be cooked for any longer than 5 minutes. Yet, depending on your oven's heat, it may take another minute or two.

Step 5: Serve the Eggs

If you used a tin, slice up the eggs and serve it on a plate. For muffin tins, gently scoop up the eggs using a small spatula.

Over Medium Eggs in Cast Iron

Using a cast iron when frying an egg can be intimidating as the egg might stick or tear when it's time to flip or serve. But as long as you follow these steps, I guarantee you'll get the perfect over medium egg.

Step 1: Get the Skillet Ready

Place your skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter. I use the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron skillet because of its heat retention and even heating.

TIP: To prevent the egg from sticking, make sure to generously and evenly coat the skillet’s surface with butter.

Step 2: Crack the Egg

Crack the egg on a flat surface before adding it directly to the skillet. Again, you can use an egg cracker or crack the egg in a bowl before gently depositing it in the skillet.

Step 3: Generate Steam

Once the egg whites start to form, pour about 1 tablespoon of water around the outside edge of the egg. Turn down the heat to low and cover the skillet with a lid.

Step 4: Flip the Egg

After about 2 and a half minutes, remove the lid and flip the egg over. Then cook the egg for an additional 30 seconds uncovered.

Step 5: Serve the Egg

And you're done! Slide it onto a plate, sprinkle salt and pepper, and enjoy.

Are Over Medium Eggs Healthy?

Eating an undercooked egg can make you sick, so it's best to cook your eggs properly.

According to the CDC, eggs need to be cooked at least to 160°F to be safe. As such, over-medium eggs are entirely safe and healthy to eat.

How to Make Over Medium Eggs, Everything You Need!

Learning how to make over-medium eggs isn’t as difficult as some people may think. As long as you follow the steps I’ve shown you above, you’re sure to prepare the best over-medium eggs one can make!

Last update on 2022-08-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API