Butter certainly works for fried eggs, but oil is the fat of choice for cooks who want a runny yolk with a satisfying crispy white. Extra-virgin olive oil is most popular, and yields a satisfyingly crunchy bottom that will soak up luscious flavor.
Cooking eggs in olive oil gives better results! The fried eggs have perfectly crisp edges, and scrambled eggs have a silky smooth texture. Plus, you'll also get the health benefits of olive oil.
Cooking eggs with olive oil is considered to be a healthier opinion when compared with butter (via Live Strong). The Olive Oil Source details exactly what kinds of benefits different olive oils have. Extra virgin seems to be the best for fried eggs because it has the highest smoke point.
Oil Is Best For Frying An Egg In A Cast-Iron Skillet
On medium-low heat, heat around 1/8-inch of oil in the cast-iron skillet for about 1 to 2 minutes, until hot and shimmering. In the meantime, crack an egg into a small bowl. Once the oil is hot, gently slide the egg into the hot oil.
Canola oil or any type of vegetable oil are also popular choices for frying eggs. Those oils have neutral flavor profiles and high smoke points, so you can crack up the temperature to medium-high without worrying. If you want to fancy it up a bit, you can use flavored oils for cooking.
Avocado oil contains large quantities of Omega-9 and Omega-3 fatty acids and is particularly high in oleic acid. Unsaturated fatty acids like these have been shown to lower bad cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. This makes avocado oil the healthiest choice when frying.
Best for Shallow Frying and Sautéing
Therefore, oils with moderate or high smoke points can be safely used. Some examples include olive, avocado, canola, corn, safflower, sunflower, and grapeseed oil.
The vegetable oil seals these cracks and lets the eggs fry without making a horrific stuck on mess. If some bits of egg do stick to your pan, scrub with a little bit of salt and a paper towel between batches. If you use soap and water, you'll have to recondition your pan before cooking more eggs.
A nice, steady medium heat is perfect for frying eggs. If the pan is too hot, the bottom cooks while the top is still liquidy. If the pan is cooler, the egg will take longer to cook. The pan should be just hot enough that you get a little bubbling action when the egg hits the skillet.
If you add a tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil to the pan, you may also be adding some extra health benefits to your eggs. Both of these oils are considered “healthy fats” which may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Olive oil is also considered an antioxidant that may help fight inflammation.
Given the fact that high temperatures and long cooking times decrease the nutrient availability of eggs, and adding oil, fat, or dairy also makes the nutrient profile less favorable by increasing the number of calories and grams of fat, the healthiest way to cook eggs is by poaching them or soft boiling them.
Cooking eggs in olive oil will give you better results. The scrambled eggs will have a silky smooth texture, and if you fry them, they will have fine crisp edges. Moreover, olive oil is healthy for your body, giving you another reason to use it over butter.
Heat about 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a medium pan (about 9 inch diameter) over medium to high heat. When olive oil is hot (after about 1-2 minutes), crack the egg in the pan and fry for about 2-3 minutes.
Melt the butter or heat the oil in your skillet over low heat for 1 minute. Use 1 teaspoon of butter or oil per egg if using a nonstick skillet or well-seasoned cast iron skillet. Use 2 teaspoons of butter or oil if you're using a stainless steel skillet. Swirl the pan to coat the bottom.
Let the eggs cook until white is set and the corners begin to curl ever so slightly, about 3 - 4 minutes depending on your heat source. No need to fuss with them either, they'll turn out better if they're left alone. For sunny side up eggs, simply slide the eggs onto a plate and season again if desired.
The layer of fat gets between the pan and the eggs and prevents the proteins from sticking. You can cook eggs in any kind of pan—even a cast-iron skillet, but you need to make sure you have oil in it and keep the eggs moving so that a bond never gets a chance to form. For the rest of us, a nonstick pan is best.
What Is the Difference Between Canola Oil and Vegetable Oil? It all comes down to nutrition. Although canola oil and vegetable oil are both plant-based oils—canola oil comes from the rapeseed plant and vegetable oil is typically soybean-based or made from a blend of vegetable oils—they differ in their fat composition.
Canola oil is generally considered a “healthy” oil because it is very low in saturated fat (7%). Like olive oil it is high in monounsaturated fat (63%).
Corn Oil. Refined corn oil is often used in frying, thanks to its smoke point of 450°. It has a neutral flavor, and is used frequently in commercial kitchens because of its low price point.
Olive oil actually has a relatively high smoke point and is a safe, reliable option for frying. On top of that, it is one of the healthiest cooking staples around. Olive oil has been named “the healthiest fat on Earth,” in part because of its unique ability to reduce the risk of heart disease.