Overall, shorter and lower-heat cooking methods cause less cholesterol oxidation and help retain most of the egg's nutrients. For this reason, poached and boiled (either hard or soft) eggs may be the healthiest to eat. These cooking methods also don't add any unnecessary calories.
Poached Eggs
Based on the goals of getting the most nutrients out of your eggs with the least risk of oxidizing cholesterol, poaching is the number one healthiest way to cook and eat eggs.
Why the unhealthiest way to cook eggs is to fry them at high heat. Although frying eggs is one of the most popular methods of preparing eggs, it's not necessarily the healthiest method you can choose. That's because oil is high in calories and saturated fats. And butter is one of the worst offenders.
Boiled eggs are more nutritious than other types of eggs because they are cooked without oil or butter, which adds additional calories and fat to the finished product. In comparison, one large fried egg contains 90 calories and 6.83 grams of fat, of which 2 grams are saturated.
To get the maximum protein from your eggs without consuming added saturated fat, boil or poach them, or cook them in a small amount of healthy unsaturated fat, such as olive oil, rather than butter.
Overall, shorter and lower-heat cooking methods cause less cholesterol oxidation and help retain most of the egg's nutrients. For this reason, poached and boiled (either hard or soft) eggs may be the healthiest to eat. These cooking methods also don't add any unnecessary calories.
Two eggs give you 12 grams of hunger-satisfying protein. Half of that is in the yolk, so be sure to eat the whole egg for all the protein goodness. Recent research found that we build more lean muscle and boost muscle strength more when we eat whole eggs, not just the egg whites.
The longer and hotter you cook your eggs, the more nutrients you may lose. Scrambling eggs causes a decrease in B vitamins and selenium, but keeps more healthy fats, vitamin D, and vitamin K than if they're boiled.
One study found that boiling, frying, or microwaving can reduce the antioxidant content in eggs. When eggs are heated at high temperatures, such as with frying or processing, the cholesterol can become oxidized. This has been linked to some health concerns and disease.
Cooking your eggs sunny side up does not have nutritional advantages over other methods of preparing your eggs. Eggs have a bad reputation because of their high cholesterol content, but they also contain several essential nutrients.
These foods are known to increase heart disease risk and should be eaten sparingly. Most healthy people can eat up to seven eggs a week without affecting their heart health. Some choose to eat only the egg white and not the yolk, which provides some protein without the cholesterol.
Lots of fried egg stans say butter is best. Thanks to its high concentration of fat, butter has a unique taste and creamy texture. It's great for high heat pan-frying and can prevent your eggs from sticking to the pan.
Omelets are full of vitamins – If you want to get your vitamins in for the day, eat an omelet! Eggs are a great source of vitamin A, and they also contain vitamins B, C, D, E and K.
In and of themselves, scrambled eggs are a healthy dish. Eggs are high in protein as well as B vitamins and vitamin D; eggs also contain heart-healthy unsaturated fats. However, when butter, cream, cream cheese, or shredded cheese are added, the calories, cholesterol, and fat content increase.
Just like eggs cooked in other ways, fried eggs are rich in nutrients and can contribute towards a healthy diet when eaten as part of a balanced meal. However, the type of fat used in the pan is important.
The longer and hotter you cook your eggs, the more nutrients you may lose. Scrambling eggs causes a decrease in B vitamins and selenium, but keeps more healthy fats, vitamin D, and vitamin K than if they're boiled. Scrambling is usually lower heat than frying or boiling and for less time.
Canola oil or a light olive oil are both great for all foods, not just eggs. The canola oil will be flavorless while the olive oil will have a hint of fresh olives. Ghee or clarified butter is the healthiest.
Egg yolks are high in cholesterol and nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. Eating only egg whites to avoid the cholesterol from the yolk may only be necessary for people at an elevated risk of heart disease.
Become a pro at poaching with this simple trick! Served on toast for breakfast or as part of a salad for lunch, these eggs are healthy, delicious and packed with protein.
Hard-boiled eggs are an excellent source of lean protein. They'll fill you up without packing in too many calories, which is helpful if you want to lose weight. The protein in hard-boiled eggs also works alongside vitamin D to promote prenatal development.
But another study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that eating two hard-boiled eggs daily increased the formation of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a chemical linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Egg yolks contain lecithin, an essential fat that contributes to TMAO formation.
Also, the health benefits from eggs in regard to minerals outweigh that of meat. So, when looking at egg protein or meat protein, balance is key. Meat outweighs eggs in protein content per gram, but eggs provide a more versatile and healthier component to consuming protein.
Chicken eggs are an affordable source of protein and other nutrients. They're also naturally high in cholesterol. But the cholesterol in eggs doesn't seem to raise cholesterol levels the way some other foods, such as those high in trans fats and saturated fats, do.