These Over Hard Fried Eggs are as simple to make as they are delicious! Serve them up on their own alongside all of your favourite breakfast foods. Or, serve them on top of bowls, burgers, sandwiches, avocado toast and more.
What kind of egg type are you? I mean, everyone has an egg type that they like the best. Am I right? The ones you normally order when you go out for breakfast. The ones you find yourself cooking up on weekends at home. You know, THE ones?! Well, I’m really not gonna lie to you here. I have no ONE. Now before you go looking at me all hypocrite like, can I clear things up for you, please? I actually have TWO ones. I absolutely love my sunny side up eggs always and forever, hands DOWN. Buuuuuuuuuttttttttt there’s always a time and a place (AND A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART) for over hard eggs.
While I have absolutely nothing (and I mean nothing!!!) against a good ol’ runny yolk, I often find myself leaning towards the irresistible appeal of over hard fried eggs – a satisfying crunch in every bite, golden brown around the edges and just perfect to serve up with sliced tomatoes (don’t ask) or on a hearty breakfast sandwich. They’re a whole lot easier to make than their sunny side up counterparts cause you don’t have to be extra careful not to break the yolk. And, a lot less messy.
So whether you dislike runny yolks or are just looking for a new way to elevate your breakfast game, over hard fried eggs are the answer. With a hearty texture and a fully cooked yolk, they offer a delightful alternative to some of the more classic ways of cooking eggs. You’re going to love them!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE OVER HARD EGGS
Over hard fried eggs are basically so foolproof that literally anyone can make them. All you need is an egg, a good frying pan and a little bit of fat to keep the egg from sticking. So, let’s talk about everything you’ll need in a little bit more detail:
- Eggs: Use fresh eggs for the best results. SIDE NOTE: Ever since moving to the west coast from Toronto, I’ve had the absolute pleasure of buying farm fresh eggs. And I just have to put it out there into the world that WOW, do they ever make a difference! Not only do they taste 100% better but they have the brightest yolks I ever did see. I know not everyone has access to farm fresh eggs (and trust me, I count my blessings daily) so just try and use the freshest eggs you can get your hands on.
- Cooking oil or butter: Choose a neutral cooking oil like avocado oil or use butter for added flavour. Use enough to coat the pan as it plays an important role in keeping the egg from sticking.
- Salt and Pepper: Sorry but who are you if you don’t serve eggs with salt and pepper? Not me, that’s for sure! They add flavour and seasonings to the eggs. However, you can also add other seasonings like herbs or spices, if desired, depending on what flavour profile you’re going for.
HOW TO MAKE PERFECT OVER HARD FRIED EGGS (KEY TIPS)
You can find full instructions for how to make perfect over hard eggs in the recipe card down below, but here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:
- Use a non-stick pan. A non-stick pan makes flipping the eggs much easier and helps prevent them from sticking. EXTRA TIP: Use enough oil or butter. Make sure you adequately coat the pan with oil or butter to prevent the eggs from sticking and to add extra flavour.
- Use fresh eggs for the best flavour and appearance. Fresh eggs have firmer whites, making them easier to handle.
- Control the heat. Medium heat is usually ideal for cooking over-hard fried eggs. This ensures the eggs cook through without burning.
- Use a knife to break the yolk immediately after you crack it into the pan and spread it over the egg white portion. I consider this my secret weapon! It’s the best way to get the most out of your egg white and cooked yolk ratio. Trust me. See below for photos if you need a visual explanation of what I’m talking about.
- Lid for steam. If you want to speed up the cooking process, you can cover the pan with a lid briefly to trap steam, helping to cook eggs faster.
- Adjust cooking time. If you prefer a slightly runny yolk in your over hard eggs, you can reduce the cooking time after flipping. However, feel free to experiment to find the perfect level of doneness for your taste.
- Season after flipping. Wait to season the eggs with salt and pepper until after you’ve flipped them. This ensures that they distribute over the eggs nicely and don’t burn on the pan.
- Serve immediately. It’s best to enjoy over hard fried eggs fresh and hot. Therefore, serve them immediately to maintain their optimal texture and flavour.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
“Over hard” refers to the level of doneness for fried eggs. When eggs are cooked over hard, both the whites and yolks are fully cooked. The yolks are not runny but instead are fully set, creating a firm and solid texture. This is in contrast to over easy or sunny side up eggs, where the yolks remain runny or partially set. Cooking eggs over hard results in a more well cooked and substantial dish, often preferred by those who do not enjoy the gooey texture of runny yolks.
The preference for over hard eggs is subjective and depends on individual taste. Some people enjoy over hard eggs because they have a fully cooked yolk and a firm texture throughout, which can be satisfying and less messy than runny yolks. Over hard eggs are also versatile and you can easily incorporate them into various dishes.
However, taste preferences vary, and some individuals may prefer eggs with runny yolks for a different texture and flavour experience. It’s all about personal preference. If you enjoy fully cooked yolks and a heartier texture, then over hard eggs might be a good choice for you. If you’re unsure, it’s worth trying both styles to see which you prefer.
When ordering eggs at a restaurant or diner, specifying that you want your eggs “over hard” is a straightforward way to communicate how you’d like them cooked. Simply saying that you’d like to order your eggs over hard will do the trick!
There are various ways to prepare fried eggs, and the names often reflect the degree of doneness and the cooking method. Here are five types of fried eggs:
Sunny-Side Up: The egg is fried on one side only, and the yolk remains runny. The term “sunny-side up” refers to the appearance of the egg with the yolk resembling a bright sun.
Over Easy: The egg is fried on both sides, but the yolk is still runny. It is flipped only briefly to set the whites while keeping the yolk partially liquid.
Over Medium: Similar to over easy, but the yolk is partially cooked with a slightly thicker consistency. The yolk is more set than in over easy but not fully cooked through.
Over Hard: Both the whites and the yolk are fully cooked, resulting in a firm texture. Over-hard eggs are cooked longer than over-medium eggs, and the yolk is completely set.
Over Well: This term is often used interchangeably with over-hard, indicating that both the whites and the yolk are fully cooked until well done.
OVER HARD FRIED EGGS
These Over Hard Fried Eggs are as simple to make as they are delicious! Serve them up on their own alongside all of your favourite breakfast foods. Or, serve them on top of bowls, burgers, sandwiches, avocado toast and more.
Ingredients
- 1 Egg
- Butter or Cooking Oil (such as avocado)
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Place a non-stick pan over medium heat. Allow it to heat up before adding any oil or butter. Once the pan is hot, add enough cooking oil or butter to coat the bottom of the pan. Allow it to melt or heat up.
- Crack the egg into the pan. If doing more than one at a time, space them out to avoid them merging. Use a knife to break the yolk and partially spread it over the white part.
- Allow the eggs to cook until the whites are set. This usually takes a couple of minutes.
- Using a spatula, gently flip the eggs. Continue cooking for an additional minute or until the yolks are fully cooked.
- Season with a little bit of salt and pepper. Then, carefully transfer the over hard fried eggs onto a plate and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 298Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 217mgSodium: 458mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 6g
Nutrition is only an estimate and calculated using Nutritionix.
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