In short
- Preheat the pan and only then add a knob of butter or a splash of oil.
- Fry over medium-high heat, not too hot, or the white sticks fast.
- Use a good non-stick pan and a soft silicone spatula.
- Enough fat and the right temperature prevent sticking.
A fried egg that stays half stuck to the pan: frustrating and a waste of the egg. Luckily it is rarely the egg and almost always the temperature and the fat. Here is how to fry eggs that slide right out of the pan.
Why do my eggs stick to the pan?
Usually because the pan is too cold or there is too little fat in it. The white then bonds straight to the surface. A pan that is too hot is also a problem: the white sets before the fat can do its work. The right temperature is in between.
How do you fry a fried egg without sticking?
- Preheat the pan over medium-high heat.
- Add a knob of butter or a splash of oil and let it melt and cover the base.
- Crack the egg gently into the pan.
- Fry calmly until the white has set and the edges turn light brown.
- Slide a soft spatula underneath and lift the egg out.
Which pan and utensils do you use?
A frying pan with a good non-stick coating is the difference here between sticking and releasing. Use a soft silicone spatula so you do not damage the coating. Want to keep your pan non-stick as long as possible? Read our tips on making non-stick pans last longer.
Eggs that always release
Preheat, then fat, then the egg, and fry over medium-high heat. With a good non-stick pan and a soft spatula, you will never again have a fried egg half stuck in the pan.
