Everybody knows how to scramble eggs, you might think. True, anybody can scramble eggs, but making a fluffy, moist scramble is a bit of an art form. A lot of people loathe overcooked, rubbery, or browned eggs. So many diners and delis serve them this way, which means some rarely go out for breakfast anymore. Why should they, when it’s perfectly easy (and way less expensive) to make tasty eggs at home? Here’s how!
INGREDIENTS used to make scrambled eggs
4 large eggs
1 tbsp whole milk or water
Shredded or crumbled cheese, optional
Salt and pepper
Nonstick cooking oil spray, olive oil, or butter, or a combination.
You will also need: Bowl, fork or whisk, medium nonstick skillet
This recipe makes 2 servings, 2 eggs each (4 total), in a medium-sized nonstick skillet. In my experience, 4 eggs tend to be the easiest to deal with in a standard medium-sized skillet and scrambles the most evenly. For a small skillet, try 2 eggs at a time. If you have a very large skillet (over 11″), try 6 at a time. Always use a skillet with a nonstick coating or a well-seasoned cast-iron pan for the best results.
Let’s talk for a moment about egg quality. You can scramble any eggs and come out with a decent scramble, but if you want to take things to another level, make sure the chickens that laid your eggs were pasture-raised and given plenty of room to roam and forage. Pasture-raised eggs tend to be tastier with more nutritious, bright yellow yolks. Try checking out your local farmer’s market, health food store, or even a neighbor with chickens to see if you can score a deal on farm-fresh eggs.
INSTRUCTIONS
If you plan on adding cheese to your eggs, make sure that the cheese is shredded/prepared and set aside so you can add it to the skillet quickly. Place your skillet on the stovetop and turn on the heat. I leave the heat somewhere between medium-low and medium, so it warms up but doesn’t get too hot.
Meanwhile, prepare your eggs. Break them into a bowl with a tablespoon of water or milk, some salt, and pepper. Some use about 1/8 tsp salt and a pinch of pepper; you might use more or less according to taste. If you’re dairy intolerant or don’t like the taste of milk you can use water. some people personally love the way milk enhances the flavor of the eggs.
Use a fork or whisk to beat the eggs briskly for 30-60 seconds, making sure the eggs are fully broken up and mixed well with the milk and the seasonings. Use a little elbow grease here, the more you whip it the better.
Lightly grease your hot skillet, coating the surface with a thin layer of oil or butter (or a combination of oil and butter). If using spray oil, use caution and keep it away from any open gas flames.
Pour the eggs into the skillet. Keep the heat on medium/medium-low, you don’t want to rush it here– if the skillet is too hot the eggs will cook too quickly and become rubbery Once you pour the eggs in they will begin to cook immediately. Using a spatula (you can also use a wooden or silicone spatula so that it won’t damage your pan’s nonstick coating), begin pulling the cooked outer edges in towards the center of the eggs. Uncooked eggs will flood the area you just pulled back. If you are adding cheese, now is the time to sprinkle it into the skillet. This will allow ample time for the cheese to melt and integrate into the eggs.
Move the spatula around the edge of the skillet, pulling the cooked edges towards the center and re-flooding repeatedly. Cooked scrambled eggs will gather in the center of the skillet.
At a certain point, the uncooked eggs will no longer flood and the scramble will all collect in the center of the skillet, but it will still be slightly runny in texture. Begin breaking up the scramble; quickly turn undercooked areas and keep the scramble moving to make sure that all surfaces cook evenly. Never leave a surface in contact too long with the skillet or it will become overcooked.
Turn off the heat when the eggs are 900″ cooked. When the eggs are done, serve immediately. Perfectly cooked scrambled eggs are moist but not runny with no crisp or brown edges. This technique may take a bit of practice, but it is quite simple. With time you too will be making and serving moist, fluffy scrambled eggs!