They’re easier than over easy but taste better than sunny side up. Basted eggs are the best eggs to make at home.
When we originally decided to do this whole series on eggs, I had a bunch of different diner-style eggs on my list to make (think over easy, sunny side up, over medium, etc.). However, I then remembered that my favorite way to cook eggs beats those all, hands down.
Ahhh basted eggs, how I love thee.
Here’s A Video Showing How To Baste Eggs:
Why Should I Make Basted Eggs?
Why make basted eggs? Well…
Have you ever made over easy eggs at home? It’s a pain. Trying to get that egg flipped without breaking the yolk. Yikes!
If you want a dippable yolk but you don’t want to have to flip the egg, then you’re going with sunny side up. Much easier. The downside to that is that there is often this slimy goop over the egg yolk that doesn’t cook. It’s exactly that stuff that you’re trying to cook when you do over easy eggs.
Conclusion so far? Over easy eggs are annoying. Sunny side up have slime.
So then, what if I told you that you could cook that slime without having to flip the eggs? You’d be pretty excited, right?
That’s where basted eggs come in. You start by making a sunny side up egg. When the whites are almost set, you add some hot tap water and a lid. What happens? The steam created from the water surrounds the yolk and cooks the goopy layer.
I told you basted eggs are where it’s at!
How to Make Basted Eggs:
Melt some butter in a non-stick skillet.
Crack in an egg.
When the whites are nearly set, add a drizzle of hot tap water or recently boiled water from a kettle.
Put a lid on the skillet. If you don’t have a lid for your skillet, a big sheet of aluminum foil will work. Note that the lid you use does not have to be a lid that came with the skillet. Any sauce pan lid that is bigger than your skillet will work here.
Let it cook until the steam has cooked the layer of egg whites that is over the yolk. About 30 seconds. If you like your yolks more cooked, you can let the egg steam for longer.
Trim off any uneven whites if desired and serve.
Enjoy!
Podcast Episode About Basting Eggs
Listen to me explain briefly about how baste eggs, along with some other great tips, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
Print Basted Egg
They’re easier than over-easy but taste better than sunny side up. Basted eggs are the best eggs to make at home.
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Cook Time: 4-5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. butter or margarine
- 1 large egg
- 1 Tbsp. boiling (or very hot) water
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Crack in the egg.
- Cook until whites are nearly fully set and then add the hot water to the skillet. Cover the skillet.
- Cook the egg in the covered skillet until the whites are set and the thin layer of whites that tops the yolk has turned white as well.
- Remove egg from skillet. Serve.
This post originally appeared in April 2018 and was revised and republished in April 2021.
I’ve been making what looks like basted eggs but didn’t know what it was called. I don’t even add the water, I just immediately put the cover on and the heat cooks the eggs to have that white look. I love basted eggs. So easy and yummy
★★★★
Thanks for letting us know, Bobby! Enjoy!
i like ur cook mode
It’s a great feature isn’t it? 🙂
Was looking around where I live in Clarence NY, and found the Campfire Grill. Their breakfast menu is replete with various proprietary names; several included Basted Eggs. While I am familiar with the name Basted Eggs, my repertoire included scrambled, sunny side up, over easy and hard, hard boiled, poached but not basted as didn’t know the method. They’re so simple, so did my first basted egg immediately! It turned out perfectly! My new Family style egg will be basted for sure, and experiment with fresh light herbs as the egg is so mild. When basting meats, one needed a few utensils, with basted eggs, one needs a fry pan, and something to scoop the final product out with; and they are light! Thank you for providing the easy to follow recipe and video.
★★★★★
So glad it was helpful for you, Steven! Enjoy!
I don’t know why these boomer comments are so negative. Thank you for sharing. I already knew about Basted eggs but I’m glad other people at e catching on! I didn’t know their official name, I called them steamed lol I like basted better. Thank you for sharing this wonderful way to make perfect eggs. Try eating then with some Boston brown bread, you won’t be sorry !
★★★★★
Thank you, Joshua, glad you enjoy eggs this way too!