Techniques
Eggs
Skill
Intermediate
3 min

Baste fried eggs with melted butter to set the whites

Add extra butter and spoon it over the egg whites until they set.

Melt butter, crack in the egg, and once the bottom is firm and sliding easily, add another piece of butter. As it melts, spoon it over the whites repeatedly until set.

The short version

  • Wait until bottom firms before basting
  • Spoon butter over whites to set without flipping

What you need

  • spoonUsed to baste with butter

How to do it

  1. 1

    Melt some butter in the pan, then crack an egg on top.

    Watch this step
  2. 2

    When the bottom is firm and the egg slides easily, add another piece of butter.

    Watch this step
  3. 3

    As it melts, scoop butter with a spoon and pour it over the whites; repeat until set.

    Continue until no liquid butter is left (as stated).

    Watch this step
  4. 4

    Salt and serve.

    Watch this step

What goes wrong

Basting before the egg has set on the bottom

Wait until the bottom is firm and the egg slides easily

Why it works

Hot butter gently cooks the top of the whites without flipping, improving doneness control.

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