I work at a breakfast cafe, and I probably ask people how they want their eggs to be cooked at least 100 times a day. Occasionally, but more often than you would expect, people get flustered when I spring this question on them. I often get the response, "I don't know, cooked?" To which I reply, "Okay, how would you like your eggs cooked?" My favorite answer to this pressuring question is "fried," as if there is only one way to fry an egg. What really breaks my heart, though, is when a customer asks for scrambled eggs, and I know it's just because that's the only thing they know. I can tell they want to step out of their comfort zone and try something new, but they don't know how. So, I have created this list of the multiple ways that you can order your eggs.
1. Scrambled Soft
This is how I prefer my eggs if they are going to be scrambled, they aren't as cooked as a normal scrambled egg, and are perfect for the person who dislikes the taste of a cooked yolk.
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2. Scrambled
This is most likely how your parents cooked you eggs at home, not too runny, and not browned at all. If you don't know how to order this, all you have to say is "scrambled." There is no need to specify that you would like them scrambled "medium," because there is no such thing.
3. Scrambled Hard
This specific style of scrambled eggs is, in fact, browned. Some other terms for this are scrambled well, and scrambled dry.
4. Sunny Side Up
This is a fried egg that has not been flipped. If you don't like your egg whites to still be a bit raw, do not order your eggs this way.
5. Over Easy
This is a fried egg, and you can also say o"ver light" when ordering eggs that are cooked this way. There is no need to be overwhelmed when you order this, simply say the words, "Over Easy." Your server will know exactly what you're talking about. You don't have to confuse your server by telling them you want sunny side up eggs, but cooked on both sides, because that would mean they aren't sunny side up anymore.
6. Over Medium
I have had customers argue with me over this one, insisting that the whites of the egg should still be runny but, a proper over medium egg has perfectly firm whites. The yolk, however, will still be uncooked. This style of egg also falls under the "fried" category.
7. Over Hard
For this egg the yolk is popped, and it is fried well on both sides. Absolutely nothing will be runny. So, if you are grossed out by the thought of what you're eating, this might be your best option next to scrambled hard.
8. Poached
One of my personal favorites, the egg is dropped into a pot of simmering liquid, usually it's just water. This is the softest egg that you can eat. If you've ever eaten eggs Benedict, you have eaten a poached egg. The whites may be less cooked, or on the firm side, but the yolk is like a beautiful liquid sunset that you can eat.
9. Basted
Basted eggs are the cousin to poached eggs. They are cooked in a pan, or on a flat top, but they are steamed underneath a dome. They will have almost the same consistency as a poached egg.
10. Soft Boiled
This is exactly what it sounds like, submerged in a pot of boiling water with the shell still on, the yolk will be perfectly runny.
11. Hard Boiled
You guessed it, a hard boiled egg is like a soft boiled egg, but cooked a little bit longer to ensure that you have a firm yolk.
Now, the next time you are out to brunch and you are asked how you prefer your eggs to be cooked, you can be prepared. Print this out if you must, but your server can't guess how you want them done. And responding with, "I want them fried, and I want them kind of runny, but not really," doesn't cut it. Know your eggs, people. It's really not that difficult.
