Learn how to make over easy, over medium, and over hard eggs! This guide shows you the differences between each and offers tips to get the perfect fry every time.
Order Up!
When out to breakfast, the frequent question is, “How do you want your eggs?” The classic diner-style plate typically includes one to two eggs, and in my opinion, nothing beats a saucy yolk mopped up with dry wheat toast.
In this article, I’ll share the difference between the classic over easy, over medium, and over hard egg. Read on to learn more!
What's The Difference Between Over Easy, Medium, and Hard Eggs?
The “over” in over easy, medium, or hard refers to the physical act of flipping the egg over. An egg is fried on one side and flipped to cook on the other. The easy, medium and hard refers to the density of the yolk:
- Over easy eggs are fried quickly on the second side, yielding a completely liquid yolk. Some of the surrounding whites may also still be somewhat wet.
- Over medium eggs are cooked a tad longer, resulting in a jammy yolk. The “just right” Goldilocks version of an egg, in my opinion!
- Over hard eggs are completely cooked through, with a yolk that resembles a hardboiled egg.
How To Make "Over" Eggs
Regardless of the level lof yolkiness you prefer, the method that you cook them is all the same:
- Heat a small pad of butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Swirl the pan, allowing the butter to foam.
- Crack in one egg, season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Once the whites begin to firm up, use a spatula to carefully flip your egg.
The time that you cook the egg on the other side is determined by what style you prefer:
Over easy should fry on the second side for only about 15-20 seconds.
Over medium should fry on the second side for about 30-45 seconds.
Over hard, again, is a fully cooked egg. Feel free to cook as long as two minutes on the other side to ensure the yolk is totally cooked through.
Bonus!
We can’t talk about yolky eggs without talking about sunny side-up eggs!
This style is cooked in the same way as “over” eggs, in that you crack the egg into a skillet that has a small amount of butter in it. However, sunny side up isn’t flipped. The top part of the egg can either be lightly steamed by placing a lid on your pan or else spooning some of the residual cooking liquid over the whites. Be careful to not allow the yolk to cook, however. You want it to be perfectly liquid, emulating a sunshine yellow.
Get Cracking!
In conclusion, these diner-style eggs couldn’t be easier to make at home. Try each to find your favorite, and comment below!
Looking for more delicious egg ideas?
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Hello,
Please look into your description of an over hard egg.
Over “Well” egg: Intact and fully cooked yolk, like a hard boiled egg.
Over “Hard” egg: Yolk is broken early in cooking, before being flipped. Then flipped after one min to finish cooking. cooking tome is less due to higher surface area and the result is a thin layer of cooked yolk between two layers of cooked whites.
This is my favorite way to eat fried eggs because I hate a runny yolk lol. I always forget what they’re called when I’m in a restaurant so I have to explain how they’re made. Just a little salt and pepper and they are so delicious!
I didn’t know there was a difference. Love this info, now I know what it is called whenever I fry an egg. My favorite is sunny side up and eggs over easy. When it is eggs over hard, I pass the yolk to someone else…lol
Annie, I agree! I didn’t know the differences for the longest time. I’m glad you found this helpful!