Deep Frying An Egg: Is It Possible?

Deep-fried eggs are a unique and fun culinary creation that can be enjoyed as a memorable breakfast dish or a tasty snack. While the idea of frying an egg may seem unconventional, it is a practice that has been adopted by various global cuisines, including Indonesian and Filipino dishes. In this method of preparation, soft-boiled eggs are breaded and fried, resulting in a crispy exterior and a runny yolk. This text explores the process of deep-frying eggs, from the initial boiling process to the final frying step, and offers tips for achieving the perfect deep-fried egg.

Deep-fried eggs are a memorable breakfast dish

To make deep-fried eggs, you will need to start by soft-boiling the eggs. Bring a pan of water to a boil and use a pin or egg pricker to pierce the blunt end of the egg to prevent it from breaking. Lower the heat to a simmer, place the eggs in the water, and cook for 3-4 minutes. Transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water to cool them down, which should take about 10-15 minutes.

Once the eggs are cooled, it's time to bread and fry them. Heat around 2 cups of sustainable palm oil or another oil with a high smoke point in a small saucepan to 175-190°C. In separate bowls, prepare flour, beaten egg, and breadcrumbs mixed with chopped precooked bacon. Coat each soft-boiled egg in flour, then the beaten egg, followed by the bacon breadcrumbs. Repeat the process for a double coating.

Carefully place the eggs in the hot oil, frying for about 10-30 seconds on each side until brown and crispy all over. Transfer the eggs to a paper towel to absorb any excess oil and serve warm.

Deep-fried eggs are a fun and creative way to enjoy eggs for breakfast, and with a little patience to peel and bread the eggs, they are easy to make. They are a memorable dish that is sure to be a conversation starter at your next breakfast gathering.

You should use soft-boiled eggs for deep-frying

Deep-fried eggs are a unique and fun breakfast dish that is surprisingly easy to make. They are also a memorable dish with roots in Indonesian, Filipino, and British cuisines.

To make deep-fried eggs, you should use soft-boiled eggs. Soft-boiled eggs are cooked just long enough to set the egg whites, but the yolk remains warm and runny. This is the ideal starting point for deep-fried eggs because the eggs will continue to cook as you fry them.

To soft-boil eggs, first, bring a pot of water to a boil. You will need enough water to fully cover the eggs. Using a clean pin or egg pricker, pierce the end of the egg with an air pocket. If you skip this step, your eggs may break and run while boiling. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer, carefully place the eggs in the water, and cook for 3-4 minutes.

After boiling, transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water to cool them down, which should take about 10-15 minutes. To peel the eggs, gently tap the shell to break it, starting with the side that is easier to peel. For the harder side, use a spoon to loosen the shell from the egg white.

Once your soft-boiled eggs are peeled, you can bread and fry them. Heat oil in a deep pot or pan to a temperature of around 175°C. Place flour, beaten egg, and breadcrumbs in separate bowls. For extra flavor, you can add chopped, precooked bacon to the breadcrumbs. Dredge the eggs in the flour, coat them in the beaten egg, and then roll them in the breadcrumbs. Repeat this process for a double breading, which ensures a thicker, crunchier crust.

Once the eggs are breaded, carefully place them in the hot oil, frying one egg at a time. Fry each egg for about 30 seconds, turning them to ensure even browning on all sides. Transfer the fried eggs to a paper towel to absorb any excess oil, and serve warm.

Using soft-boiled eggs for deep-frying is essential because it ensures the yolks remain runny, creating a delightful contrast with the crispy exterior. This technique is versatile and can be applied to various global cuisines, making it a fun and tasty way to elevate your breakfast or snack experience.

How to soft-boil eggs

Soft-boiled eggs are cooked long enough to set the egg whites but leave the yolk warm and runny. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to soft-boil eggs:

Step 1: Prepare the Eggs and Water

• Using a clean pin or egg pricker, pierce the egg at the blunt end, where the air pocket is. This step is important because it releases the air pocket, preventing the eggs from cracking or breaking while boiling.
• Next, fill a pot with water and place it on the stove. The amount of water should be enough to fully cover the eggs once they are placed in the pot.

Step 2: Boil the Water

Turn on the stove and set it to high heat. Heat the water until it reaches a rolling boil.

Step 3: Add the Eggs

• Once the water is boiling, gently lower the eggs into the pot. Use a slotted spoon to carefully lower the eggs into the water without dropping them in from a height, as this can cause cracking.
• You can cook up to four eggs at a time. However, avoid overcrowding the pot, as this can affect the cooking time.
• After adding the eggs, reduce the heat slightly to maintain a gentle boil or rapid simmer. This prevents the eggs from cracking due to the force of the boiling water.

Step 4: Set a Timer

Start a timer as soon as the eggs are in the boiling water. For soft-boiled eggs with runny yolks, set the timer for 6 minutes. If you prefer your whites to be slightly unset near the yolk, set the timer for 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 5: Cool the Eggs

When the timer goes off, remove the eggs from the pot and place them in a bowl of ice water or run them under cold tap water until they are cool enough to handle. This step stops the cooking process and makes the eggs easier to peel.

Step 6: Peel and Serve

• To peel the eggs, gently tap the shell on a hard surface to crack it. Start peeling from the fat end, which often has an air bubble that makes it easier to separate the shell from the whites.
• Rinse the peeled egg under water to remove any remaining shell fragments.

And that's it! You now have perfectly soft-boiled eggs with firm whites and runny yolks. Enjoy them as a delicious addition to your breakfast, salads, soups, or any other meal!

Tips for making deep-fried eggs

Soft-boil the eggs

Firstly, soft-boil the eggs. Bring a pan of water to a boil, ensuring there is enough water to fully cover the eggs. Pierce the blunt end of the egg with a clean pin or egg pricker to prevent the eggs from breaking and running while boiling. Once boiling, lower the heat to a simmer, add the eggs, and cook for three to four minutes. Transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water to cool them down, which should take about 10 to 15 minutes. Gently tap the egg to break the shell and peel, starting with the side that is easier to peel.

Prepare the coating

While the eggs are cooling, prepare three separate bowls with flour, beaten egg, and breadcrumbs. Chop some pre-cooked bacon and add it to the breadcrumbs.

Coat the eggs

Once the eggs are peeled, coat each egg in flour, then the beaten egg, and then the bacon breadcrumbs. Re-dredge the egg in the yolk and roll it again in the breadcrumbs.

Heat the oil

Heat around two cups of sustainable palm oil in a small saucepan to 190 °C. The oil must have a high smoke point, and the pan should be deep to prevent splatters.

Fry the eggs

Place one egg at a time in the hot oil, turning the egg after about 10 to 20 seconds to brown all sides. Transfer the egg to a paper towel and continue with the remaining eggs.

Serve

Deep-fried eggs are best served warm. You can experiment with various dipping sauces, such as sriracha mayo or aioli, to add extra flavour.

How to bread eggs for deep-frying

To bread eggs for deep-frying, you will need to prepare three separate bowls containing flour, beaten egg, and breadcrumbs. Chopped precooked bacon should be added to the breadcrumbs.

First, dredge the eggs in the beaten egg, followed by the flour. Next, coat them in the bacon breadcrumbs. It may be easier to scoop and pour the breadcrumbs over the egg. Repeat the process so that the eggs are double-breaded.

Once the eggs are breaded, carefully place them one at a time into hot oil. Fry the eggs for about 30 seconds, turning them once so they are brown and crispy on all sides. Drain them on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.

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