How many ways are there to cook eggs?

max J. November 12, 2015

Properly is the only way with the freshest eggs possible.
Take a dozen day old eggs and crack into a bowl. Fill another bowl with ice and water.
Fill a saute pan 3/4 full with plain water, bring to a gentle simmer, set a timer for two minutes, the eggs must be at room temp. Slide eggs into the water, then after two quickly remove and place in the iced water. They will be firm enough to handle and the perfect shape after you have removed the feathery fringe.
Return to the cold water and keep in the fridge till you want them. Then heat in simmering water for 60 seconds. Drain on kitchen towel and serve.

nancy E. November 11, 2015

Michel Roux has a great cookbook out , aptly named "eggs"

caninechef November 9, 2015

I suggest looking to veggies to add some breakfast variation. Mushrooms and shallots, tomatoes, spinach and I am lots more. These go well with many classic ways to prep eggs, the combinations are endless.

M H. November 8, 2015

My brother just showed me today how to make his cheesy eggs: instead of using oil, put some chopped parmesan (or some other cheese) in a skillet or pan, and when it starts to melt, crack a few eggs over them and let them fry in the cheese's oils. When they're done, you'll have a beautiful, salty, cheesy crust on the bottom that just tastes amazing with the creaminess of the eggs.

miss J. November 7, 2015

Michael Ruhlman's book "Egg" will answer your question perfectly.

Nancy November 7, 2015

Or try Scotch eggs (hard boiled, coated with sausage and bread crumbs, then usually fried).
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/may/31/how-to-cook-the-perfect-scotch-egg

TobiT November 7, 2015

I once heard that a chef's toque traditionally has 133 pleats (or some such number) is to symbolize the number of ways to cook an egg. I wonder if anyone on here can confirm this?

Nancy November 7, 2015

I've heard a version of that story too...that each fold represented the 100 ways to cook an egg and that to earn the chef's toque someone had to prove he could make them all.
Jacques Pepin, unfortunately, debunks that idea:
http://www.bonappetit.com/people/chefs/article/why-are-there-100-folds-in-a-chef-s-toque

Jona @. November 7, 2015

There are different ways even to fry an egg. I really like the crispy fried egg for example, where you put the egg into a really got ban with oil (butter is best) and fry them until the edges become crispy.

And I have heard of a fluffy egg where you basically beat the whites until they are stiff, put the egg yolk in the middle and bake them. Haven't tried them myself yet but they looked incredible.

Jona @. November 7, 2015

Into a really hot* pan*

Garlic F. November 7, 2015

Don't forget steamed! Beat eggs and add water and/or broth. I like to add a bit of ground pork and shrimp for flavor. Salt, sesame oil. Mix. Steam. You'll end up with a soft flan-like textured egg dish. Chinese comfort food

Jona @. November 7, 2015

I love steamed eggs, great suggestion :)

Susan W. November 7, 2015

Here's a fun and delicious take on a hard boiled egg. I've added them to salads, Asian soups or fried rice (delicious in Jean-Georges' fried rice) and just as is.
https://food52.com/recipes/35930-momofuku-s-soy-sauce-eggs#comments

Kristen W. November 7, 2015

Your welcome! That spinach-creme fraiche-parm mixture is a great little module that can be applied deliciously to other things, btw - it's great with pasta, for example. Also, I think in the recipe she has you crack the eggs directly o to the pizzettes, but for me that led to a LOT of egg white spillage onto my pizza stone - I would instead crack them individually into small bowls and pour the eggs gently onto the pizzettes from the bowls. You might already have the foresight to think of that but I learned the hard way so I thought I'd mention it.

Kristen W. November 7, 2015

For cooking his or her eggs, that is...

Kristen W. November 7, 2015

My guess would be that Enfer is just looking for some new ideas for cooking his eggs.

Enfer, you can pickle them, too. I never have, but perhaps someone with experience with that could weigh in. Also you can bake them, of course. Baking eggs can open up a lot of possibilities for you if it hasn't already: quiches, tarts, frittatas, etc. Here's a delicious recipe for a spinach mini pizza topped with an egg, which all gets baked in the oven together: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2013/11/spinach-and-egg-pizzettes/

I love eggs too - have fun!

Enfer November 7, 2015

Thanks! The "pizzatte" sounds so easy and good, I'll sure make it for dinner sometime this weekend. You made me want some baked eggs this morning!

scruz November 6, 2015

depends on whether or not you want to be ethnocentric. : )

Enfer November 6, 2015

I'm open minded

702551 November 7, 2015

A typical traditional cooking school will say that there are about 12-16 cooking methods (in addition to the methods you mentioned: sauteing, baking, braising, stewing, gratinating, etc.).

Eggs are very versatile and can pretty much be cooked by any of these methods.

I suggest you visit your library and read a bunch of 50-150 year old French cookbooks. That should pretty much cover the range of Western egg cooking techniques.

Good luck.

702551 November 7, 2015

I will point out that scrambled eggs aren't being cooked any differently than a sunny-side up egg. The ingredients are scrambled but the cooking method is the same.

You will have to decide for yourself if the total dish preparation is the defining limitor or if it is the cooking method itself.

That said, there is probably no hard numerical answer. It could be in the thousands or possibly the dozens. In the end, what does it really matter if there are forty ways to cook eggs or four thousand, as long as you cook your eggs the way you want them cooked.

scruz is right in mentioning ethnocentricity. Are you looking at this question from a Larousse Gastronomique point of view?

Enfer November 7, 2015

Oh, my! Well, I'm pretty sure my local library does not have any french books. Even less a 150 year old cookbook (yes, it's a very small library), but usually the internet's got my back. I'll get myself to research. Possibilities seem high! Thanks for this eye-opener! :D

How many ways are there to cook eggs?

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