Alton Brown Soft Boiled Eggs Recipes

PERFECT POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• Heat the water: Add enough water to come 1 inch up the side of a narrow, deep 2-quart saucier. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 2 teaspoons white vinegar and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile, crack 1 very fresh cold large egg into a custard cup or small ramekin. Use the handle of a spatula or spoon to quickly stir the water in one direction until it's all smoothly spinning around.
• TIP: Use this whirlpool method when poaching a single serving (one or two eggs). For bigger batches, heat the water, salt and vinegar in a 12-inch nonstick skillet and do not stir.
• Add the egg: Carefully drop the egg into the center of the whirlpool. The swirling water will help prevent the white from "feathering," or spreading out in the pan.
• Let it poach: Turn off the heat, cover the pan and set your timer for 5 minutes. Don't peek, poke, stir or accost the egg in any way.
• Lift it out: Remove the egg with a slotted spoon and serve immediately. Alternatively, move the egg to an ice bath and refrigerate up to 8 hours. Reheat in warm water just before serving.

HARD NOT-BOILED EGGS

Steps:

• Add an inch of water to a 3-to 4-quart saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Fill a large bowl with room temperature water and have it standing by near the cooktop.
• When the water reaches a boil, retrieve eggs from the refrigerator and place in a folding steamer basket. Carefully lower into the pot, cover, and steam for exactly 11 minutes for a set egg that still has a slightly creamy yolk. If you're looking for something harder, go for 12 to 13 minutes.
• Carefully remove the steamer basket and transfer the eggs to the bowl of water. Allow them to cool down just enough to handle comfortably, 30 seconds to 2 minutes max. Carefully crack the shell by tapping on a flat surface and peel under the water, being careful to remove both the shell and the membrane just underneath.
• Pat dry and consume whole while still warm. If you're planning to split in half for say, deviled eggs, cool thoroughly before slicing.

PERFECT EGGS OVER EASY

Steps:

• Crack the eggs: Crack 2 large eggs into a custard cup.
• TIP: Never crack eggs directly into a pan-always crack them into a cup or ramekin. It's the only way to make sure they cook evenly, and you can pour them into the pan right where you want them.
• Heat the pan: Place an 8-inch nonstick skillet over low heat and add 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (don't dare skimp). Brush the butter around the pan.
• Add the eggs: When the butter stops foaming, pour the eggs into the pan, then quickly lift the handle just enough for the eggs to pool slightly on the far side. This will prevent the thin albumin from running out all over the pan.
• Flip the eggs: After 10 to 15 seconds, smoothly lower the handle. Wait another 10 seconds, then lightly jiggle the pan just to make sure that nothing is sticking. Season with 1 pinch of kosher salt and 1 grind of black pepper and cook, still over low heat, for 1 to 11/2 minutes.
• Jiggle again and examine the whites for opaqueness; when they're fully set but not hard, it's time to flip. Here comes the hard part: Flip the eggs by pushing the pan away from you and snapping the far edge upward. As the eggs turn, try to bring the pan up to meet them.
• Return the pan to the heat and slowly count to 10. Re-flip the eggs to their original side. (This time it won't be so difficult.) Slide onto a warmed plate and serve immediately with toast for wiping up all the goodness.
• TIP: Never flip the food up and bring the pan down. Try to meet the food with the pan as best as you can, thus preventing a hard-and potentially yolk-busting-landing.

PERFECT SCRAMBLED EGGS

Steps:

• Whisk the eggs: Whisk 3 large eggs, 1 pinch of kosher salt, 1 grind of black pepper and 3 tablespoons whole milk together until light and foamy.
• TIP: Odds are you're going to be serving these on a plate. If so, I strongly suggest you park an ovensafe one in a low oven or in hot water while you're cooking. Cold plates suck the heat right out of food.
• Add to the pan: Add 1 tablespoon unsalted butter to a 10-to-12-inch nonstick skillet and put it over high heat. When the butter bubbles (after about a minute), pour the eggs straight into the middle of the pan, which will force the butter to the edges, where it's needed.
• Scramble the eggs: Stir slowly with a rubber or silicone spatula. As soon as curds (big soft lumps) of eggs begin to form, drop the heat to low and shift from stirring to folding the curds over on themselves while gently shaking the pan with the other hand.
• Let rest: As soon as no more liquidous egg is running around the pan, kill the heat and gently transfer the scramble to the warmed plate. Let the eggs rest for 1 minute to finish cooking before serving.