Michael Symon Just Shared His Technique for the Fried Eggs He Grew Up Eating

If you’re looking to shake up your usual breakfast routine, Michael Symon’s crispy fried eggs might just be your ticket to brekkie revitalization. The chef recently shared his method for frying eggs, and if you’re a person who craves a fried egg with crispy edges and a yolk that oozes, Symon’s egg-making strategy is absolutely for you.

As Symon notes in the Instagram video, he doesn’t normally prefer color on his omelets or scrambled eggs, but when it comes to fried eggs, it’s a must. Symon writes, “I love eggs in all forms, but this might be my favorite.” It’s definitely classic comfort food for Symon, who says that he grew up on these eggs, and we have to admit that they look downright delicious.

To copy Symon’s eggs, the first thing you’ll need is a very hot pan. That means that a nonstick pan is not the best choice for this recipe since those pans are best at medium-high heat or lower. Symon opts for a carbon steel pan, but an aluminum or well-seasoned cast iron could work as well. Symon places his pan over high heat, waits for it to get hot and then adds 1/4 cup olive oil to the skillet. While it may seem like a lot of oil, it’s crucial for frying to ensure you have enough to get crispy edges on the eggs and have enough to baste your yolks. And you’ll leave most of it behind once the eggs are done cooking.

Depending on how hot the eyes of your stove get, you may want to lower the heat on your pan at this stage—especially if you’re using something like a cast-iron skillet, which holds heat better than a thinner alternative. As soon as the olive oil in your pan starts to shimmer, add in three eggs and season with salt and pepper. To avoid hot oil popping at you, it’s best to crack those eggs into a measuring cup beforehand, then pour them away from you into the skillet. Once those eggs are seasoned, let them cook for a bit, until the edges of your eggs start to take on color. Then, use a spoon to carefully baste the yolks of the eggs with some of the hot oil. Tilting the pan slightly, so that the excess oil runs to the bottom, can help make this step easier. Once the yolks of the eggs are done to your liking and the whites are fully set, then so are you. Pull the pan from the heat, transfer your eggs to a plate and get ready to dig in.

To get the full Michael Symon experience, top your fried eggs with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan, a drizzle of chili oil and a few pieces of cilantro. If you want to round this breakfast out, we’d recommend pairing one of these eggs with a slice of whole-wheat toast and some fresh fruit. But if you really wanted to try something fun, you could add one of Symon’s eggs to a recipe like our Sriracha, Egg & Avocado Overnight Oats. However you dish them up, you’re bound to fall for that classic combination of crisp edge and ooey-gooey yolk. Bon appétit!