Fried eggs are often cooked with an excessive amount of oil, which adds unnecessary calories to your breakfast while also having to clean a greasy frying pan after eating.
Making a fried egg with oil will also cause it to cook unevenly in a pan, leading to the edges of the egg cooking faster than the middle which can result in rubbery whites with an undercooked yolk.
However, there is a much better way to cook a fried egg according to Heather Johnson, a cook and founder of The Food Hussy, who is urging everyone to ditch the frying pan and use an air fryer instead.
Heather said: “Making a fried egg in an air fryer is SO EASY! I love this easy air fryer breakfast recipe for many reasons but the best part was that the yolk came out runny – just how I like it!”
It may seem simple but cooking in an air fryer is much healthier as one tablespoon of oil can contain around 120 calories which makes a meal much fattier than it needs to be.
Cooking in the air fryer will also result in eggs that are much tastier with a consistent texture as they will not be greasy and the heat can surround the egg so they are cooked more evenly.
Heather said: “The easiest way to fry an egg is in your air fryer! I love a fried egg on toast – it’s my number one breakfast choice and I have it probably three days a week!”
How to cook eggs in the air fryer
To begin, you will first need a ramekin or small heatproof dish that will be able to fit into the air fryer.
Spray the dish with a non-stick olive oil spray, then crack your egg into the dish.
Season your egg with salt and pepper or your seasoning of choice.
Place the egg dish on the air fryer rack or basket, then cook at 180C for four to five minutes.
Heather said: “The egg whites are perfect with this method and if you like jammy eggs – four to five minutes is the perfect time! [If you] like the yolk hard – [then] add an extra minute or two.
“I also did a little scrambled egg (with cream) and tossed some goat cheese in! It’s a great way to make light and fluffy scrambled eggs every time!”
Once the time is up, carefully remove the fried eggs from the dish using a silicone spatula. Run the spatula around the edges of the dish and slip the egg out of the dish.
You will now have fried eggs that are healthier, tastier and require minimum cleanup so you can enjoy your breakfast without having to scrub at a greasy frying pan later.