How to Make Sunny-Side Up Eggs: 3 Perfect Recipes

Starting off your day with perfectly cooked sunny-side up eggs can be very liberating. They are low in calories and cook up quickly. For those who are fond of eggs, sunny-side ups are like sunshine served on a plate. Yummy!

Sunny-side up eggs are fried only on one side, until the egg white turns pristine white and the yolk is still golden yellow and runny.

As easy as it sounds, cooking a sunny-side up egg perfectly is tricky to master. It all comes down to the right temperature and correct timing.

But don’t be scared to give it a try. There are many clever ways and techniques to cook them up. If you are game, read on to learn three different ways to make sunny-side up eggs.

Method 1: Fry in a Skillet

Frying eggs in a skillet is the most common method for preparing the perfect sunny-side up eggs. Using a nonstick skillet will work in your favor. It requires less fat for cooking and the eggs can easily slide off the skillet while keeping the runny yolk intact.

Things you’ll need:

• Eggs
• Vegetable oil

Step 1. Heat the oil and crack the egg over the skillet

• Using an oil brush, coat the bottom of the skillet with vegetable oil. You can also use butter or olive oil. The quantity should be around 1 tablespoon.
• Heat the oil on medium heat until it starts to spurt. If using butter, let it melt. Do not overheat the oil as you want your egg to cook slowly and evenly.
• Carefully crack open an egg over the skillet. To ensure that your yolk stays intact, bring the cracked egg very close to the pan, then pour it out gently.
• If you’re not confident about cracking the egg directly into the skillet, crack it into a bowl first. Check for any bits of eggshell and remove them, then slowly slide the egg off into the skillet.

Step 2. Cover the skillet with the lid and cook the egg

• Once you observe the egg white turning opaque, reduce the heat to low and put the lid on the skillet. The lid will help steam build up inside the skillet and cook the egg from the top.
• Let the egg cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the egg white sets but the yolk is still runny.

Step 3. Transfer the cooked egg to a plate, season and enjoy

• Gingerly slide a spatula underneath the egg and transfer it to a plate.
• Sprinkle some salt and pepper on it, and enjoy your sunny-side up with toast and freshly brewed coffee.

Method 2: Use Onion and Bell Pepper Rings

You can perk up your classic sunny-side ups by cooking them inside onion or bell pepper rings. These veggie rings keep the eggs from spreading out in the pan, while also adding an extra punch of flavor. Plus, their bright colors make the presentation on the plate extra special.

Things you’ll need:

• Eggs
• Onion, large
• Bell peppers
• Vegetable oil

Step 1. Cut out rings from the onion and bell peppers

• Cut your onion and bell peppers into ½-inch wide rings.
• You’ll want to use the biggest ring from each. Use the remaining veggies to make a lip-smacking omelet.

Step 2. Heat the oil and place the rings in the skillet

• Coat a flat skillet with some vegetable oil and heat it on medium heat.
• Once the oil is sufficiently hot, place the vegetable rings in the skillet. You can press them down slightly, so that the egg doesn’t ooze out.

Step 3. Crack open an egg into each ring

• Carefully crack open an egg and pour it into a veggie ring without breaking the yolk. Use one egg for each veggie ring.

Step 4. Cover the skillet and let the eggs cook

• Cover the skillet with the lid and let the eggs cook on low heat for 3 to 5 minutes.
• If the egg white oozes out, don’t worry. Just open the lid and scrape it off with a spatula.
• Once the eggs have cooked to your liking, turn off the heat.

Step 5. Transfer the cooked eggs to a plate, season and serve

• Transfer the cooked eggs, along with the veggie rings, to a serving plate.
• Season them with salt and spices of your choice and enjoy!
  

Method 3: Use Egg Rings or Mason Jar Rings

If you want perfectly round sunny-side ups, get your hands on some egg rings or Mason jar rings. These rings contain the egg white inside them and allow you to cook more eggs simultaneously.

Things you’ll need:

• Eggs
• Egg rings or Mason jar rings
• Vegetable oil

Step 1. Heat the oil and place the rings in the skillet

• Use an oil brush to grease the skillet with vegetable oil.
• Heat the oil on medium heat.
• Place the rings in the skillet. Use a separate ring for each egg.

Step 2. Pour a cracked egg into each ring and let them cook

• Gently crack the eggs into the rings, one by one.
• Put the lid on the skillet and let the eggs cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Turn off the heat when the egg whites have set and the yolks are still runny.

Step 3. Transfer the cooked eggs to a plate, season and serve

• Once cooked to your liking, transfer the eggs to a plate and remove the rings with an oven mitt or tongs.
• Season them with salt, pepper and any other spices of your choosing.
• Your sunny-side ups are ready to eat.

 Tips

• Save seasoning the eggs until the very end. Adding salt while cooking sunny-side up eggs can crease and discolor the yolks.
• If you want to take a healthier approach, try cooking your sunny-side up eggs in water instead of oil or butter. Put 2 tablespoons of water in a pan and bring it near to a boil. Crack the egg in the skillet and let it cook until the white firms up.