Cook crispy fried eggs in 3 minutes without a frying pan or oil with clever cooking method

It turns out the best way to cook a fried egg is not to fry it, as there is a better method that will not make the egg greasy or soggy with oil.

Picture of oily fried egg in a frying pan

Cooking a fried egg in a frying pan will make it oily and soggy (Image: Getty)

Nothing better is waking up to the sound of breakfast being cooked, but no one wants to deal with having to scrub at a greasy frying pan afterwards.

Many people can be put off cooking a fried egg as it can be a hassle to clean up and require a lot of oil or butter which can add unnecessary calories to your meal.

However, Laurie Fleming, a cookbook author and founder of Fork to Spoon, has urged people to ditch the frying pan as it is much more convenient to cook eggs in the air fryer. 

Laurie said: “Make my fried egg in air fryer recipe when you’ve got a craving for fried eggs but don’t want to worry about excess grease.

“I love this dish but don’t like how greasy and heavy it can make me feel. Enjoy the crispy edges and creamy yolk without all the guilt.”

Picture of someone using a air fryer

Fried eggs will be crispier if cooked in a air fryer (Image: Getty)

It may sound bizarre but cooking a fried egg in an air fryer is not only healthier but makes it tastier as the hot air will cook the egg more evenly so it is perfectly crispy all over.

The fried egg will not be charred or undercooked in the middle, plus will not be soggy with oil or grease so it is much easier to eat.

How to make fried eggs in the air fryer

To begin, you will need a heatproof small bowl, ramekin or air fryer pan to put the egg in. A mini cast iron is the best to use in the air fryer if you own one as it is excellent at retaining heat.

Spray the bowl with olive oil spray so it is completely coated and then crack the egg into the bowl.

Only cook one or two eggs at a time so they have enough space to cook evenly.


Picture of perfectly cooked fried egg

Your egg will have 'crispy edges and creamy yolk' if cooked in a air fryer (Image: Getty)

Place the bowl in the air fryer at 190C, set the timer for three minutes and then leave the air fryer to cook.

The amount of time you need to cook the egg may be different depending on your air fryer, so you may need to experiment a little to see what is right for you.

Laurie said: “Wattage is important when it comes to making fried egg in air fryer! The higher it is, the less time you’ll need.”

Remove the bowl from the air fryer and check if the egg is cooked to your liking. If you would prefer a harder less runny yolk then place the bowl back in the air fryer for one more minute.

Take the bowl out of the air fryer, season with salt and pepper or herbs, and your tasty fried egg is ready to eat without even having to fry it.


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