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Egg on your face again?

We love eggs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But is your scramble a bit watery? Is your sunny side down? Learn how to correct the mistakes you might be making with eggs so they turn out perfectly every time.

By Debra Cummings. All images: Getty Images

Cracking eggs on the edge of the bowl

First things first: Don’t crack your eggs on the edge of the bowl or you may get pieces of shell in your beautiful frittata. Gently tap the egg on a flat countertop, then open it over the bowl. If a bit of shell still sneaks in, use another piece of shell to fish it out.

Not whisking enough

For scrambled eggs and omelettes, the egg mixture should be a uniform yellow, with no white or clear strands left behind. To properly mix eggs, use a fork or whisk and go back and forth quickly, hitting the sides of the bowl with each stroke. Even the simplest egg recipes will look and taste like they came from a fancy restaurant!

Cooking scrambled eggs too fast

Scrambled eggs seems like an easy dish to make when you’re in a hurry. But that’s the thing: You shouldn’t be in a hurry when you make scrambled eggs. When you cook them quickly over high heat, they dry out. They should be cooked slowly over low heat until they turn into gorgeous, fluffy curds. Don’t worry, it still doesn’t take long.

Adding milk to scrambled eggs

Do you add milk to scrambled eggs? Is that what gives them their creamy texture? Well, no. It actually makes them rubbery and flavourless. If you cook plain scrambled eggs slowly and keep them moving in the pan, you’ll get perfect, creamy eggs.

Letting eggs stick to the pan

Eggs are the spackle that holds everything together in our baked goods and breakfast casseroles, but that also means they will stick to a skillet like glue. Be sure to use a nonstick pan when cooking eggs, whether you’re making brunch for a crowd or breakfast for dinner.

Not using enough fat when frying eggs

Using a nonstick pan is the first step, but you’ll need some kind of fat in there, too. And don’t be stingy with it! Butter, olive oil or even coconut oil can be used to keep those fried eggs moving, so they go from pan to plate without incident.

Starting hard-boiled eggs in boiling water

Nothing is worse than having a hard-boiled egg crack while cooking. The white comes bursting through the shell, and now your beautiful plate of devilled eggs will never be. Always start your eggs in cool water, so they gradually come up to temperature and cook evenly.

Boiling eggs that are too fresh

Sometimes it seems like half of the egg peels off with the shell. That just won’t do. Hard-boiled eggs actually turn out best when they are not too fresh. Then cook them properly, and they will peel easily.

Cracking eggs directly into the poaching water

When you crack the egg over the water and let it drop right in, the egg separates and goes all over the pan. That might be fine for egg drop soup, but not for an eggs Benedict recipe. Instead, crack the egg into a small bowl or ramekin, then ease it gently into the water.

Poaching eggs in a tiny pot

Poached eggs need a little breathing room to cook evenly. Use a large saucepan or deep frying pan with about 8cm of water, and don’t overcrowd the pan. There’s no need to rush. Hold poached eggs in a bowl of warm water while you prepare the rest of your brunch spread.