Sunny side up vs over easy: what’s the difference in these two methods of cooking eggs? The difference is a matter of seconds, but it results in two very different breakfast experiences! We’re egg experts over here (egg-sperts? sorry), so we’ve got all the answers to this breakfast conundrum. Of course, for a the home cook it’s of less grave importance than for a short order cook in a diner. But it’s important to know the difference in these popular egg styles!
Sunny side up vs over easy eggs: the differences
What’s the difference between these two methods of cooking eggs? It’s a matter of 30 seconds and a flip:
What are sunny side up eggs? Sunny side up eggs are eggs cooked until the whites are solid but the yolk is still runny. Usually it takes about 2 to 3 minutes to cook on medium low heat. The round yellow yolk gives a sun-like appearance, hence the name.What are over easy eggs? Over easy eggs are cooked on both sides, but the yolk remains runny. Make sunny side up eggs, then flip and cook 30 seconds with the yolk side down. On the plate, the top of over easy eggs appear white. When punctured with a fork, the liquid egg yolk runs out.
Want to make them? Jump to the recipe below.
Why eat sunny side up vs over easy?
Is there any advantage to eating sunny side up vs over easy eggs? Here’s what we think:
Both types of eggs result in a runny yolk. It’s simply a matter of personal preference. Visually, sunny side up looks more appealing. The bright yellow of the yolk in sunny side up is more visually appealing than over easy. That makes it the more common type of egg to use on top of salads, polenta, bibimbap, and more.
What about over medium and over hard?
There are two more main ways to make a fried egg: over medium and over hard. It’s simply a gradient of how much the egg yolk is cooked. Here’s the differences between all the ways to fry an egg:
Sunny side up: Cook 2 to 3 minutes and don’t flip.Over easy: Cook sunny side up, then flip and cook 30 seconds. The yolk is runny.Over medium: Cook sunny side up, then flip and cook 1 minute. The yolk is jammy and slightly runny.Over hard: Cook sunny side up, then flip and cook 2 minutes until the yolk is fully cooked.
More egg recipes
There are so many ways to cook and serve eggs! Here are a few more if you’re looking for breakfast ideas:
Make a perfect Fried Egg SandwichTry Poached EggsGo for jammy Soft Boiled EggsMake a colorful Vegetable ScrambleTry all our top 10 egg recipes for breakfast
5 from 1 review **The slower the better with eggs: they can easily get overcooked. Note that if you’re cooking a second batch, you may need to lower the heat to avoid overcooking the egg since the skillet is already hot.
