Eggs are a staple at breakfast, as there is no better meal than a fried egg with crispy edges and a wonderfully creamy yolk in the middle, but sometimes, they can be frustrating to cook.

Cooking an egg in a frying pan may seem straightforward, but the egg whites often cook much faster than the yolk, leading to the outer egg being overcooked and rubbery while the middle is still undercooked.

However, Samantha Erb, a cooking expert and founder of Everyday Family Cooking, has shared there is a more effective way to make a fried egg and is urging others to “ditch the stovetop method”.

Samantha said: “Thanks to the magic of the air fryer, your eggs can get those glorious golden edges with only a fraction of the oil or grease you need for stove-top frying.

“It’s a no-fuss method that will have breakfast ready in about 10 minutes!”

It may seem odd, but cooking an egg in the air fryer is not only healthier but will result in a much better texture it will be able to cook more evenly leading to a crispy egg without excess oil.

The air fryer method also means there is no risk of oil splattering as you cook, no horrible oily smell in the kitchen and you also do not have to worry about scrubbing at a burned frying pan afterwards.

Samantha added: “You won’t believe how easy it is to make a fried egg in the air fryer! Enjoy those crispy edges and runny yolk without all the excess oil.”

How to make a fried egg in the air fryer

To begin, all you need to do is preheat the air fryer to 180C for two minutes. Make sure to preheat as it will help the egg crisp up while cooking.

Then you will need a heatproof small bowl, ramekin or cake tin (three to four inches).

Simply spray a non-stick cooking spray all over the small bowl. Make sure to spray the bowl so the egg will slide out easily after it is cooked.

Once the air fryer has been heated, crack an egg into the small bowl and carefully place it in the air fryer.

Cook the eggs for three minutes at 180C until most of the whites have set.

Lower the heat on the air fryer to 150C and cook for one or two minutes more until the whites have fully set but the yolk is still runny.

How long the egg takes to cook will depend on your air fryer so you may need to test out the time and temperature a few times to determine what works best for you.

Samantha said: “Keep in mind that every machine is slightly different. Cooking eggs in the air fryer may require a little bit of experimentation to find your perfect time.”

Season with salt and pepper and your tasty fried egg is ready to eat.