Cooking a fried egg may seem like the easiest recipe to make, but most people do not realise they making this dish wrong. One major mistake many of us make is using too much oil, which can lead to the whites burning before the yolk is fully cooked.

This can lead to people taking the egg out of the frying pan when they see the egg whites are charred, which results in a slimy, undercooked yolk that is unappealing to eat. Instead, Charlotte, a cook and founder of Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen, shared that the best way to cook a fried egg is not to drown it in oil but instead steam it with a frying pan lid.

Charlotte said: “When I was about twenty, I remember a friend, who worked as a chef at the time, explaining to me the secret of cooking a good fried egg – using a lid to circulate heat around the egg. This helps the top of the white to cook without overcooking the bottom of the white or the yolk.”

It may seem simple, but trapping steam when cooking an egg allows the top to set without flipping it.

This helps the fried egg cook more evenly and also traps more moisture, which prevents the whites from drying out. Thus, you will have a gently cooked egg with a firm yolk.

This is a great way to make a fried egg without it tasting greasy from oil, and it also makes it much easier to cook as you will not have to worry about oil splattering.

How to make the perfect fried egg

You will need (per person):

• One egg
• One squirt of olive oil spray
• Salt
• Frying pan with glass lid

Instructions

To begin, squirt the olive oil spray once into a pan and then use the paper towel to spread a thin layer of oil over the pan's base.

Carefully crack the egg into the frying pan. If you prefer, crack the egg into a small bowl and then add it to the pan to prevent any eggshell from getting stuck in the mixture.

Then, place the pan on medium heat and cover it with a lid. Let the egg cook for a few minutes until it has fully set.

Keep an eye on the egg so you know when to remove it from the heat. Once done, sprinkle with a little salt and serve immediately.

Your fried egg will be silky and cooked properly without being burned or tasting greasy.