Scrambled eggs

Simple scrambled eggs

A close-up of scrambled eggs with grated cheese, tomato salad, toasted baguette, and aribiki (grilled, smoked Japanese pork sausages)

Scrambled eggs is a dish made from whites and yolks of eggs (usually chicken eggs) stirred or beaten together in a pan while being gently heated, typically with salt and butter and variable other ingredients.

Preparation

Preparation in pans

Only eggs are necessary to make scrambled eggs,^[1] but nearly always salt is used, and very often other ingredients such as water, milk, butter, cream or in some cases creme fraiche or grated cheese may be added. The eggs are cracked into a bowl; with some salt, and the mixture is stirred or whisked: alternatively, the eggs are cracked directly into a hot pan or skillet, and the whites and yolks stirred together as they cook. More consistent and far quicker results are obtained if a small amount of thickener such as cornstarch, potato starch or flour is added; this enables much quicker cooking with reduced risk of overcooking, even when less butter is used.^[2][3]

The mixture can be poured into a hot pan containing melted butter or oil, where it starts coagulating.^[4] The heat is turned down and the eggs are stirred as they cook. This creates small, soft curds of egg. Unlike pancake or omelette scrambled egg is virtually never browned. A thin pan is preferable to prevent browning. With continuous stirring, and not allowing the eggs to stick to the pan, the eggs themselves will maintain the pan temperature at about the boiling point of water, until they coagulate. A thick pan will not allow the eggs to regulate the pan temperature.

Once the liquid has mostly set, additional ingredients such as ham, herbs, cheese or cream^[4] may be folded in over low heat, just until incorporated. The eggs are usually slightly undercooked when removed from heat, since the eggs will continue to set. If any liquid is seeping from the eggs (syneresis), this is a sign of undercooking, overcooking or adding undercooked high-moisture vegetables.

Variations

• In the classic French cooking method, Escoffier describes using a double boiler^[5] as the heating source, which does not need adjustment as the direct heating method would. The eggs are directly placed in the cooker and mixed during the heating and not before. Cooking by this method prevents the eggs from browning while being cooked and gives creamy scrambled eggs. This method was used in the "old classical kitchen" and guarantees the eggs are always cooked perfectly; it is, however, more time-consuming than the modern skillet method, taking up to 40 minutes to ensure perfect quality.^[5]
• English style. In English style the scrambled eggs are stirred very thoroughly during cooking to give a soft, fine texture^[1]
• American style - In American style the eggs are scooped in towards the middle of the pan as they set, giving larger curds.^[1]
• scrambled eggs à l'arlésienne - with zucchini (courgette) pulp and a concentrated garlic-flavored tomato fondue served in hollowed-out courgettes and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.
• scrambled eggs à l'américaine - with pan-fried smoked bacon, garnished with slices of broiled bacon and small grilled tomato halves.^[6]
• egg bhurji - Indian variant of scrambled eggs. Additions include onions, green chili, chopped ginger, turmeric powder and chopped tomatoes. Sprinkled with chopped green coriander and eaten with roti. Another variant of egg bhurji is the Parsi akuri.
• Scotch woodcock - British variant of scrambled eggs, served over toast that has been spread with Gentleman's Relish.
• Soy scrambled eggs - mixed with soy sauce and often eaten with congee.

Philippines variant of onions and scrambled eggs

• Onions and scrambled eggs - another variant of scrambled eggs eaten in the Philippines. The onions are either fried first then the egg mixture is poured over them to cook, or the onions are mixed with the egg mixture and then poured over the pan.
• Scrambled eggs with sucuk or pastırma; sucuklu yumurta and pastırmalı yumurta respectively - Scrambled eggs are mixed with Turkish beef sausages, or dried cured beef. It is cooked in a sahan with butter or olive oil. Some tomato can be added. In Turkey and Egypt it is eaten regularly for breakfast.
• Scrambled eggs with digüeñes - a variation from Chilean cuisine in which the eggs are fried together with the native fungus Cyttaria espinosae, or sometimes spinach.
• Migas - a Tex-Mex dish (not to be confused with the Iberian dish of the same name) consisting of scrambled eggs augmented with strips of corn tortilla, to which vegetables and meat may be added.
• Stir-fried tomato and scrambled eggs - a very common main course in China. It is quickly and easily prepared, and so is a favourite among teens and university students . This is also eaten in the Philippines.
• parrot eggs ("Perico" (Spanish)) is a dish in Venezuelan cuisine and Colombian cuisine prepared with scrambled eggs, butter, sautéed diced onions, and tomatoes.^[7]

Video showing the steps in which basic scrambled eggs are prepared with mushrooms and cheese

• Scrambled eggs can be made easily sous-vide, which gives the traditional smooth creamy texture and requires only occasionally mixing during cooking.^[8]
• Another technique for cooking creamy scrambled eggs is to pipe steam into eggs with butter via a steam wand (as found on an espresso machine).^[9]
• Scrambled eggs can also be cooked in a Microwave oven.^[10]

Serving options

Scrambled eggs with bacon and pancakes

Classical haute cuisine preparation calls for serving scrambled eggs in a deep silver dish. They can also be presented in small croustades made from hollowed-out brioche or tartlets.^[5] When eaten for breakfast, scrambled eggs often accompany toast, bacon, smoked salmon, hash browns, cob, pancakes, ham or sausages. Popular condiments served with scrambled eggs include ketchup, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.

See also

• List of egg dishes
• List of brunch foods

Notes

1. How To Make Perfect Scrambled Eggs - 3 ways | Jamie Oliver
2. Here’s Why You Should Put Cornstarch in Your Scrambled Eggs By Kristen Miglore
3. Helen Reddie: Scrambled Eggs (creamy on high heat!)
4. Smith, Delia (2005). "Scrambling eggs". Complete cookery course. London: BBC Books. p. 23. ISBN 0-563-36249-9.
5. Escoffier, 157
6. Robuchon, 17
7. Perico About.com
8. Heston Blumenthal at home: Scrambled eggs with brown butter
9. FoodMayhem.com, Video Demonstration of Steam-Cooking Scrambled Eggs
10. BestRecipes.com au

References

• Escoffier, Georges Auguste. Escoffier: The Complete Guide to the Art of Modern Cookery. Translated by H. L. Cracknell and R.J. Kaufmann. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2002
• FoodMayhem.com. Chef Jody Williams Shows Me How to Steam Scramble Eggs. New York: FoodMayhem.com, 2009.
• McGee, Harold. On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen. New York: Scribner, 2004.
• Robuchon, Joël, Members of the Gastronomic Committee. Larousse Gastronomique. New York: Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 2001.

External links

Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe/module on

Scrambled eggs (Spanish)

• Media related to Scrambled eggs at Wikimedia Commons