The Egg and the Argument - Learning How You Really Want Your Eggs Cooked

Now I know many of you have heard this at some point in your dining experience. But how many of you actually get your eggs prepared the way you like them cooked? I know for a fact that not many of you do.

You see, I've been in the Restaurant business for over 25 years as a cook, a server, and a manager in many different areas of the USA as well as in other countries. I have had people complain about their eggs, I have had people refuse to eat their eggs even. I have even had customers say, "I don't want anyone but you making my eggs or you're the only one who knows how to cook them the way I like them." So even I'm not a perfect egg maker.

But one thing I do know is that how can the rest of the country know how to cook an egg, know the difference between the cook lengths, and then in some parts of the South; they think their way should be different and that it is the only way that counts?

I went to a Restaurant this morning (will not name drop here, but yes it is a national chain) and ordered my eggs over-easy. What I got instead was over-light. When my server asked me why I didn't eat my eggs, my answer was simple; "these were undercooked, I prefer my egg whites cooked, not runny."

Her response; "oh then you wanted your eggs cooked over-medium then."

Hum, no, stop right here. Just like everyone else, I know how I want my eggs cooked and when I order it that is how I want to receive them. Now don't get me wrong, I do know that every time I order something in a restaurant that it isn't going to come out perfect. But I shouldn't have to go into a restaurant, ask the server to explain the different cooking methods their restaurant uses when it comes to eggs. Am I supposed to be a mind reader when it comes to ordering my food from different places?

Now normally I'd have to argue this point and explained the difference between over-light, over-easy, over-medium and so on, but I didn't. I bit my tongue, left her a nice tip, paid my bill, and said bye. Yes my friends would be shocked. I am very open spoken normally when it comes to food.

However I am going to take a minute here and explain the egg cooking differences that only pertain to the "over-whatever" type of egg that you enjoy.

Over-Light; white runny, yolks runny

Over-Easy; whites done, yolks cooked

Over-Medium; whites done, yolks somewhat cooked and somewhat runny

Over-Hard; whites done (not crispy), yolks cooked solid

Let's throw in fried eggs or as some people call them, sunny side up; white's any way you want them, yolks done to your liking. The difference here is they aren't flipped but left to be cooked on one side.

I am enclosing a resource that you may find interesting on eggs as well as the different cooking ways. I could go on and on all day on this subject and the various other cooking methods as well.

http://whatscookingamerica.net/eggs.htm

The point I'm trying to make with this article, is, why should eggs be cooked differently by name in one tiny part of the country compared to the rest of the world? They shouldn't!