# What does "fried egg" mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 11, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-fried-egg-mean/599306 "2011-10-11T15:20:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-fried-egg-mean/599306/122 "2011-11-08T03:17:47Z")
Well the thing thing holds true, here, as well, they probably have a high turnover from college students, that might explain some of your problems. But if they were “environmentally conscious”, they probably wouldn’t be serving Grouper. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-fried-egg-mean/599306/123 "2011-11-09T16:45:45Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > Next time you breakfast with someone and they order ‘over easy’ ask them what they mean. A surprising number if people think the ‘easy’ means 'careful not to break the yolk. That’s not what it means? ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-fried-egg-mean/599306/124 "2011-11-09T16:54:59Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > That’s not what it means? No, it means “don’t cook the yolk solid.” The yolk should be runny and the whites mostly solid. Over medium means cook until the edges of the yolk are solid and the whites are cooked through. Over well means the yolk is cooked solid. IMO, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-fried-egg-mean/599306/125 "2011-11-09T16:58:46Z")
[http://www.seriouseats.com/2007/10/how-to-make-eggs-over-easy.html](http://www.seriouseats.com/2007/10/how-to-make-eggs-over-easy.html) > [@](#): > > The egg actually has two separate whites, outer and inner. The inner takes longer to set and is the part of the egg that you should judge doneness by. Once inner white is solid, then you flip. > After initial flip, let egg sit 15 seconds to set outer white, then flip again. Whites are set, no mention of whites being runny or slightly runny. Judge doneness by the yolk. > **[Eggs Over Easy](https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/eggs-over-easy-recipe-1955878)** > > Get Eggs Over Easy Recipe from Food Network > [@](#): > > Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and continue to cook over low heat until the whites become opaque. Jiggle to loosen the eggs, then lift the pan, holding it about a foot above the heat. Now, flip the eggs over by pushing the pan away and snapping upward simultaneously. Once the [eggs](http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/eggs/index.html) start their somersault, raise the pan to meet them so that the exposed yolks experience the softest landing possible. **The goal of course is to avoid breaking the yolks**. If you succeed, count to 10 slowly then flip the eggs again, slide them onto a plate and serve. Bolding added. No mention of whites being runny. > **[What's the Difference Between Sunny-Side Up and Over Easy Eggs?](https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-eggs-over-easy-vs-sunny-side-up-96069)** > > You'll get a runny yolk either way. > [@](#): > > **Over Easy** - Eggs cooked “over easy” means that it gets fried on both sides, but the yolk stays runny. To make one, you cook the raw egg just until the whites are set on the bottom, then you quickly flip it over to cook the other side. “Over” refers to flipping the egg, and “easy” refers to the **doneness of the yolk**. You can also cook eggs “over medium” and “over hard,” depending on how cooked you prefer the yolk! > **Sunny Side Up** - This means that the egg is fried just on one side. The yolk is still completely liquid and the whites on the surface are barely set. You can cover the pan briefly to make sure the whites are cooked or baste them with butter. We’ve always assumed that the name refers to the way this egg looks like the morning sun. > How do you like your eggs? Bolding added. Doneness of the yolk. Whites are set. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-fried-egg-mean/599306/126 "2011-11-09T17:30:30Z")
Well, if you already knew the answer, then why did you ask and then argue with the _opinion_ I posted? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-fried-egg-mean/599306/127 "2011-11-09T18:49:31Z")
I went and looked those up after I posted the first response. You snuck in between my posts. They seem to confirm the idea is the _doneness_ of the egg yolk, though Alton Brown also states the intent is to not break the yolk. He actually says in that link, but I didn’t quote it, that if you break the yolk, go ahead and cook it like you meant to break and cook it. Apparently to him, if you break the yolk, it isn’t over easy even if you cook it runny. If you break the yolk, there’s no point in leaving it runny. I was confused by references to the doneness of the _whites_. None of the cites say anything about that, other than make sure the whites are set. Perhaps that is a feature that is determined by the doneness of the yolks - you can’t get the yolk “easy” unless the whites aren’t partially done. But the way I learned it, “over easy” meant turned over without breaking the yolks, and _then_ leaving the yolks runny. But it’s not like I’m a chef. Hell, I rarely cook. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-fried-egg-mean/599306/128 "2011-11-09T18:58:52Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > If you break the yolk, there’s no point in leaving it runny. I don’t think it is possible to leave a broken yolk runny. It pretty much cooks as soon as it spreads out on the hot pan. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-fried-egg-mean/599306/129 "2011-11-09T19:11:28Z")
The references to the whites were my personal add-on. I cannot stand snotty eggs (which I believe I stated a couple pages upthread) so, if I’m cooking eggs for someone else, I inquire about how they prefer their whites and yolks. I think it’s really important, as this thread demonstrates, because people are particular about their eggs. Get eggs that are cooked “wrong” (to _you_) can put you off eggs for a minute. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-fried-egg-mean/599306.md?page=6)