Does Frying an Egg Retain Its Protein? A fried egg contains the same amount of protein as an egg cooked scrambled, boiled, done over-easy or eaten raw stirred into in a glass of tomato juice. But a fried egg's protein will be more easily digested and absorbed than a raw egg's.
The energy added to the egg makes the proteins unravel and open up. This is called denaturation. The proteins lose their native structure and become long, unfolded strands wiggling around. As more and more proteins unravel, they start to become intermingled with each other and form networks.
The heat coming from your stove denatures the protein by disrupting some of its bonds that held the molecule into shape. In the case of hard-boiled eggs, the proteins clump together and solidify, causing the egg white and yolk to harden.
The protein count in a fried egg is slightly higher than the protein in 1 egg boiled for every 100 gm serving. Fried eggs have 13.6 gm of protein as compared to 12.6 gm of protein in boiled eggs per 100 gm of serving.
The yolk contains just slightly less protein than the white. So eat the whole egg for all its protein benefits!
1. Poached Eggs. Based on the goals of getting the most nutrients out of your eggs with the least risk of oxidizing cholesterol, poaching is the number one healthiest way to cook and eat eggs.
One study found that boiling, frying, or microwaving can reduce the antioxidant content in eggs. When eggs are heated at high temperatures, such as with frying or processing, the cholesterol can become oxidized. This has been linked to some health concerns and disease.
"Cooking eggs with minimal fat or using unsaturated fats like olive oil or avocado oil are healthier alternatives. Hard-boiling or poaching eggs are ways to prepare eggs without any need for additional fat!" says Tomaino.
During cooking the applied heat causes proteins to vibrate. This destroys the weak bonds holding proteins in their complex shape (though this does not happen to the stronger peptide bonds).
Egg whites are especially renowned for their high levels of protein, however yolk contains more on a gram for gram basis. Egg whites have 10.8g per 100g but are trumped by egg yolk which contains 16.4g per 100g. However, as there is more egg white volume than yolk in each egg, white grabs the protein spotlight.
If you're choosing raw eggs because of the protein punch, it might surprise you that cooked eggs can actually give your body more protein. Cooking eggs breaks down the protein, making it easier for you to digest, which means your body will have more protein to use.
Frying has little or no impact on the protein or mineral content of fried food, whereas the dietary fibre content of potatoes is increased after frying due to the formation of resistant starch.
One study, published in The Journal of Nutrition, found that the availability of egg protein is 91% with cooked eggs and only 50% with raw eggs. That means a raw egg would only provide 3 grams of digestible protein. Compared to eating a whole cooked egg, which contains almost 6 grams of protein.
If you add a tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil to the pan, you may also be adding some extra health benefits to your eggs. Both of these oils are considered “healthy fats” which may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Olive oil is also considered an antioxidant that may help fight inflammation.
Butter certainly works for fried eggs, but oil is the fat of choice for cooks who want a runny yolk with a satisfying crispy white. Extra-virgin olive oil is most popular, and yields a satisfyingly crunchy bottom that will soak up luscious flavor.
Most healthy people can eat up to seven eggs a week without affecting their heart health. Some choose to eat only the egg white and not the yolk, which provides some protein without the cholesterol.
Boiled. Not only is boiling the one of the quickest and simplest ways to prepare an egg, it is one of the healthiest. Boiling an egg keeps the yolk intact, containing all the nutrients in one stable location.
The longer and hotter you cook your eggs, the more nutrients you may lose. Scrambling eggs causes a decrease in B vitamins and selenium, but keeps more healthy fats, vitamin D, and vitamin K than if they're boiled. Scrambling is usually lower heat than frying or boiling and for less time.
“Eating two eggs each morning only offers you around 12 grams of protein,” says Horton. “To meet that 30-gram threshold, you'll need to step up the egg intake or layer in other protein sources.” Keep in mind: Upping your protein intake isn't just about building more lean muscle mass.
Eggs are the richest source of proteins. On average, an egg can provide about 6-7 grams of protein. For an individual who practices a sedentary lifestyle, the daily protein requirement for a male would be about 56 grams and for a female would be about 46 grams. This would equate to consuming around 6-9 eggs per day.
Greek yogurt is a far more nutritious option. “Six ounces contain 15 grams of protein — two to three times the amount you'd find in regular yogurt and more than the amount 2 ounces of meat or two eggs provide,” notes Hopsecger.