Although relatively simple to make, scrambled eggs can easily go wrong if you don't use the right technique. Too much heat can result in a rubbery, dry texture, while using a whisk, believe it or not, actually breaks them down too much.
One common mistake that can ruin your scrambled eggs is cooking them over high heat. The eggs will cook too quickly, leading them to become overcooked with a rubbery texture. Also, the heat can cause the eggs to brown and even burn, which not only affects the taste but also the appearance of your eggs.
Cook eggs until both the yolk and the white are firm. Scrambled eggs should not be runny. Casseroles and other dishes containing eggs should be cooked to 160° F. Use a food thermometer to be sure.
Adding milk or plain water to scrambled eggs is an optional step that affects the texture of your finished dish. For creamy scrambled eggs, you'll add up to 1 tablespoon of milk for every egg. For fluffy scrambled eggs, you'll add up to 1 tablespoon of water for every egg.
In a nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat until foamy. Add eggs and cook, stirring and scrambling gently with a silicone spatula, until large, fluffy curds form and eggs are fully cooked through, about 3 minutes.
Should you add water or milk in scrambled eggs? Yes, but to a limit. The reason some recipes call for water, milk, cream, or half-and-half is mainly as extra insurance to prevent a rubbery texture. A small amount of liquid dilutes them, which stops the proteins from bonding too fast and tightly together.
When it comes to cooking scrambled eggs, Burrell swears by adding a tablespoon of water to the eggs just before they are beaten together, per The Daily Star. This helps cook the eggs to perfection because as the water boils the steam distributes heat, which ensures an even cooking process (via Real Simple).
Milk won't make eggs creamier, fluffier, or stretch the dish out. The milk dilutes the eggs' flavor, making them rubbery, colorless, and similar to what you would find at a school cafeteria.
Adding water to eggs essentially streams them, as the water evaporates during cooking, and this yields a fluffier scramble.
Don't overbeat the eggs before adding them to the pan, as this will result in flat, dense omelettes.
Once the eggs are in the pan, you should stir them often, but not constantly—leaving them undisturbed for 20 seconds at a time will let curds form, as they should. Most importantly, take the skillet off the heat when the eggs are still slightly wet. They will continue to solidify in the ambient heat of the pan.
Thorough whisking is crucial to getting soft, fluffy scrambled eggs. With too little whisking the white and yolk don't fully blend together, and you're left with uneven eggs. This step is also important for incorporating air into the eggs.
What's the secret to really good scrambled eggs? The answer is simple: butter — and not just enough to grease the pan. While many recipes insist that milk or cheese are the best ingredients to add, Cook's Illustrated says it's actually butter that imparts that creamy, rich consistency you want in scrambled eggs.
Whisking the egg yolks together before adding the liquid ensures even cooking and smooth texture. In recipes that call for cornstarch and sugar to be added to the yolks, the starch and sugar acts as a buffer against the heat of the liquid ingredient and helps prevent curdling.
Whisking = EXTRA FLUFFY and Light!
Whisk the eggs vigorously before you add them to the pan and even once they're in the pan. The eggs should be foamy on the top. Foam = air pockets, which is the key to a fluffy consistency. Use a fork to whisk as this gives you more control, especially when whisking in the pan itself.
Salt First
Salting your eggs before you start cooking them in the pan ensures that the moisture stays locked in. According to Lifehacker, add salt 15 minutes before cooking for the most tender scramble.
Experts believe that eggs are best stored at room temperature. Storing eggs in too cold a temperature, i.e. in the refrigerator can make them inedible. Keeping eggs in the fridge cause the growth of bacteria on the shells and this turn and enter the insides of the eggs, in turn making them inedible.
Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and vomiting 12 to 72 hours after infection. Symptoms usually last 4 to 7 days and most people get better without treatment. However, in some people, the diarrhea may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized.
Undercooked egg whites and yolks have been associated with outbreaks of Salmonella infections. Both should be consumed promptly and not be kept warm or at room temperature for more than 2 hours.