Eggs are an integral part of any breakfast. Fried, scrambled, or poached, eggs add delicious flavor and lots of nutrition to any meal. With so many ways to order eggs and so many foods that pair well with them, it’s helpful to learn how to choose the style that suits your tastes and meal.

A Guide to Eggs

1. Scrambled

In this classic, simple preparation, egg whites and yolks are beaten together and cooked in a pan or skillet. These can be cooked to any degree desired, whether left wet or dry, meaning cooked all the way through. You can add milk, sour cream, cheese, or other thickening agents for a smooth, creamy texture. These go well with simple sides like bacon or vegetables, including spinach and bell peppers.

2. Fried

A fried egg is simply cracked into a pan and allowed to cook on one side with a runny yolk to make it sunny side up. Or you can flip it over to cook it on the other side, leaving the yolk uncooked to make it over easy. A third option is to cook it on both sides, all the way through. These pair beautifully with salad or breakfast sausage, or they can be placed in breakfast sandwiches for a convenient on-the-go meal.

3. Poached

Poaching involves removing the egg from its shell and boiling it in water, sauce, or broth. This allows you to cook it without scraping the pan or using extra fat. The white on a properly poached egg will be cooked through while remaining soft, and the yolk will be runny. These are perfect when placed on an English muffin with ham or Canadian bacon and Hollandaise sauce to make Eggs Benedict.

4. Hard-Boiled

Hard-boiled eggs are cooked inside the shell in boiling water until both the yolk and the white have completely set, thus making it “hard.” After boiling for 10-12 minutes, these can be eaten immediately or left to cool and peeled later as a handy, portable snack. Hard-boiled eggs are also a popular salad topping when chopped.

5. Soft Boiled

Like hard-boiled eggs, these are boiled in the shell, only for about half the time. When opened, the white will be fully cooked while the yolk will be golden and runny. A traditional way of eating these is from an egg cup with the top cracked open, using strips of toast to dip into the yolk.

The next time you’re in the mood for a delicious breakfast, pay a visit to The Diner at Sugar Hill, in Sugar Hill, GA. Also serving lunch and dinner, this American food restaurant is a beloved local eatery that has something for everyone. To learn more, call (770) 831-0180 or browse their menu online.