3 Steps To Perfect Eggs Every Time, From A Professional Chef

Perfecting scrambled eggs is a delicate art. One misstep can result in dry, lackluster eggs or a texture so runny it's cringeworthy. Yet, when executed flawlessly, scrambled eggs can elevate your cooking prowess to near-professional levels, earning oohs and ahhs from your dining mates.

We asked Musk why the scrambled egg is so often botched. His response: "The No. 1 reason is people don't practice." But Musk clarifies that the number of times you make your eggs—be they scrambled, fried, poached, or what have you—doesn't count as practicing in the artistic sense. 

He quotes the bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell1, saying, "It's not 10,000 hours of doing the sport; it's 10,000 hours where each hour is with an intent to learn—and that's a very important distinction." In this scenario, egg-making is the sport, and a highly technical one at that.

Musk recommends practicing your egg recipe, be it a soft scramble or luxe omelet, four or five times using some great recipe books (or even just online recipes) if you need guidance. The experts can lend advice on the best temperature, cooking time, stirring methods, and so on—saving you time standing at the stove.

Ahead of your egg venture, it's crucial to understand that multitasking won't aid your efforts. Take the time to cook your sausage, prepare avocado toast, or assemble your fruit salad before diving into the process of cooking your eggs.

"It is total meditative focus," Musk says about this mindset. "There is no multitasking because you've got to get it right."

Even Musk's soft scramble recipe from the cookbook, which he declares he's made a few thousand times, can go awry if he gets distracted. "I know if I take my eye off the ball for one second, it won't be what I want it to be."

Even with laser focus and a detailed plan, your eggs just won't perform if the pan underneath is compromised. Nonstick pans may be helpful for a slippery over-easy egg, but many of them can have PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals" that are worth avoiding. 

Why? Well, there's research suggesting that exposure to PFAS can cause hormone disruption, reproductive issues2, and certain cancers3 in animals and humans—though scientists are still unsure about the level of exposure needed to affect health.

It's better to be safe than sorry, here, and find a pan that's made from a ceramic coating (and find a company that discloses where they source that ceramic material) or invest in another material like cast iron, glass, stainless steel, and so on (more options here). 

Especially if you're using one of these recommended materials, it's crucial to commit to watching your eggs, stirring often, and properly oiling the pan ahead of time. Additionally, you may want to consider keeping the heat a bit lower to prevent the egg from sticking.

RELATED READ: The Best (& Worst) Cookware Materials for Minimizing Environmental Chemical Exposure

Once you find your ideal pan that performs to your liking, establish a routine of using that same pan consistently—or invest time in mastering the one you already own, dedicated to optimizing its use for eggs.