Table of Contents
- Why do eggs explode when frying?
- Reasons why eggs explode while frying
- How to prevent eggs from exploding while frying?
- Conclusion
Why do eggs explode when frying?
We know that the eggs absorb oil. But have you ever wondered why eggs explode when you fry them?
It’s all about the chemistry. When frying, the water in the egg white turns into steam and escapes through tiny pores in the shell.
The proteins on the surface of an egg-white are coagulated by heat, forming a protective barrier that prevents moisture from escaping out. This process can cause pressure to build up within an egg while it is being fried, so if it isn’t cracked before cooking or handled with care during preparation, there’s a good chance that your breakfast will blow up in your face!
But what to do if such happens? How to prevent it? This blog post has everything you need to know about it. So, read on!
Reasons why eggs explode while frying
There are numerous reasons why eggs explode while you’re frying them. Let’s see what they are:
Gas producing bacteria
The bacteria Pseudomonas spp causes the bursting forming inside the egg. This bacteria is commonly found in soil, plants, sewage, and indoor dust. Animals or people can carry it into kitchens via shoes and clothes.
But what most people don’t know is that this bacteria can only be found in stored eggs. It tends to grow at a temperature range of 5-40 degrees Celsius from when the egg is laid.
Not cracking the egg
One leading cause is cracking the egg before putting it in the frying pan. If you crack an egg before adding it to a frying pan, gases generated within could escape without causing any trouble.
But if you don’t crack it and put the whole thing into the fire, then there’s every chance that your breakfast will explode.
Overcrowding the pan
Another reason is overcrowding of the pan. Don’t fry too many eggs at a time, as the rising steam will escape from the edge of your frying pan, resulting in an explosion.
It would help if you also tried to have a pan with low sides so that the steam can easily escape from it.
Using a steaming hot frying pan
This is quite rare, but if the pan you’re using is boiling, then there’s quite a risk of your egg exploding while cooking. The hot temperature causes the steam within the egg to expand rapidly and escape at high speed that is strong enough to break the shell.
So it would help if you always were very careful while using a steaming hot frying pan.
Shaking the pan while frying
Another reason eggs explode while frying is hitting and shaking the pan while cooking. This blows air into your egg and breaks its membrane, leading to it expanding and exploding in your face when you least expect it.
So it is recommended that you should never hit or shake your frying pan while cooking as it could ruin your whole day.
Using glass lids
Although that’s not directly related to an egg’s explosion, it plays a significant role in eggs breakage – using a glass lid when frying eggs. Glass lids usually shatter easily, and the sharp edges could cut or even break your membrane, resulting in an explosion.
How to prevent eggs from exploding while frying?
With a problem comes the solution to it. There are many ways you can prevent the disaster from happening.
Crack the egg
The first and foremost thing to do is crack your egg into a bowl before adding it to a frying pan. If you don’t, then there’s always the chance that your egg will explode when cooking. This way, you’re making sure that if anything happens, it won’t be such a big deal as you have your egg cracked in a bowl.
Low heat
It’s better to set the stove on low heat while frying eggs. That way, the steam can escape through it, and you have fewer chances of an explosion. So make sure to use low heat while cooking your egg for safety reasons.
Choose cooking oil carefully
This is another critical factor when it comes to preventing explosions. You should always choose high smoke-point oils like peanut or sunflower oil.
Other oils like olive oil, groundnut oil, and sesame oil usually solidify when cooled down and turn into a thick paste that gets stuck between the eggshell and membrane. And this could lead to an explosion as well.
So it would be best if you always opted for high smoke-point oils when frying eggs.
Choose nonstick pans
Nonstick pans are quite a good choice when frying eggs. That’s because nonstick pans tend to retain less heat when compared to traditional frying pans. So there’s little chance of an explosion with a nonstick pan.
Leave enough space between eggs
This seems of very little importance, but it’s another precautionary measure. Leave enough space between the eggs so that the steam can escape through them.
Avoid overcooking
It’s recommended that you should never overcook your pan when frying eggs. If overdone, the steam could escape with a lot of speed and air, which leads to an explosion.
The egg will harden and either break or explode in your face. So always cook it for the shortest time possible.
There you go, now you know what could happen when frying eggs. This minor disaster could ruin your day so follow these steps to prevent it from happening.
Conclusion
In summary, the eggs can explode in frying if you mishandle the stove, pan, or even the egg itself. But knowing the reasons why eggs explode while frying can save your day from a lot of trouble and make sure that you fry your eggs without any problem.
Make sure to follow our tips and enjoy the fried eggs without getting any explosion in your face.
