Does beating hot oil into eggs before cooking an omelette make a difference?
Usually, when I prepare an omelette, I pour oil in a cast iron pan and heat it. In the meantime, I prepare the eggs and I beat them fluffy. When the oil is pretty hot, I pour it in the eggs while beating them and finally I cook it in the pan.
As long as I can remember, I've done that following my mom's example. I assumed that it makes a difference but today my wife asked me why I was doing that. I couldn't find an answer other than "I always do like that".
I'd like to know if this process have any value on the end result. If so, I could give her a better answer. If not, I will change my habits.
Best Answer
Not tried or heard of this before. I can only arm-chair experiment in my head until I try this out. This seems to be an encapsulation/spherification method.
I can see a thin "shell" of cooked eggs coagulating around the hot oil droplets, trapping them and preventing separation. With many tiny beads of egg encased oil (effective oil buoyancy reduced) in suspension and thus more fats locked in the eggs there is likely a richer mouth-feel. This would not be achievable otherwise. Pretty neat trick. Your mom sounds like a modernist cook!
Pictures about "Does beating hot oil into eggs before cooking an omelette make a difference?"
How do restaurants make omelettes so fluffy?
Season the beaten eggs well with salt and pepper. Heat the oil and butter in a non-stick frying pan over a medium-low heat until the butter has melted and is foaming.Do you put oil in pan for omelette?
Though butter does have nutritional value, olive oil might be the better choice. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, liquid fats, including olive oil, are rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fats. These are better for you than solid fats, which contain large amounts of saturated fat.Is it better to use butter or oil for omelette?
Rubbery - Overcooked. The proteins have coagulated very tightly due to prolonged heat exposure. When I cook omelettes I usually use Jacques Pepin's method, which gives a creamy inside. Youtube "Pepin omelettes," and it'll probably show up.4 Levels of Omelets: Amateur to Food Scientist | Epicurious
More answers regarding does beating hot oil into eggs before cooking an omelette make a difference?
Answer 2
In addition to adding fat (for flavor and more silky eggs) I've seen this technique used used to temper cold eggs before adding them to the skillet.
As to whether you should keep making eggs this way… there are so many ways to cook eggs, I'd suggest that you keep trying new ways so that you have many options for preparing delicious eggs.
Personally, I prefer scrambled eggs beaten with some cream and cooked over low heat with a pat of butter.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Nataly Grb, cottonbro, cottonbro, Polina Tankilevitch