What Happens If You Let Cracked Eggs Sit Before Scrambling Them

How do you scramble your eggs? While the famous breakfast food has a pretty self-explanatory way of being prepared, everyone swears by a different technique. From simmering the yellow mixture on low to adding in baking powder or water, there are more than a few tips and tricks people use. According to The Washington Post, Americans eat roughly 279 eggs per year. Some especially zealous lovers of the dish consume even more, so it's safe to say we should all know how to properly prepare the breakfast favorite by now. Still, some people have stuck to some bad habits in the kitchen and forgotten the basics of cooking quality scrambled eggs. And they might not even know it.

While there are many effective ways of cooking scrambled eggs, other methods that many people use daily are best left on the chopping block. One such bad scrambled egg habit was called out by none other than chef legend Anthony Bourdain. The issue in question? Letting cracked eggs sit before scrambling them.

As Anthony Bourdain shared with Insider, you should never let raw eggs sit around waiting to be scrambled. Instead, don't crack your eggs into a bowl until right before you're ready to put them onto the hot pan. As Bourdain said, leaving eggs out can make them greyed and disconnected when they're scrambled instead of taking on the ideal fluffy, pillow-like texture. So while this is a small step of the process, it's one that can make or break your breakfast.

Beyond having some patience, Bourdain suggested opting for a simple scramble recipe — he uses only salt, pepper, and butter in his process. So if you're searching for the key to the perfect scrambled eggs, make sure to include timely cracking of the eggs into the recipe. But there are some other tips to keep in mind as well.

While there are a million different ideas to try in the kitchen when it comes to making scrambled eggs, we're gonna break down a few of the best techniques. The first secret to the softest, fluffiest eggs of your life is that it's all about how you treat them on the pan. When your eggs hit the skillet, using a wooden spoon is essential. This kitchen tool handles heat better than others and will be gentle on the fragile breakfast food. With wooden spoon in hand, stir the eggs often to allow air exposure, which is necessary for them to soften.

Now, let's take it back to the mixing stage. In our opinion, using a whisk is a crucial tool in the process of scrambling eggs.  Whisks helps break up egg yolks and whites thoroughly so they can become a cohesive mixture. For the fluffiest eggs, whisk until bubbles start to appear and the mixture is an even yellow throughout.