The Biggest Mistake You're Making With The Viral TikTok Egg Hack

It can be difficult to prepare an egg eggs-actly the right way. Overcook it, and you get chewy yellow fluff; meanwhile, a sunny-side or poached egg that didn't get enough heat is a salmonella nightmare waiting to happen. That's why the egg folded "envelope" technique made famous by TikTok's @sunnycusine seems like it's the answers to egg lovers' prayers – with just a few seemingly effortless shakes of the skillet, you get a small pillow of deliciousness, the whites delicately embracing a gooey golden yolk. The problem, though, is that many home cooks are complaining that this technique isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

According to Palak Patel, chef at the Institute of Culinary Education, the 21-second TikTok video didn't provide all of the details we need to seal the deal for a perfect egg envelope. "The most important tool for this hack is a well-seasoned wok," Patel told Mashed. "If the wok is not seasoned or non-stick, this hack is impossible to do. The hack relies on the egg whites folding neatly into a packet, and if they stick, the egg may scramble." Then you really have egg on your face!

Fortunately, you don't need to be a master chef to nail the egg envelope. With the right tools, you, too, can create a breakfast worth writing home about, according to Patel. "This hack takes finesse, but it's totally possible and easy with the right equipment," she explained. "You want to have the right tools, like a silicone spatula and a wok. The quality of the wok ensures the egg whites fold neatly and don't stick to the surface."

Why does the wok quality matter? "Egg whites and egg yolks cook at different temperatures, so this hack accounts for that difference by cooking them separately," Patel said. "The extra surface space and thin carbon steel material of the wok heats up quickly to brown the egg whites. The layers of whites protect the yolk from overcooking and keeps it runny." If you don't currently have a wok you love, run, don't walk, to grab one. You can use this kitchen must-have for everything from frying to steaming to making a perfectly oiled bowl of popcorn.