The Secret To Perfect Scrambled Eggs, According To Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain was undeniably gifted in the kitchen and had some reliable tips to nail the art of cooking. According to BuzzFeed, the chef was old school and preferred to cook with traditional concepts in mind. He was a fan of simplicity and didn't think it was a great idea to go the extra mile when it wasn't necessary. 

Bourdain was spot on when he said, "Have a plan. Be organized. Keep it simple. Don't overthink. Work clean. And always — when doing something to food, ask yourself: Is this making it better? Or is it just an attempt at impressing?" (via Williams Sonoma.) Also, Bourdain believed that making a classic dish like scrambled eggs came down to a few basic tricks. For example, he told Tech Insider that working with fresh eggs is very important every single time. In particular, he said that the star of the dish is the egg, which means that it should be the focus.

As per a Tech Insider video on YouTube, Anthony Bourdain had a cardinal rule when it came to eggs: Always use a flat surface to crack eggs instead of using a bowl. Bourdain said that this method allowed him to ensure that no eggshells got into the mixture in the vessel. Another piece of advice? Beat your eggs well with a fork, but don't overdo it if you're after the perfect colors and texture.

Also, don't do this beforehand because beating eggs just before adding them to a hot pan is crucial. Bourdain explained why: "You get this, sort of, odd greying, stippling effect that's ... you probably recognize from greasy spoons." Another one of his most helpful tips? Stick to the basics like salt, pepper, and piping hot butter. No milk or cream to distract you from the main elements in the dish. As Bourdain said, "It's about the egg. You know you're not making a quiche here, you're making scrambled eggs."

Not everyone, however, shares Bourdain's casual approach to the scrambled egg. In fact, some renowned chefs almost revere this hallowed breakfast dish, treating its preparation as an art form. Gordon Ramsay holds this egg-cooking skill in such high esteem that he asks his new cook hires to make scrambled eggs and "if they can cook a perfect scrambled egg, you know they know how to cook properly" (per YouTube). Yes, scrambled eggs are that important.  

Ramsay's "Scrambled Eggs" video has received over 48 million views, which translates to a lot of people trying to master his scrambling method. So what makes it so special? First of all, he doesn't add any seasoning to the uncooked eggs as he says it will break them down and make them watery. Secondly, he doesn't believe in whisking the eggs in a bowl, but opts, instead, to whisk them directly in the frying pan as they cook. He also reiterates to "never stop stirring." And his favorite egg scrambling mantra is, "On the heat, off the heat, on the heat, off the heat...repeat." 

The "Kitchen Nightmares" star also recommends adding ½ a tablespoon of crème fraîche, a dash of salt and pepper, and some freshly chopped chives as soon as the eggs are ready. Interestingly, when it comes to this love affair with crème fraîche and scrambled eggs, Ramsay is not alone. 

Bobby Flay is also a fan of adding crème fraîche to his scrambled eggs (per Refinery29). Like Ramsay, his how-to video shows that he adds the salt at the very end and likes chives with his eggs, too. In Flay's Food Network Kitchen video, he uses a strainer over the bowl when breaking his eggs in order to prevent any random shells from getting in, a clever hack indeed. The celebrity chef recommends that everyone use a non-stick pan, and, like Ramsay, he recommends stirring steadily.  

Ina Garten is another chef who tops scrambled eggs with fresh chives, but she has another key ingredient that she adds right before the eggs are finished — truffle butter. Garten contends that two tablespoons of cold truffle butter will keep the eggs from cooking any further (per YouTube), plus it adds a great aroma and flavor. 

Alton Brown, however, offers a completely different scrambled egg tip. He tells the Food Network that a cold plate will suck all the heat from your meal, so he suggests you "park an oven-safe one in a low-temperature oven or in hot water while you're cooking." This will keep your eggs warm and delicious. 

Armed with all this valuable advice from these top-notch chefs and expert egg-scramblers, you might now be craving breakfast. Luckily, scrambled eggs can be eaten at any time of the day, so go ahead, try out your new egg-scrambling prowess with one of these easy scrambled egg recipes.