Gordon Ramsay's Simple Tip To Prevent Overcooking Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled eggs is one of the most deceptive dishes there is. It's one of the first things that many people learn to make, but it can take a lifetime to perfect, and every chef has different — and sometimes contradictory — advice.
In his famous video for The Daily, which has amassed nearly 50 million views, Gordon Ramsay explains that, "Every time we get a new cook in the kitchen, we always ask them to make scrambled eggs — and if they can make the perfect scrambled egg, you know they know how to cook properly."
However, there's no consensus on the perfect recipe for scrambled eggs. An Insider article that compares the different techniques that celebrity chefs use to cook scrambled eggs demonstrates just how diverse their opinions are. Some chefs, like Emeril Lagasse, insist that whisking is key to the perfect scrambled eggs, while others, like Millie Peartree, drop them straight in the pan — which is also Ramsay's preferred technique. Bobby Flay adds smoked salmon and scallions to his eggs, while Martha Stewart swears by a stripped-down recipe that uses nothing but butter, eggs, and salt. Anthony Bourdain was also a fan of the minimalist approach. "It's about the egg," he explained in a video for Business Insider. "You're not making a quiche here."
Ramsay's addition to scrambled eggs serves a dual purpose
Contrary to Stewart's and Bourdain's advice, Gordon Ramsay insists that one crucial addition is the key to making perfect scrambled eggs. According to MasterClass, Ramsay's scrambled egg recipe calls for adding a spoonful of crème fraiche just before the eggs are finished to prevent the residual heat from overcooking the eggs. "Just makes it a little bit cooler, brings down the temperature of the eggs," he explained in his video.
The crème fraiche doesn't just prevent the eggs from overcooking, though — it also gives them a smooth texture and rich flavor, as Bobby Flay, who's also a fan of crème fraiche, explained to the Food Network.
Ramsay's recipe suggests using sour cream, butter, or heavy whipping cream as an alternative to crème fraiche, but Insider found that crème fraiche produced the best flavor and texture compared to sour cream or Greek yogurt. If you're not used to cooking with crème fraiche, consider picking up a tub on your next trip to the grocery store for scrambled eggs that would make Gordon Ramsay proud.