Baked eggs are a fantastic option when making brunch for a crowd as you can cook half a dozen or more in a single dish. Moreover, the flavor possibilities are endless. For example, you could easily bake your eggs with spinach and leeks, crack them into the spicy and fire-roasted base of a Middle Eastern shakshuka, or nestle them in an aromatic mixture of garlicky mushrooms and cheese. However, there’s one die hard rule you must follow with all of these varied recipes: Generously grease your baking dish before you begin to prevent the eggs from sticking to the bottom.
One of the fastest ways to prepare your baking dish is to spritz it with a cooking spray. It’s mess-free, quick, and guarantees that an even coating of fat is distributed across the base. The spray can also get into the nooks and crannies of a dish that has any designs or detailing on the bottom. However, if you want to maximize the flavor of your baked eggs, butter is the perfect option. Simply spread softened butter all over your dish to boost the savoriness of your meal and lend it a rich and nutty aroma. Shortening and lard are two other flavorful fats you could use if you don’t have any butter on hand. Leftover grease from cooking the other elements, such as rashers of bacon, is another option which will lend your eggs a unique smoky quality.
Grease the sides of your dish too when making baked eggs
It’s important to grease not just the bottom of your baking dish, but all the way up the sides as well. This will ensure the other ingredients in your baked egg recipe don’t stick or become scorched, causing an unwanted odor that could linger in your kitchen. You should be able to slide a spatula under your baked eggs and remove them from your dish easily without breaking up the whites. This makes for a prettier presentation and guarantees your diners can neatly break into their jammy yolks at the table.
The best way to prevent eggs sticking to an oven-friendly cast iron skillet is to heat it well and use plenty of oil or butter. A seasoned cast iron pan will also add its own characterful flavor to your baked eggs and will retain its heat better than other skillets. Baked eggs can quickly overcook, which means you must monitor them regularly to check that they haven’t set too hard (you want them to be gooey in the middle). However, you could also use small ramekins to make individual servings of baked eggs. That way you can serve them directly in the ramekin, eliminating the need to carefully ease them out of the dish.
