The Perfect Omelet Recipes

PERFECT OMELET

Steps:

• Beat the eggs: Soak 3 large eggs for 5 minutes in hot-not scalding-tap water. This will ensure that the omelet cooks faster, and the faster an omelet cooks, the more tender it's going to be. Crack the eggs into a small bowl or large bowl-shaped coffee mug. Season with a pinch of fine salt. Beat the eggs gently with a fork.
• TIP: I prefer a fork to a whisk for omelets because I don't want to work air into the eggs: Air bubbles are insulators and can slow down cooking if you're not careful.
• Heat the pan: Heat a 10-inch nonstick saute pan over medium to high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon room-temperature unsalted butter. Once melted, spread the butter around the pan with a basting brush to ensure coverage.
• TIP: Heat your pan empty for a few minutes before adding the butter: Even a nonstick surface is pocked with microscopic pores that eggs can fill and grab hold of. Heat expands the metal, squeezing these openings shut.
• Add the eggs: Pour the eggs into the center of the pan and stir vigorously with a silicone spatula for 5 seconds. (Actually, it's not so much a matter of stirring with the spatula as holding the spatula relatively still and moving the pan around to stir the eggs.)
• Let them cook: As soon as curds begin to form (that's the stuff that looks like scrambled eggs), lift the pan and tilt it around until the excess liquid pours off the top of the curds and into the pan. Then use the spatula to shape the edge and make sure the omelet isn't sticking. Move the spatula around the edge of the egg mixture to help shape it into a round and loosen the edge. Then walk away. That's right-let that omelet sit unaccosted for 10 long seconds so it can develop a proper outer crust. Don't worry: Your patience will be rewarded.
• Finish the omelet: Time for the "jiggle" step: Simply shake the pan gently to make sure the omelet is indeed free of the pan. Lift up the far edge of the pan and snap it back toward you. Then use the spatula to fold over the one-third facing you.
• Change your grip on the pan handle from an overhand to an underhand and move to the plate, which you might want to lube with just a brief brushing of butter to make sure things don't bind up in transit. Slide the one-third farthest from you onto the plate and then ease the fold over. Imagine that you're making a tri-fold wallet out of eggs-because that's exactly what you're doing. And just ease the pan over. There, that wasn't so hard.

THE PERFECT OMELET

Steps:

• Heat a small omelet pan over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• Turn on the broiler in your oven. (Mine has a high/low setting, so I use low.).
• Crack the eggs into a 4 cup measuring cup. Add the milk, seasoned salt and pepper and beat the mixture completely with a fork or whisk. Set aside.
• Add 1/2-1 tbsp butter to the omelet pan and add anywhere from 1/2 tsp to 1 tbsp of any the vegetables first, depending on what is ordered. Using a spatula, saute the requested ingredients for a minute or two until the vegetables are crisp tender. Then add any meats/seafood and saute for one more minute.
• Spread the mixture around the pan evenly. Then give the egg mixture a quick whisk and SLOWLY pour 1/4 of the mixture in and around the ingredients.
• As the eggs cook, use your spatula to push the eggs toward the center of the pan and tilt the pan so the uncooked eggs fill the gaps. Keep your pan on a medium-low setting.
• When there is no more liquid egg to fill the gaps, turn off the burner, place the pan in the oven under the broiler for a couple of minutes. Leave the door propped open a bit so you can watch the omelet. Don't take your eyes off of it - it could burn very quickly. The broiler will cook the top of your eggs. (I'm not a good omelet flipper, especially with all those yummy, but heavy goodies in them, so this method works well for me.)
• Using a hotpad to grab the handle, put the pan back on the stove, making sure the burner you previously used is turned off. If desired, sprinkle the cheese(s) on one side of the omelet and fold the other side over on top of the cheesy side, slide the omelet onto a plate and serve. The heat from the omelet will melt the cheese without overcooking the omelet.
• Enjoy!