Iron Temperature for Eggs - The Definitive Guide

We use griddles all the time for things like grilled cheese and pancakes, but you can also use your griddle for the perfect breakfast plate: eggs, sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, and even toast.

The hardest part of cooking with a griddle is knowing what temperature to use and how long the cooking process takes.

Although our kitchens typically have heat levels ranging from low to high, they don’t typically provide temperatures. An iron, on the other hand, is usually regulated by a temperature like that of the oven.

So what temperature of the griddle is used for the eggs? Cooking temperature and time may vary depending on your griddle and the type of eggs you cook. Typically, the temperature will be between 250-325°F. You will probably never use a higher temperature for your eggs on the griddle or they could turn out burnt or rubbery.

In this guide, we will explain all the details you should know about the temperature and cooking times for eggs on the griddle. Whether you want over easy eggs or scrambled eggs, we’ve got everything you need to know here.

Stay with us to find out what is the best griddle temperature for eggs and much more.

Egg iron temperature

As we go through this guide, we’ll talk about all the types of eggs you can cook on the griddle, or at least the basic ones.

From fried eggs to scrambled eggs, there are some specific steps and tips to know before embarking on your quest for the perfect griddle eggs.

Below is a reference table that you may find useful as a quick reference. The table details the temperature that you should use for each type of grilled egg, as well as the approximate cooking time.

Egg cooking temperatures and times

Some eggs may take much less than the minutes listed here. Again, it really depends on your iron and your heat. You may have to experiment a bit with your own iron to get perfect results.

However, we are going to talk about each of them separately and we will even give you some tips to know when to turn the egg.

In general, these temperatures should always work for you. We definitely recommend that you don’t go higher than 325°F as the eggs will most likely burn or cook too quickly to really cook evenly as they should.

The key is to work with a low or medium heat level. If your iron uses numbers for heat levels instead of temperatures, you can stick with 2-3 to be in the proper temperature range.

If you want to be sure, use a food thermometer to measure heat.

1. Free-range eggs and soft-boiled eggs

Cooking eggs in the sun and soft-boiled eggs on the griddle is pretty easy as far as eggs are concerned. If you use the right temperature, you barely have to turn them over and guess the time.

For open-air eggs, you won’t even need to flip them, just wait until the egg white is fully cooked and the yolk is still soft.

For soft boiled eggs, you’ll want the tops to be slightly cooked. There is a certain art to cracking the egg and putting it on the griddle without breaking the yolk.

And there is another art to turn the egg upside down without breaking it too. Of course, this requires above all cautious and careful movements. You probably won’t do it perfectly every time, but it’s worth the effort.

Later in this guide we’ll share some tips for cracking eggs and flipping them smoothly, so keep an eye on that topic later.

How to make grilled eggs

1. Heat griddle to 325°F.
2. You may want to use a little butter, oil, or even cooking spray on the surface to prevent sticking.
3. Crack the eggs into a bowl and pour them onto the griddle slowly and carefully.
4. You can reduce the heat slightly (maybe up to 300*F). Cook the egg on this side for 5 minutes. Before turning the egg, the white must curdle.
5. Flip the egg over slowly and carefully.
6. Cook the other side of the egg for about 1 minute.

It is very simple! The hardest part will be not breaking the yolk when turning the egg over, and for that we have some tips below. For now, let’s look at other types of eggs.

2. Overrun eggs

Once you know how to cook eggs too easy, cooking eggs too medium or too good is pretty straightforward.

Again, the biggest challenge is not to break the yolk. In the end, the processes are more or less the same, but the times may vary slightly.

These instructions will look familiar with only minor differences, mainly related to cooking time.

How to cook eggs on the grill

1. Preheat griddle to 325°F.
2. We recommend that you prime your griddle surface with cooking spray, butter, or oil to prevent the eggs from sticking while cooking.
3. Crack the eggs one by one into a bowl. Slowly pour them onto the griddle. Pour slowly and carefully so as not to break the yolk.
4. Try to reduce the heat slightly, to about 300°F. Cook the first side of the egg for about 5 minutes or until the white has set.
5. Flip the egg over slowly and carefully.
6. Cook the second side of the egg for about 2 minutes to get a rather medium finish.

Again, you can see that the process is quite easy. You should anticipate adding approximately 1 more minute of cooking on the second side so that the egg is a little more done instead of having the yolk completely runny.

3. Eggs that are too hard

Since this is still a fried egg, the process is, once again, almost exactly the same as the processes we’ve already shared. The only difference is that you’ll be adding about another minute to the cooking time on the second side after flipping.

How to make hard boiled eggs on the griddle

1. Preheat griddle to 325°F.
2. Prepare the cooking space with oil, butter or cooking spray.
3. Crack the egg into a bowl and pour them individually onto the griddle. Do it slowly to keep the yolk intact.
4. Reduce the heat slightly, to about 300°F, and allow the egg to cook for about 5 minutes or until the white has set.
5. Slowly turn the egg over.
6. Cook 3 more minutes, until the yolk is fully cooked.

Depending on how you like your eggs, you can adjust the cooking time to get your desired consistency.

4. Scrambled eggs

Another great option for grilled eggs is scrambled eggs. For scrambled eggs, we recommend using a temperature of 325°F for the cooking process.

Check these steps to prepare scrambled eggs on the griddle:

1. Crack the eggs into a bowl and prepare them to your liking with the seasonings and any other additional ingredients. Beat them until smooth.
2. Heat griddle to 325°F and prep surface with a little oil or cooking spray.
3. Pour the mixture slowly and carefully over the surface.
4. You will have to stir while the eggs cook. The more you stir, the smaller the pieces will be.
5. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the eggs are slightly moist but no longer soft (this step is for those who like their eggs fluffy and soft, but you can adjust the cooking time according to your preferences).

Again, you can always adjust the cooking time according to your preferences. Some people like their scrambled eggs soft and fluffy, while others enjoy them a little more dense and crumbly.

Whether you like your eggs scrambled soft, hard-boiled, mixed with other ingredients, or covered in hot sauce, this process will be relatively easy.

5. Tortillas

You may want to consider using an omelet maker for your omelettes instead of a griddle, as eggs will likely run all over the griddle and not maintain their classic round omelet shape.

However, in the case of the plancha, we are not going to guide you through a step-by-step process, since people make tortillas in different ways.

Ultimately, you should plan on a 325°F griddle for cooking and allow about 2-3 minutes of cooking time for each egg in the omelet.

Tips for cooking eggs on the griddle

We have some tips that you may find useful when preparing eggs on the griddle.

First of all, we want to mention that we do not recommend that you break your eggs directly on the griddle. This could lead to cracking a bad egg and having to clean it or getting the shell stuck to the egg.

When you crack the egg, crack it against a straight-edged surface, then drop it slowly and carefully into your bowl.

When you pour it on the griddle, be careful and pour it slowly if you are frying the egg to avoid breaking the yolk.

You can cook eggs on the griddle in much the same way as you would in the kitchen.

Related questions

We hope you find this guide on the temperature of eggs on the griddle useful. Check out our Q&A section for more information.

Does it matter what kind of eggs I cook?

For the purposes of times and temperatures, the type of egg you use does not make a significant difference. For the most part, this comes down to your personal preferences for quality and style more than anything.

Do I need to clean the egg?

Since the egg will hatch out of its shell, there’s really no reason to clean it, unless it’s fresh from your farm. Store-bought eggs must be cleaned before being shipped to the store.

What is the best seasoning for eggs?

This is another point that is really a matter of preference. You can just use salt and pepper, or you can swap them out with things like garlic, lemon zest, parsley, chili powder, paprika, thyme, and cumin.

You can also add sriracha or salsa.