Heating Pans If you want to sear meats properly, you need to make sure your pan is sufficiently heated. Don't just turn on the heat and toss the meat in and pray. Depending on the thickness of your pan and the type of meat, you might need to heat a pan for 5 to 10 minutes on medium-high heat to get a really good sear. Add oil after the pan is heated.
My Favorite Pan My favorite pan is a twenty dollar cast iron pan. I remember vividly how my step-father coveted his iron pan and warned us about not using soap to clean it. Seasoned and maintained properly, an iron pan can last forever. It is better than any non stick pan and far more durable. It's thick base holds heat better than any pan in my arsenal and prevents food from burning by dispersing the heat.
My brother Matthew taught me how to make these fried eggs and they have become a household favorite. I make them all the time because I always have parmesan cheese in the fridge and oregano in the spice cabinet. They aren't much more difficult than normal fried eggs but they have so much more depth with the nutty taste of parmesan and the aromatic flavor of an herb like oregano.
Heat a thick pan on medium. When it is heated through, add the vegetable oil and drop two eggs. Immediately salt and pepper the eggs, sprinkle them with oregano and finally cover them with the parmesan cheese. Turn the pan to low and cover it so steam can build. Don't peek or the cheese won't melt.
It takes about a minute or two of steam for the cheese to melt but still have a runny yolk. The steam also cooks the top of the egg so you don't have to flip it. If you have to peek, just lift the lid a little and very quickly so not all the steam escapes. Once you become accustomed to the technique you will know instinctively when the cheese is melted.
The end result should be a slightly crispy egg on the bottom and melted cheese on top. The top should also be cooked but still have a runny yolk. Without a runny yolk, what's the point in eating a fried egg? Add a couple pieces of toast and you have a breakfast that will keep you going till lunch.
