Adding Milk to Scrambled Eggs (Should You Do It?)

I have been cooking for a lot of years, and one of the first things I learned to cook was eggs, boiled, fried, and scrambled. From the very beginning, every egg I scrambled had a little milk in them. I thought I was adding the milk as an extender just to make the eggs go farther. I’m learning now, after all those years, that this is not true. Milk doesn’t make the eggs go farther. It doesn’t even make them creamier.

For perfect scrambled eggs, you should never add milk. Instead, always use the freshest eggs you can find, crack them into a bowl and whisk well. Add butter to the skillet over low heat, pour the eggs into the skillet, and cook very slowly, occasionally dragging a spoon or other utensil through to prevent sticking.

What Ingredients Should I Put In Scrambled Eggs?

Scrambled eggs are really good with only salt and pepper added. Salt, especially, is needed to enhance the flavor of the eggs. Some folks, however, like to spice things up a bit and add a few red pepper flakes or hot sauce, while others add some grated fresh parmesan cheese and maybe a little crumbled bacon.

I like my scrambled eggs with a little chopped onion or scallion, so I saute the onion until tender in a small amount of butter before pouring in the whipped eggs. The sky’s the limit, though, when spicing up scrambled eggs. The seasonings of choice will depend on your taste buds, but here are a few other suggestions:

• Chopped bell or hot peppers
• Crumbled breakfast sausage
• Cubed ham
• Feta cheese
• Sliced mushrooms
• Assorted grated or cubed cheeses
• Sliced olives

Does Adding Liquid to Scrambled Eggs Make Them Fluffy?

No, adding liquid of any sort, whether it is milk or water, to scrambled eggs not make them fluffy and will only reduce or dilute the flavor of the eggs.

The way to cook fluffy scrambled eggs is by whisking them well and cooking them slowly over low heat.

What Makes Scrambled Eggs Fluffy?

Even though we have been taught that scrambled eggs need a liquid of some sort, normally either milk or water, added to them to be fluffy. This, however, is not true. The two main things that make scrambled eggs fluffy are (1) being beaten well before cooking and (2) cooking them over low heat.

In this video, I show you how to make perfectly fluffy scrambled eggs without milk:

What Type Of Eggs Are Better For Scrambling?

The very best eggs for scrambling are free-range barnyard eggs that are fed properly and given lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to eat. However, many of us don’t have access to that type of egg. 

I happen to be one of those spoiled individuals who, until recently, bought my eggs from the man who had a produce stand near my home and who raised chickens in his backyard, which he, in turn, sold to me. And they were absolutely the best eggs I have ever eaten! Some naughty foxes, however, messed up my perfect egg situation by sneaking in by night and feasting on those amazing egg-producing chickens. I was devastated! And my friend, the egg magnate, gave up on the chicken-raising business. But it was good while it lasted.

The only problem is that I now know what a really good egg tastes like, and it is extremely hard for me to eat a mediocre egg. But I digress…

Having said all that, the best egg is the freshest egg that you have access to. If you are fortunate to own chickens that are layers, then the best egg for you is an egg from your backyard. If you have access to a local farmers’ market or know someone locally who sells barnyard eggs, then the best for you would be the ones you buy locally.

If, however, eggs from the grocery are the freshest that you have access to, then take a look at the sell-by date. Near the sale-by date is a 3-digit code that designates the day of the year that the eggs were packed, from day 1 through day 365. For example, egg carton code 001 was packed on January 1, and egg carton code 030 was packed on January 30.

So, when you are looking through the egg cartons, find the eggs that were packed most recently, and you can be somewhat confident that those are the freshest eggs available to you.

How Can I Tell Whether Eggs Are Fresh?

The best way to tell whether eggs are fresh and even still good is by using the water test. 

• If you put eggs into a pot or pan in at least 4 inches of water, if they lay on their sides on the bottom, they are fresh; 
• If the eggs are still on the bottom but standing on one end, they are still good, just no longer fresh; 
• However, if they float, discard them immediately because they are no longer good to eat.

What Oil Should I Use To Scramble Eggs?

The oil that you use to cook your scrambled eggs depends on the oil you normally use in your kitchen. Ideally, you would cook your scrambled eggs in butter as the most flavorful option. But, if you are following a vegan diet, for example, and refrain from using dairy, then your best option would be one of the nut butters or olive oil if you are a Vegan who supports the use of olive oil.

Otherwise, whatever type of oil is your favorite and is the one you normally use in your kitchen, is the oil you should use to scramble eggs. 

One other very flavorful option is to use bacon drippings in scrambled eggs. Just add the bacon drippings to the skillet over low heat before adding the eggs to make the perfect scrambled eggs.

How Long Should I Cook Scrambled Eggs?

Scrambled eggs should be cooked until they reach the consistency that you like your scrambled eggs to be. There is no best way to do it. Some like their scrambled eggs when just set and are still a little moist; some like their scrambled eggs completely done and no longer moist.

How you like your eggs cooked will determine how long it will take to scramble the eggs, just as long as they are not overcooked, which means brown and dry.

Can I Scramble Eggs In The Microwave?

Yes, eggs can be scrambled in the microwave. Very basic directions would be as follows:

1. Whisk eggs well
2. Add salt and pepper
3. Spray microwave-proof and lidded bowl with cooking spray
4. Pour eggs into bowl and cover
5. Microwave on high for 20-30 seconds, then stir well
6. Continue cooking in 20-30 second increments until done, stirring after each cooking time.

The length of total cooking time depends on the microwave and the number of eggs being cooked.

Best Way To Store Scrambled Eggs?

Scrambled eggs will be best if used by the next day but will still be good for 2-3 days if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They can be reheated in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or put into a heated skillet in a small amount of butter or oil for just a few seconds until heated through.

What Should I Serve With Scrambled Eggs?

Scrambled eggs make a good meal with just a piece of toast added or on bread as a sandwich, but here are several menu ideas for a full breakfast, highlighting the fluffy scrambled eggs.

• Scrambled eggs with hot homemade buttered biscuits and crispy fried bacon.
• Scrambled eggs with grits, sausage, and buttered toast.
• Scrambled eggs folded into a warm tortilla with bits of chopped ham and sauteed peppers.
• Scrambled eggs with a bowl of oatmeal and milk on the side.
• Scrambled eggs with scones, butter, and jam.

Final Thoughts

Eggs are one of my favorite foods and always have been. According to the USDA, eggs stay good for 3 to 5 weeks after being refrigerated if stored properly. That means they should be kept refrigerated once they have been refrigerated and not left out on the kitchen counter for any length of time while you are cooking. I make it a practice to only take out of the refrigerator the number of eggs I’ll need for what I am cooking. And eggs should also be stored in their cartons as this protects them from contamination from other foods.

Another thing I like about eggs is that they are very nutritious. One egg has only 75 calories but is packed with a whopping 7 grams of protein plus iron, vitamins, and minerals. Eggs had a bad rap for many years because of their high cholesterol level of 213 mg per egg, but, in 2000, the AHA, the American Heart Association, revised its dietary guidelines after 25 years of study and now recommends that one egg a day is allowed for healthy adults. The high cholesterol level in eggs had previously been thought to be associated with heart disease, but the new findings placed the blame on saturated fat and not on cholesterol. 

I’m sure I’m not the only person to breathe a sigh of relief that eggs are again regarded as a nutritious part of a healthy diet. So, try your hand at scrambling eggs without adding a liquid. I think you’ll be pleased with the results.

Thanks for stoppin’ by!

Jelly Grandma

For more, check out The 12 Best Substitutes For Milk In Scrambled Eggs.

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