Want Perfect French Omelettes? Start With Water

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  • Опубликовано: 30 янв 2025

Комментарии • 136

  • @chongli297
    @chongli297 19 часов назад +109

    Just to note for anyone learning to make these at home, the timestamps for when Kenji pours the eggs into the pan (4:17) and when he tilts the pan up to begin rolling (4:57). That's a cook time of 40 seconds! If your omelette is taking a lot longer than 40s to get set or it's browning well before 40s, you'll want to adjust the main cooking heat up or down before you add the eggs to the pan. It's going to depend a lot on both the power (and style) of your burner as well as the thickness and material of your pan!

  • @YukichiSuu
    @YukichiSuu 17 часов назад +49

    Holy. I've been learning how to make Chef Motokichi's omurice over the years, and the initial temperature of my pan has been the trickiest thing to get consistent when switching between various types of stoves and so on. This technique might be the final piece of the puzzle. Thanks so much Kenji, you are the GOAT.

  • @Tony-qe3fl
    @Tony-qe3fl 8 часов назад +2

    I haven’t tried making a french omelette in like 3 months… today I decided to do it and even before your video went live I was surprised that I managed to follow (almost) the same process as your first attempt.
    It was acceptable i’d say. If only your video appeared sooner in my feed so I could use the water technique, definitely trying again tomorrow.

  • @kizhax
    @kizhax 15 часов назад +35

    Kenji is going through his egg period.

    • @robertbrewer2190
      @robertbrewer2190 11 часов назад +1

      I just paid $12 for a dozen in SF Bay Area. These are now luxury ingredients!!

    • @60Airflyte
      @60Airflyte 7 часов назад

      I think Kenji is going through menopause.

    • @getthefonyourdot
      @getthefonyourdot 4 часа назад +1

      He’s the sole reason the nation’s in a eggs shortage 😭

  • @riuphane
    @riuphane 17 часов назад +3

    This is great. I've struggled with this technique for so long and almost got it last weekend, so getting a little more information, and fresh info at that, is really really nice, and great timing imo. Now if only eggs weren't so expensive...

  • @justice_was_taken
    @justice_was_taken 19 часов назад +211

    Eggs? In this economy?

    • @optionout
      @optionout 19 часов назад +1

      😂

    • @i95smuggler
      @i95smuggler 18 часов назад +1

      Yes, eggs can still be bought

    • @remnant24
      @remnant24 18 часов назад +19

      These videos are watched by non-Americans too.

    • @GlennC789
      @GlennC789 18 часов назад +14

      I have three dozen in my fridge now. Am considering selling them off and retiring.

    • @tacosyk
      @tacosyk 17 часов назад +3

      @@remnant24 Sort of funny watching Americans freak out about egg prices when it's around 3-4 dollars for a dozen up here in the north (Canada)

  • @etherdog
    @etherdog 5 часов назад +1

    Yep, I had the Kichi Kichi vibes with the techique you demonstrated, but to be fair, it is THE technique for omelettes. I first saw it from a CIA trained chef in 1978, who also put butter in the eggs before cooking them, and have done it that way ever since because I haven't found a better omelette. Your stuffing is new to me, and I really like it, partly because you can't overstuff it (like a burrito). I always learn something useful from you, Kenji!

  • @caldasReport
    @caldasReport 19 часов назад +23

    Kenji I love you, and the fact that you're looking to improve the production quality, but I must say I really miss the POV camera. It gave us a great perspective on how things should look and we were able to see the change in the food over time. The overhead cam is great! Underused IMO.

    • @tedmccauley9319
      @tedmccauley9319 7 часов назад

      Thought I dont miss the sounds of eating…

  • @FernandaBecerril
    @FernandaBecerril 11 часов назад +2

    This is the most beautiful egg omelette!

  • @jaikirin
    @jaikirin 16 часов назад +4

    I've been using water similarly, Anytime I am batch cooking and I need to keep an empty nonstick pan hot, but don't wanna be fumed to death, I'll add water as a buffer

    • @jaikirin
      @jaikirin 16 часов назад

      To avoid burning my butter I've been adding oil - but that has resulted in greasy omelets

  • @IainMabbott
    @IainMabbott 5 часов назад

    I love cooking and I have learned so much from you Kenji. Thank you!

  • @lukasgraesslin
    @lukasgraesslin 18 часов назад +2

    I made one this week and added some parmesan cheese inside, was awesome.

  • @augela
    @augela 19 часов назад

    As I was watching you prepare your omelette, I was thinking of the similarities to the Kichikichi omelette, and then you said it in the end! Your water-in-pan tip and the 3-eggs-in-an-8-inch-pan guideline may help me improve my omelette game. Great video!

  • @BASSOBEN
    @BASSOBEN 12 часов назад

    Love your videos, I learn so much every time I watch you cook. Thank you for doing these! I can't wait to try making an omelette in this style.

  • @freeboson
    @freeboson 19 часов назад +6

    8:28 Sandwich shop in Brookline is the legendary Cutty's

  • @V1ktor24x7
    @V1ktor24x7 17 часов назад +2

    Love the videos Kenji, thank you!

  • @ivysly
    @ivysly 18 часов назад +6

    at this point I'm expecting the next book to be about eggs

  • @Erksah02
    @Erksah02 16 часов назад +1

    i remember chef jp saying he always makes a french omelette pale but a country omelette is something like a freestyle omelette where he puts in stuff and cooks it golden outside and nice and soft inside.
    dont quote me on that it has been a long time

    • @phenex551
      @phenex551 7 часов назад

      @@Erksah02 I know that video very well. He mentions that the butter should be browned for the country omelette.

    • @tubefae3924
      @tubefae3924 43 минуты назад

      Yes I know that video too. He said there are basically two styles of “french omelette”, the classical one with no colour, cooked quickly with “small curds”, and the country-style one stirred slowly so large curds form, and that one is browned.

  • @deadfr0g
    @deadfr0g 16 часов назад +3

    “The inside should be a texture that the French call ‘baveuse,’ which translate to ‘drool-y’…”
    The luxurious pablum experience that only haute cuisine can provide 🧐👌

  • @TheJargonKing
    @TheJargonKing 19 часов назад +4

    this is such a GENIUS technique! I've struggled to get a consistent fold and tenderness when doing french omelettes because of the temperature of the butter and the pan itself and this will definitely prevent many a forehead wrinkle in the future. thanks Kenji!

  • @LiteHedded
    @LiteHedded 19 часов назад +3

    can you link that compost container you're using? I don't love mine...

  • @oliverhunter-providenti7762
    @oliverhunter-providenti7762 19 часов назад +3

    Hi Kenji, I’ve loved your work ever since my mom gave me the Food Lab as a gift one year. I’m just curious about your dishes that you’ve been using recently and in this video. Is there a website where I could get some for myself? They’re lovely!

    • @JKenjiLopezAlt
      @JKenjiLopezAlt  18 часов назад +7

      Some are hand made from Orcas Island Pottery and some are from Uwajimaya, a Japanese supermarket here in Seattle.

    • @oliverhunter-providenti7762
      @oliverhunter-providenti7762 16 часов назад +1

      @ Well, if I ever get the chance to visit your beautiful city, I’ll be sure to hit up Uwajimaya.

  • @morank3
    @morank3 18 часов назад +3

    Could you do an omuraisu recipe? 🙏

  • @ai_108
    @ai_108 17 часов назад

    Oui oui, merci Kenji 🥚🔥✨

  • @dwanehoughtaling419
    @dwanehoughtaling419 18 часов назад

    Great video. I'm thinking the mushroom omelette will be my wife's new favorite topping your biscuits and gravy.

  • @Oneness100
    @Oneness100 19 часов назад +2

    Boiling point of water is 212 degrees.
    I have made French omelettes in both carbon steel and stainless steel and noticed that optimal temperature for my pans is around 300 degrees and I use s small amount of avocado oil and butter, so it doesn't stick to the pan. I also do move the pan and fork quickly pulling the pan off the stove to make sure the pan doesn't get too hot.
    I'm still trying to find a non-stick that meets all of the criteria that I feel comfortable.

    • @GorgeDuck52
      @GorgeDuck52 18 часов назад +1

      Depends on your elevation. I live at 4500 ft., so water boils closer to 203-204 degrees.

    • @Oneness100
      @Oneness100 18 часов назад

      @ I live at sea level.

    • @kohort1
      @kohort1 12 часов назад

      I've been trying to do this on a carbon steel de buyer and if I stir too much, it sticks. If I gently move the egg around I get more of a browned omelette. My seasoning just sucks I guess but I've had the pan for a couple years now.

    • @Oneness100
      @Oneness100 12 часов назад +1

      @@kohort1 What temp do you get it to? Also, are you using enough butter?
      It takes a while, at least for me, to figure out how high temp, how much butter, etc. to get the right balance.
      Do you use that pan for cooking other than eggs for omelettes? I've watched videos of a variety of different chefs and several have come out and said that they use a specific pan just for eggs and nothing else. I notice when I cook something else, it can cause problems when going back to eggs. That's why I try to only use the pan to cook eggs and nothing else.
      I haven't tried putting the eggs in at the 212 degree point. I'm afraid it might not be high enough for my pan. Maybe a non-stick, but maybe not carbon steel.

    • @kohort1
      @kohort1 10 часов назад

      @@Oneness100 I think if I use enough butter it will always work, but still have to be careful not to stir away the oil. Hence, a more set browned omelette tends to slide right off. I use it for other proteins and perhaps bits of vegetables being careful not to do too much. But even when it was newer I only cooked eggs for a while. Just feel like it shouldn't be that finicky. If I'm going to use a lot of butter I might as well have stayed with stainless steel.

  • @TH-jo6ri
    @TH-jo6ri 15 часов назад +4

    Hi Kenji, long time listener, first time caller. I gotta know, why so many egg videos!? Feels like I am swimming in eggs!!

  • @ididthemath5567
    @ididthemath5567 19 часов назад

    Can’t wait for the egg prices to drop, so I can try this out! Thanks!

  • @joellim1710
    @joellim1710 12 часов назад +1

    Hi Kenji, would you recommend using a cornstarch slurry in the egg mixture when making these eggs, like you did in your scrambled eggs, for a more moist omelette?

    • @60Airflyte
      @60Airflyte 7 часов назад

      I’ve never heard of a good French omelette having cornstarch in it. What French chefs are recommending that?

    • @haines96
      @haines96 6 часов назад

      I am curious about this as well, because I typically do it with my scrambled eggs since learning about it on one of Kenji's previous videos... Perhaps because the cook time is so short for the French omelette, there is no need for the of cornstarch...?

  • @ninhbac04
    @ninhbac04 9 часов назад

    i will watch egg videos all day

  • @steviec5636
    @steviec5636 19 часов назад +1

    Not related to this video but, does the heavy cream trick work for other styles of eggs? Like this omelette for example? or scambled eggs?

  • @TheCharles303
    @TheCharles303 17 часов назад +3

    Is it called a “French omelette” because of the metric system?

  • @waymor2460
    @waymor2460 10 часов назад

    Notice how wet the eggs are when Kenji starts folding in the pan compared with the texture when he cuts into the omelette. Not nearly as wet because with eggs there’s quite a bit of carryover cooking that occurs on the plate. So maybe err on the side of too wet when starting the fold.

  • @thosearepinklemons
    @thosearepinklemons 16 часов назад

    So much egg content! Haha love it

  • @theawesomeinvisiblem
    @theawesomeinvisiblem 17 часов назад +3

    tried to make omurice a couple of months back and the omelette came out a little overcooked lol. Tried this today for breakfast and the omelette came out perfect!! i'm gonna use the water trick every time! also gonna show my friends this

  • @mrangryface
    @mrangryface 14 часов назад +1

    The fork and and pan action is gonna summon Uncle Roger

    • @Shelsight
      @Shelsight 13 часов назад +2

      I can tell you now, Kenji couldn’t give a #*@% about Uncle Roger’s opinion, and rightly so…

  • @graphene1487
    @graphene1487 17 часов назад +3

    love the last technique with the filling. It presents sooooo well!

  • @kditommaso
    @kditommaso 8 часов назад

    What butane stove do you use? Iwatani?

  • @yellowdrops5690
    @yellowdrops5690 19 часов назад

    Love the show. What exact stainless bowl and size is that for the egg beating? Thanks.

  • @rakeshchatrath5940
    @rakeshchatrath5940 10 часов назад

    Hi Kenji, fan for a long time now! I'm wondering where you get your fresh herbs like Chives around the Seattle area? I also live in the area and I've struggled to find things in nearby grocery stores like QFC.

  • @isaacgrenfell6400
    @isaacgrenfell6400 8 часов назад

    Does the water trick need to be modified if one is at altitude? Where I'm at water boils at around 195F.

  • @Been_jammin97
    @Been_jammin97 11 часов назад

    Where did you get the plate that the second omlette was on?

  • @kenschwarz8057
    @kenschwarz8057 15 часов назад

    At last, now I know how that omelet was so miraculously prepared in Itami Juzo’s Tampopo!

  • @TheQxY
    @TheQxY 12 часов назад +1

    Interesting, I always add a splash of milk (from cow or plants based whatever I have), but guess plain water does the trick too.

  • @StwongDave
    @StwongDave 17 часов назад +5

    As much as I love eggs, this is not the economy to continue showing me more ways to cook them :(

    • @justinguitarcia
      @justinguitarcia 14 часов назад +2

      Im very low income. I don’t do take out or go out to eat, drinks etc, however I do have a passion for good food. So I do a CSA box during the winter (50 a week for all veg and two dozen eggs) and farmers market spring / summer and buy all my meats from a local butcher / fish monger plus pantry once a month. In total, for two adults, the grocery bill oscillates between 5-600 per month for everything, which includes snacks/treats and the occasional bottle of wine.
      Long story short, if you budget and prioritize you can enjoy really good, top self, nutritious whole foods that are sustainable and help local farms and communities, at a modest budget

  • @salvadorrr69
    @salvadorrr69 18 часов назад

    Hey Kenji, does the shape of the pan matters?

  • @getthefonyourdot
    @getthefonyourdot 4 часа назад

    Those mushrooms look yummy, what kind are they?

  • @Chenm0416
    @Chenm0416 18 часов назад

    Where does Kenji get a lot of his bowls and plates from? I thought I remember him saying he gets a lot of them as gifts, but couldn't find the video.

  • @tnksknt
    @tnksknt 13 часов назад

    I really have been trying to stick with carbon steel pans only these days. But the temperature I've been shooting for has been at the Leidenfrost temperature, which is higher than what's in this video.
    With a higher temperature, it's definitely more active, and I find I need to work faster and break up more of what curds have set with my fork or chopsticks.
    It works, but I rarely get the classic shape.
    Just above 212F is cool enough that I wonder if eggs would stick to a carbon steel. I'm going to try it. But curious if an expert has some thoughts.

    • @SkyvalReam
      @SkyvalReam 7 часов назад

      I've found the _type_ of oil/fat you use matters more than anything for avoiding sticking, though heat control is 2nd. I'm pretty sure it's impurities/emulsifiers that help. Virgin oils are better than refined, especially virgin coconut, which seems about as good as butter. I can make a french omlette in stainless steel starting at 250F on medium heat with 1 tsp of virgin coconut oil or butter when the eggs recently came out of the fridge. I can almost do it on low, but I think stiring the eggs cools the pan down too quickly then. Only the area I was stirring most got stuck!

  • @trappistachel
    @trappistachel 17 часов назад

    That's how Jacques Pépin does it too!

  • @kubrix1222
    @kubrix1222 2 часа назад

    What Coffee Machine is that?

  • @Oneness100
    @Oneness100 19 часов назад

    Some say to add the salt, mix the eggs and wait at least 10 minutes before putting the eggs in the pan.

    • @JKenjiLopezAlt
      @JKenjiLopezAlt  18 часов назад +4

      Yes, they likely learned that from my first book or serious eats article.

    • @Oneness100
      @Oneness100 18 часов назад

      @@JKenjiLopezAlt That's probably right. 🙂

  • @wazzup105
    @wazzup105 18 часов назад +4

    Looking good Kenji (both you and the omelettes),

  • @richardheidelberg5193
    @richardheidelberg5193 13 часов назад

    Alice B Tolkas recipe for scrambled eggs calls for bits of butter in the eggs so that’s what I’ve been doing for years

  • @MargaretRowane
    @MargaretRowane 12 часов назад

    Hi Kenji! Thanks for teaching us how to know:
    1) when the pan is ready for the butter and how not to burn the butter
    2) number of eggs by pan size
    3) thoroughly beating the eggs
    4) how to agitate the eggs, roll the omelet and stuff it.
    Can't wait to put your technique to work on my next omelet! 😊

  • @Barbas06
    @Barbas06 19 часов назад +1

    Which non stick pan is this @kenji? Also no salting before like with the scramble?

    • @Joe_C.
      @Joe_C. 19 часов назад +3

      He said he salted it before, "to help break up the proteins"

  • @SomeDudeQC
    @SomeDudeQC 8 часов назад

    Trying to channel Kenji in my weight loss journey.

  • @aarfreak408
    @aarfreak408 15 часов назад

    with bird flu on the rise, is there a safe way to prepare eggs and chicken? would love to know your thoughts.

    • @Tom-kl9jf
      @Tom-kl9jf 11 часов назад

      The most recent episode of the Risky or Not podcast addresses this issue (podcast hosted by 2 food scientists). The TLDR - not risky prepared this way, assuming similar temps to "sunny side up", but please listen and make your own mind up

  • @maxineb9598
    @maxineb9598 12 часов назад

    The nail varnish is one of the first things that hits you. Needs to be gloss rather than matte.

  • @PepperPeaches-n3h
    @PepperPeaches-n3h 18 часов назад +4

    How are people complaining about egg prices? You can make a meal like this for a buck or two. It's cheaper and better for you than a bowl of cereal.
    Anyhow, thanks for the great video!

  • @Jan-yc2lr
    @Jan-yc2lr 11 часов назад

    Kenji Lopez-Pepin. 🙂

  • @laughingsmith119
    @laughingsmith119 16 часов назад +2

    He looks more Alt with every video

  • @benporter2059
    @benporter2059 19 часов назад +2

    golden crack

  • @linux4notnerds500
    @linux4notnerds500 4 часа назад

    Im going to try this but with a wooden chopstick instead of fork because i have no faith i wont mangle the pan

  • @rigglestad8479
    @rigglestad8479 19 часов назад +9

    Kenji, great technique, but as a lowly IT peon who happens to have a bachelor's in physics, the pan itself can and does exceed the temperature of the boiling water. The water itself is what is thermo-regulated while it is at the boiling point.

    • @JKenjiLopezAlt
      @JKenjiLopezAlt  19 часов назад +16

      Yes, and by swirling it the water regulates the temperature of the pan surface, drawing excess heat to boil it. It’ll exceed but not by much.

    • @74357175
      @74357175 14 часов назад +2

      Indeed, this is why classic analog rice cookers work. As long as there is water present, the latent heat of boiling keeps the pan temperature close to boiling point.

  • @ambientobsession5298
    @ambientobsession5298 14 часов назад +1

    Adding butter, cheese, or other fats to the scramble isn't some miraculous invention by one person by a friend of a friend. It's an intuitive thing for even most home cooks to try.

  • @johnHofweber
    @johnHofweber 13 часов назад

    actually, it takes no more 'talent and skill' to make an omurice omelet than a classic French omelet

  • @dodaexploda
    @dodaexploda 15 часов назад

    Kenji, you might want to invest in a small thin silicon spatula. I have and I really enjoy them. That way you don't really need to worry about the non stick coating which is nice. Also really nice to get into little areas.

  • @nickfaver
    @nickfaver 18 часов назад

    Have you had any success making this type of omelette in a carbon steel skillet? Or is nonstick is a must?

  • @mb8226
    @mb8226 19 часов назад

    This is gonna be a cinch. I’m 70% water.

  • @JustinColavita
    @JustinColavita 17 часов назад +1

    Myyyyyy dude - my friends got me THE FOOD LAB as a birthday gift! 🎁 📕 🧑‍🍳 BANG BANG!!!

  • @magzys123
    @magzys123 11 часов назад

    I feel kinda foolish, but I thought the raison d’etre of omelettes was to put stuff -stuff being cheese, and whatever else - inside before you close it up.

  • @plankface
    @plankface 19 часов назад +3

    If eggs ever become available to buy, I will try this. 😕

  • @jooorj_
    @jooorj_ Час назад

    is this some Mandela effect bs or did Kenji change his mind about cracking eggs on a flat surface?

  • @philsmith9964
    @philsmith9964 6 часов назад

    watch your nail varnish with that knife

  • @thoosb
    @thoosb 16 часов назад +2

    Seeing Kenji use metal on the Teflon was not something I ever expected, even if he’s being careful 😂

    • @CoolJay77
      @CoolJay77 12 часов назад

      Jacques Pepin popularized the technique. Use cheap pans if worried about scratching the pan.

  • @bemusedindian8571
    @bemusedindian8571 5 часов назад

    Now make an Indian Omelette :)

  • @GorgeDuck52
    @GorgeDuck52 18 часов назад +2

    Kenji is just torturing us with all these fancy egg dishes that us common peasants can’t afford anymore. Guessing next he’ll do a 12 egg quiche just to throw it in our face.

  • @atroyz
    @atroyz 15 часов назад +2

    I liked it at the time, but I absolutely do not miss the vertigo-inducing GoPro POV shooting style of the older videos. This is so much better.

  • @zaf7819
    @zaf7819 15 часов назад

    I'm surprised you rinse your hot pans under water, as I've seen this cause warping. Is there something special about your pans? Also, I don’t recall ever seeing water used to heat a pan in a restaurant kitchen. Is this something you did when cooking professionally?

    • @MarcoZamora
      @MarcoZamora 12 часов назад

      @@zaf7819 At the temperature for babeuse omelettes, I wouldn't expect any warping when quenching the pan.

    • @Wishuponapancake
      @Wishuponapancake 2 часа назад

      as long as you let the water run a bit so it gets scalding hot, the temp dif between the pan and the water isn't high enough for it to matter, ( as long as you weren't running your pan on max like for wok stir frying or something, even so just let it sit for a minute or two)

  • @Didaskalia6079
    @Didaskalia6079 9 часов назад

    Eggs aren't supposed to be "juicy". That sucker needs to be cooked longer.

  • @alexreinking
    @alexreinking 19 часов назад +5

    Regarding pan temperature, some of us er, _control freaks_, would like to know a particular temperature. Is 235F close to the sweet spot? :)

  • @billgilstrap1778
    @billgilstrap1778 19 часов назад

    What is this French word you use. Sabeuse, sableuse... What?

  • @MakersTeleMark
    @MakersTeleMark 4 часа назад

    This should not take 14 minutes. Tolerable at 2x.

  • @GlennC789
    @GlennC789 18 часов назад

    What I really want to learn is how to cook the classic American omelet.* No browning on the egg, no gooey uncooked egg, fillings that are warm, cheese melted. The times I've seen it done well it always involves flipping. Almost all RUclips videos show an omelet that isn't cooked on the top (inner) side, so if you put cheese on and roll it up the egg stops cooking and the cheese doesn't melt.
    * Omelet is a perfectly fine spelling as far as I'm concerned, but for those who prefer omelette, I'll let it slide.

  • @Unabonger420
    @Unabonger420 16 часов назад

    I see you still struggling with the habit of breaking eggs on a flat surface, Kenji. It's okay.

  • @mhratner
    @mhratner 14 часов назад

    Kenji - isn't there danger of salmonella in undercooked eggs? This is especially concerning for pregnant women and individuals with compromised immune systems.

  • @themostselfishman
    @themostselfishman 19 часов назад +2

    French have the worst eggs. Tamagoyaki, fried eggs, and a million other variations are so much better.

  • @yvessonblainable
    @yvessonblainable 19 часов назад

    Am I number #1?

    • @blahblah9036
      @blahblah9036 19 часов назад +1

      SpongeBob has your hat, Smitty.

  • @HerbieBancock
    @HerbieBancock 13 часов назад

    If you need water then you suck at making omelettes.

  • @jobodahobo1396
    @jobodahobo1396 13 часов назад +1

    I miss..…the old KLA SealTech6 and his simple arsenal of symphonicinematographic POVs, dancing its ballet of angelicalangles, void of too much overrepetitous and redundant content that is so very prevalent nowadays today.
    Just have the intern bring you coffee.