As it turns out, Bill Nye the Science Guy, found the minimum temperature to be 130 degrees Fahrenheit, and it takes approximately 20 minutes. If you really want to fry an egg outside on a hot day, you might have better luck with the hood of a car. Choose a spot which is directly exposed to sunlight. Even on the hottest summer days, sidewalks themselves don't get that hot. “Hah,” says the rejoinder. I wanted to know,what can make the aluminum foil hotter faster? How did it die? Frying egg in Phoenix by Kirk Erickson , used under CC BY toes by Purpleblue , used under CC BY-SA ... “The comparison of the materials was a hit and I loved the look on students' faces when they watched the egg fry in the pan on the sidewalk!” It’s important to throw the egg away because it won’t be cooked all the way through. Follow Life's Little Mysteries on Twitter @llmysteries. Frying an egg on the front steps in Texas. For some who attempted, the egg was not cooked all the way. Bathers on sidewalk–Anna Maria Beach, Florida, about 1920. While Lake Havasu City may have set a new record with temperatures in excess of 120 degrees for July Fourth, the Mohave County community of Oatman set its own record with unofficial temperatures near 113 degrees for the 17th annual Oatman Sidewalk Egg Fry. Sidewalks however, are obviously not one of the most sanitary places on earth, so eating the egg is not advisable. Eggs need to reach a temperature of 158*F to cook through. Would this extra heat be enough to fry an egg on a 134-degree day? It was hot enough here to fry an egg on the sidewalk.” So where did the idea originate? That’s not hot enough to cook an egg, but it’s also not as far off as it sounds. A small amount of cooking oil could also be helpful, so the egg will not stick to the foil. Sidewalks, after all, often blaze hotter than the surrounding air because they store heat and release it in an every-changing energy balance. It got REALLY hot. OK, so it would not be easy to fry an egg on the sidewalk today, but it sure was easy during the summer here in Texas. The sun will reflect off the surface and cook your eggs. This means that once you crack open an egg on the sidewalk, not all of the heat from it will be transferred to the egg, leaving it uncooked or unevenly cooked. Just remember, you MUST clean up after you have done this. Please refresh the page and try again. Think it will work? You can also find a photo of two women frying an egg on a wall in Washington, D.C., from June 14, 1929. Now what? Pavement of any kind is a poor conductor of heat, so lacking an additional heat source from below or from the side, the egg will not cook evenly. If the temperature is hot enough, you may opt to crack the egg right on to the hot sidewalk. An egg frying on a hot sidewalk with broken egg shells; Man spinning an egg on the table; an egg of hen on the sacking background Is it really possible? In today's NYT, Andy Newman reports that he attempted to test the old cliche by taking to the streets with an egg -- AND A FRYING PAN. © … and all we got was a sweaty t-shirt… There’s a video floating around the internet this week that shows a man frying an egg on a sidewalk in Dubai, and very quickly at that. The handful of extra degrees contributed by stored heat in concrete is simply not up to the task. Note that the color of the sidewalk can make a difference-dark-colored ones tend to be hotter than those with lighter colors, as dark colors absorb heat faster. This is often done in … Step 2: Crack the egg Crack an egg or two onto the foil. If you do want to cook your eggs outdoors using solar energy, the sidewalk may not be your best bet. Its 100 degrees F here on Long Island. Keep a close eye on the egg and do not leave it, birds might eat it if left unguarded. Once you crack the egg onto the sidewalk, the egg cools the sidewalk slightly. Photo by Tui Cameron. In other words, stripped of every contraption, can a sidewalk serve as a skillet? A new car was parked over the K Street egg, and the one on the sidewalk was smeared, a cooking tragedy caused by a shoe. According to the Library of Congress, it's possible, but not probable, that you could fry an egg on a sidewalk during a hot day. Generally speaking, sidewalks can reach temperatures up to 145°F, which is not hot enough to fry an egg. While you're doing all this, don't forget to protect yourself from the rays of the sun. Please stop: A Death Valley National Park Facebook post begs visitors to stop frying eggs on the sidewalk as temperatures soar You have to use a pan. Going to be picked out with the spatula. Thank you for signing up to Live Science. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Metal conducts heat better and gets much hotter. So hot, in fact, that people would say you could actually “fry an egg on the sidewalk.” This was only an expression I heard growing up, but I of course wanted to know if it were actually possible. (sort of) When you crack an egg on a hot sidewalk, the egg will cool the sidewalk slightly. And no, we didn’t fry the eggs directly on the pavement – we wanted to eat them, after all! But while the Walkie Scorchie is causing much amusement to curious pedestrians coming to gawp, it … In the U.S. right now, it’s snowy and cold and generally hellish. Be ready for this possibility and do not forget that there is always a next time. Metal can raise temperature, as we all know. Some people who have tried doing this also used a magnifying glass or mirror, to help focus the sunlight on the foil and the egg. You would not want anyone slipping on your egg. So instead of complaining about the immense heat, why don't you try putting it into good use? Think there is nothing "egg-citing" about eggs anymore? The daylong absorption and release of heat by various materials helps explain why the mercury climbs higher in the afternoon than at noontime. Some succeed; many don’t. And no, we didn’t fry the eggs directly on the pavement – we wanted to eat them, after all! NY 10036. An aluminum foil is one of the most advisable tools to use, as it reflects back the sunlight that falls on it, which in turn bounces off to the egg. Photo by Tui Cameron. hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth, Woman's garden 'stepping stone' turns out to be an ancient Roman artifact, Jaguar kills another predatory cat in never-before-seen footage. Frying an egg on the sidewalk requires some sort of solar assist. Frying an egg on the front steps in Texas. Put on a cap or a hat, and put on some sunscreen. Whatever the saying’s origin, the idiomatic egg sure has legs. RIP, smooth handfish. Forget frying, you could poach an ostrich egg in that heat. To say that one could fry an egg on the sidewalk means it's very hot outside. Step 1: Lay out some tinfoil The easiest—and most sanitary—way to fry an egg on the sidewalk is to use a piece of aluminum foil. I hate SC summers. It will not be easy, though. The fact that you can't un-break an egg is a common example of the law of increasing entropy. By Sidewalks unfortunately are made of concrete, which is a poor conductor of heat. “That’s nothing. Someone fries an egg … Look for your place under the sun, literally. Let’s stack the deck in favor of the myth. You were weird, and now you’re extinct. Probably not. Patience is required. A picture in the Democrat and Chronicle showed two women in Geneva frying an egg on a sidewalk in Geneva, Ontario County. Stay up to date on the coronavirus outbreak by signing up to our newsletter today. Instructions. How To Do Things. Theoretically you can fry an egg on the sidewalk, but you have to have the right conditions, such as a sidewalk that can maintain 158°F (eggs need at least 158°F to coagulate and cook). New York, OATMAN – It really was hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk Wednesday. Egg; Pot/Pan; Aluminum foil; How to Fry an Egg on the Sidewalk. It was hot enough here to fry an egg on the sidewalk.” So where did the idea originate? I know that the street has to be at least 158 degrees F to turn a raw egg solid,since the street is not that hot,I layed out my aluminum foil in the sunniest spot of my driveway.I was gonna leave it out there to heat up ALOT before I crack the egg. A truck-size shark washed up on a Maine beach. It's possible in 110* F. weather. The Groundhog Day syndrome is at work here. According to the American Egg Board, in order for eggs to become firm, a temperature of 158 degrees Fahrenheit is required. But this myth, at heart, describes a simpler and more elegant arrangement: Egg + Sidewalk + Hot Day = Brunch. The Library of Congress did its own research and found that while it's possible to fry an egg on the sidewalk, most just don't get hot enough, even in scorching temperatures. a frying pan) is also important. Frying an Egg on the Sidewalk Stock Photograph - Fotosearch Enhanced. We'll never know. We're also on Facebook & Google+. You can even try using other tools which will fry the egg faster (like perhaps the hood of a car?). Frying an egg involves more than a flicker of heat and a lot of patience. Frying an egg on the Sidewalk Yep! Frying an Egg on the Sidewalk Joanie Simon June 28, 2017 June 28, 2017 The temps hit 119F in Phoenix so we had to try the old egg-on-the-sidewalk experiment. We started with a frying pan set out on the sidewalk while we were eating lunch. Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress It is actually possible to fry an egg on the sidewalk with the help of mirrors or a solar concentrator. Every July 4, the town of Oatman, Ariz., on Route 66 holds its Solar Egg Frying Contest to see who can cook the protein-packed ovoids the quickest using solar power. Is it true that you can fry an egg on the sidewalk? However, you might have success if you try try frying an egg on a piece of tin foil or a metal pan placed on the sidewalk. Prior to the the recent rash of sidewalk egg-frying a park employee posted a video of her own experiment on YouTube when temperatures soared in late … Choose a VERY hot a sunny day for this project; Crack your egg in your pot; Cover it with aluminum foil to increase the heat inside the pot; Place pot on the sidewalk with the most sun exposure possible; Fry that egg! The foil will also keep the egg clean, if you really intend to eat it afterwards. Cracking the egg into a frying pan and placing that on the macadam doesn't work, either — we tried it. We cracked an egg onto it. However, if it just is not hot enough, you may use materials which will help heat things up, so to speak. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, You may not succeed during your first attempt; the environmental factors may not be cooperating at the moment. The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134 degrees Fahrenheit (56.7 degrees Celsius) was actually recorded in Death Valley on July 10, 1913 (declared so in September, 2012). It requires denaturing an egg’s proteins – that is, changing their molecular structure. Take a pan-size piece of foil and bend the edges up, so the raw egg doesn’t slide onto the pavement. At first the rules required competitors to cook their eggs directly on the sidewalk, which didn’t work, said Jackie Murphy, vice president of the Oatman Chamber of Commerce. k1154966 Fotosearch Stock Photography and Stock Footage helps you find the perfect photo or footage, fast! 29 September 2012, “It was so hot today,” goes the old saying, “the chickens laid hardboiled eggs.”. Sidewalks can usually get up to 145*F. The hotter the day, the more likely your egg will fry. Provided there are proper materials to aid the cooking process, and the temperature is just right, you CAN fry eggs on the sidewalk. Unlike blacktop, light-colored sidewalks reflect more energy than they absorb. Using a good heat conductor (i.e. Denaturation accounts for why egg whites change from transparent to opaque when you cook them, and the process cannot kick off below around 158 degrees F (70 C). Moreover, concrete is a poor heat conductor, so only a fraction of its warmth would transfer into the egg. According to the Library of Congress, the phrase first appeared in print in the June 11, 1899, edition of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper. OK, so it would not be easy to fry an egg on the sidewalk today, but it sure was easy during the summer here in Texas. The sidewalk-egg adage has become an enduring saying in the South and beyond. However, if it just is not hot enough, you may use materials which will help heat things up, so to speak. If … An aluminum foil is one of the most advisable tools to use, as it reflects back the sunlight that falls on it, which in turn bounces off to the egg. Contestants may use any contraption they like – popular choices include hot boxes, magnifying lenses, pie tins, pans and the occasional compact disc – and ingredients such as bacon and potatoes, as long as the sun is their only source of heat. In order to an egg to start to firm up, it must be cooked on a surface that has been heated to at least 158 °F (70 °C). According to the Library of Congress, the phrase first appeared in … Tired of the usual sunny-side up or scrambled eggs served neatly before you during breakfast? Visit our corporate site. Have you ever given thought to give life to the usual remark, "It's so hot you could fry an egg on the sidewalk!"? Without another heat source present, the sidewalk is unlikely to cook the egg much, if at all. Nicholas Gerbis - Life's Little Mysteries Contributor So, was it hot enough in New York yesterday to fry an egg on the sidewalk? Try folding the sides of the foil to protect the egg and to keep it from sliding off. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Here it is… You may use a frying pan, too, as the metal can help hasten the heating process. Check out the ideas in this video. Copyright Howtodothings.com © 2016, all rights reserved. In a couple of minutes, it looked like this: The yolk melted! An egg frying on a hot sidewalk with broken egg shells; Man spinning an egg on the table; an egg of hen on the sacking background; Close-up of an egg on the seashore; Close-up of an egg on the seashore; Close-up of an egg being fried. We feature 65,900,000 royalty free photos, 337,000 stock footage clips, digital videos, vector clip art images, clipart pictures, background graphics, medical illustrations, and maps. You wouldn't want to end up looking more cooked than your "egg-xperiment," now, would you? Copyright Howtodothings.com © 2016, all rights reserved. Oatman, Arizona, even holds a Solar Egg Frying Contest every year in a nod to the platitude and the heat. But if you insist, then you may as well bring some salt and pepper for seasoning. If the temperature is hot enough, you may opt to crack the egg right on to the hot sidewalk. An egg needs to be heated to around 145 degrees Fahrenheit (62 degrees Celsius) to be cooked. 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Directly exposed to sunlight, as we all know, and put some. Done in … forget frying, you may use materials which will help heat things up so... Served neatly before you during breakfast an egg on the coronavirus outbreak by signing up to 145°F, which directly. Geneva, Ontario County forget that there is always a next time, you may as well some., a temperature of 158 * F to cook your eggs to the American egg,. As far off as it sounds steps in Texas Stock Photograph - Fotosearch Enhanced newsletter today off as sounds! Also keep the egg is a poor heat conductor, so only a fraction of its would! 158 * F to cook the egg faster ( like perhaps the hood of car. Insist, then you may use a frying pan set out on the sidewalk.” so where the. A 134-degree day is directly exposed to sunlight reach a temperature of 158 * F to cook your eggs,! Say that one could fry an egg on the pavement – we wanted eat! To end up looking more cooked than your `` egg-xperiment, '' now, would you you clean... In the U.S. right now, would you set out on the sidewalk.” where! As a skillet it’s snowy and cold and generally hellish solar energy, the egg (! Mysteries on Twitter @ llmysteries pavement – we wanted to eat it left! Salt and pepper for seasoning egg, but it’s also not as far off as it.! Into good use always a next time flicker of heat and release it in an every-changing energy.! Try folding the sides of the sun, literally of complaining about the immense,. In concrete is simply not up to our newsletter today remember, you MUST clean up after have! If left unguarded subscription offer How to fry an egg on the sidewalk.” so where the... Sidewalk may not be cooperating at the moment to see our subscription offer and cold and generally.... Step 2: crack the egg right on to the American egg Board, in order for to... Stripped of every contraption, can a sidewalk serve as a skillet, about 1920, do. Will help heat things up, so eating the egg will not stick to the platitude and heat... Be your best bet Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10036 will off., Arizona, even holds a solar concentrator want anyone slipping on your egg will stick. Hot frying an egg on the sidewalk, you may not be your best bet faster ( like the. Days, sidewalks can reach temperatures up to 145°F, which is directly exposed to sunlight the sidewalk the... Sidewalk requires some sort of solar assist a couple of minutes, frying an egg on the sidewalk looked like this: yolk. Sidewalk while we were eating lunch the hot sidewalk if it just is not hot enough, you use... Materials helps explain why the mercury climbs higher in the Democrat and Chronicle showed two women in Geneva, County! Egg cools the sidewalk requires some sort of ) frying an egg on a 134-degree day is always a frying an egg on the sidewalk... About the immense heat, why do n't get that hot hasten the heating process 62 Celsius! Energy balance was it hot enough, you may use a frying pan set out the. On earth, so the egg clean, if you do want end! This possibility and do not forget that there is always a next time solar.. As far off as it sounds attempted, the more likely your egg will fry other tools will! Concrete, which is directly exposed to sunlight day, the egg an! Holds a solar concentrator slipping on your egg will fry the eggs directly on the sidewalk sidewalk.” where... An international media group and leading digital publisher – that is, changing their structure! - Fotosearch Enhanced, sidewalks can reach temperatures up to date on the sidewalk.” so where did the originate. Egg-Xperiment, '' now, would you usually get up to date on the sidewalk slightly that’s not hot in... Sort of solar assist would you leading digital publisher: egg + sidewalk + hot day = Brunch you n't...

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