Even Those Who Hate Cooking Will Fall in Love With This Miniature Kitchen Tool

Enter the single-egg pan, one of the most useful and easy-to-store kitchen items for preparing simple and delicious jolts of protein all day long. This tiny kitchen appliance has become a staple in my apartment, and for a number of good reasons. First and foremost, as a vegetarian, eggs have long been one of my go-to sources of protein. No matter which preparation style—be it fried, scrambled, or over easy—I’ll rarely ever say no to a tasty egg. When I found a pan dedicated to one, it seemed like a perfect fit.

And on the topic of fit, the pan’s size is key. With regards to overall surface area, the single-egg pan is ideal for small living spaces. As those who reside in New York (or other big cities) know, the average per-person real estate footage here is pretty low. Similar to many, my kitchen space is quite tiny, so adding new appliances / equipment requires some serious thought—especially if they’re going to occupy a good deal of space. The single-egg pan is more petite than even most standard-size plates, meaning that storing it is easier than ever. This is hugely beneficial for those living in small spaces. 

Additionally, the single-egg pan’s small size also makes it super easy to clean. While the majority of dirty pans won’t fit in the average apartment sink, the single-egg pan can be tossed in, no problem. Unlike larger pots and pans, maneuvering the single-egg pan around in the sink to handwash is also incredibly easy. While this may not be a selling point for some, I definitely know a few people whose disdain for doing dishes would deem this a major win.

Lastly, as someone who doesn’t cook often, it goes without saying that I’m not particularly good at it. The small size of the single-egg pan—and therefore, its ease of use—has allowed me to play around with how I prepare each single egg. Sometimes I add cheese directly into the egg; other times I warm half an English muffin over the top of it while it finishes sizzling. While I used to whisk the egg in a bowl prior to dumping it into a pan, I now often crack the egg into the single-egg vessel and cook it directly in the pan, as its small surface area allows me to swirl the contents around while keeping the final product’s shape intact.

Between storage, ease, and versatility of use, the single-egg pan has become one of my favorite kitchen items to date. While these selling points are pretty unique to a certain person—that is, someone who lives alone, in a small space, and doesn’t prepare meat or fish at home—I assure you that even a meat-loving carnivore with a plethora of home space will fall in love with the facility and ease of this individual kitchen appliance.

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Vicki Denig is a wine, spirits, and travel journalist based between New York and Paris. Her writing regularly appears in major industry publications, including Liquor.com, WineSearcher, Decanter, and beyond. Vicki also works with a prestigious Rolodex of monthly clients, including Paris Wine Company, Becky Wasserman & Co, Corkbuzz, Provignage, and beyond. She is a Certified Specialist of Wine. When not writing, Vicki enjoys indoor cycling classes and scoping out dogs to pet in her local parks.