Before we dive into how to make an omelet, what exactly is an omelet? An omelet is a savory dish made with beaten eggs that are pan-fried to a fluffy crêpe-like form. In most cases, the egg dish is folded and filled with savory ingredients or served alongside meats, cheeses and vegetables. 

Omelets are most often served as breakfast, but once you know how to make omelets, you’ll be craving them all throughout the day! Making an omelet sounds easy, but what’s the secret to creating that perfect fluffy and savory bite? Here’s how to make an egg white omelet, how to make a cheese omelet, and, even better, how to make a fluffy omelet with all the fixings. 

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• How to Make the Perfect Omelet
• How to Make an Egg White Omelet
• How to Make a Cheese Omelet
• Omelet Filling Ideas
• Omelet Tips and Recipe

How to Make the Perfect Omelet

Before you can learn how to make an egg omelet, let’s briefly define what makes a perfect omelet. A good omelet should be tender, fluffy and moist but not runny or rubbery. The egg itself should be about a quarter of an inch thick once cooked, and the omelet should be slightly less than an inch thick when stuffed and folded. Ideally, a perfectly folded omelet should have a semi-circle shape that holds itself together. 

Is there a difference between how to make an omelet vs. how to make an omelette? In short, no, these are essentially the same tasty dish. “Omelet” is the American English spelling, while most of Europe calls it an “omelette.” Whether you’re learning how to make an omelette or an omelet, they’re both pronounced the same way! 

Before you start practicing how to make an egg omelet, gather up all of the ingredients you’ll need. For the most basic omelet recipes, you’ll need eggs, butter and some form of filling, such as cheddar cheese, green peppers and ham. 

When you ask someone how to make an omelet, they may choose to add milk to their omelet, but this is a personal preference and not always recommended, as it can easily make the omelet too runny. If you want to experiment with how to make an omelet with milk, try adding just a teaspoon of whole milk at a time. 

When you’re learning how to make an omelet, you’ll need:

• 2-3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• filling of your choice (spinach, cheese, ham, etc.)
• salt and pepper
• additional herbs if desired

The first step for how to make an omelet should always be to have your ingredients gathered, prepared, and ready to go. In a small bowl, crack 2-3 large eggs, add a pinch of salt and pepper if desired, and blend them with a fork until they are thoroughly mixed. An 8-inch pan is usually sufficient for a typical two-egg omelet, but if you’re using three eggs you may need a 9 to 10-inch pan. 

Over medium-low heat, melt a spoonful of butter until it covers the bottom of the pan. Next, pour in your beaten eggs and let them cook undisturbed for about a minute. If necessary, tilt the pan to coat the entire bottom with the eggs. The secret for how to make an omelet nice and fluffy is to cook it over low heat for a longer period of time. The edges will cook faster than the center of the omelet, so gently nudge them inward as they cook to avoid burning. 

While the eggs are still somewhat raw, add your filling of choice to one half of the pan and cover with a lid. You’ll want to leave the other side empty so that you can fold the eggs on top. Fillings should always be pre-cooked and ready to eat, as raw meat won’t sit in the pan long enough to cook safely. 

After about one minute under the covered lid, the fillings should have “set” somewhat into the eggs. Finally, fold the omelet in half and give it a few more seconds in the pan before sliding it carefully onto a plate. Serve with a glass of orange juice or a hot cup of coffee for the perfect morning meal. Now you know how to make an omelet!

How to Make an Egg White Omelet

If you’re wondering how to make an omelet into a more health-conscious meal, you may want to learn how to make omelets without egg yolks. Learning how to make an egg white omelet is a smart and delicious way to make your daily breakfast with fewer calories. Some people may also prefer a yolk-free omelet! The biggest difference between how to make an egg white omelet and how to make an omelet regular-style is removing the yolks prior to mixing. 

To practice how to make an egg white omelet, you’ll need: 

• egg whites from 2-3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• filling of your choice (spinach, cheese, ham, etc.)
• salt and pepper, to taste
• additional herbs, if desired

As always, the first step for how to make an omelet should be to prepare all your ingredients. After cracking your eggs into a small bowl, carefully remove the whole yolks with a spoon. Alternatively, you can crack each egg into an egg separator to make this step easier. Yolks can be discarded or used immediately to make a yolks-only baking recipe! 

Use a fork to mix up your egg whites and cook as you would for a normal omelet. Start by heating butter in a pan, then add your egg whites and tilt the pan to cover the bottom. The trick for how to make an omelet with egg whites is to pay attention! Egg whites will cook faster than an ordinary whole-egg omelet, so be sure to have your fillings ready to go. 

When the whites look about half-cooked, add your fillings to half of the pan and fold the omelet closed. Cook for a few more seconds, then slide onto a plate and serve. Now you can say you know how to make an omelet with egg whites!

How to Make a Cheese Omelet

Cheese is the perfect binding ingredient for any omelet, no matter how wild you want to get with your other fillings. A cheese omelet is also tasty on its own, and really easy to make when you’re learning how to make an omelet! You can use almost any kind of cheese when practicing how to make a cheese omelet, but some of the best options include cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan and soft cheeses like chèvre and Gournay. 

Learning how to make an omelet with cheese is quite simple. You’ll need: 

• 2-3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• ½ cup of cheese of your choice (cheddar, Gruyere, Asiago, etc.)
• Salt and pepper
• Additional herbs if desired

If you want to know how to make a cheese omelet, start by making an ordinary omelet. Crack 2-3 eggs in a small bowl, add salt and pepper if desired, and whisk them together with a fork. Pour the eggs into a buttered pan over medium-low heat and let them cook undisturbed for about a minute. Nudge in the edges of the omelet to keep them from burning.

When the eggs are almost fully cooked, add the cheese of your choice to half of the omelet. Cook for a few more seconds, then carefully fold the bare half on top and slide the omelet out of the pan and onto a plate. Let the omelet rest until the cheese is melted, then serve. That’s how to make an omelet with cheese! 

Omelet Filling Ideas

1. Spinach Omelette

A Spinach Omelette is a simple and classic recipe, and one of the best ones to try out while learning how to make an omelet. To make a spinach omelet, you’ll sauteé white onions in the pan before pouring in your eggs. Then, add spinach, cheese and fresh herbs while the eggs are still wet, cook, fold and serve.

2. Market Vegetable Omelet

Want to know how to make an omelet that’s healthy, delicious and vegetarian? To make a wholesome vegetable omelet filling, you’ll need mushroom, spinach, onion, bell pepper, zucchini, cheddar cheese and anything else you’d like – this is a great way to use up old produce in the fridge! Simply sauteé your vegetables in a separate pan, cook a regular two-egg omelet and add the sauteéd veggies as a filling.

3. Southwestern Omelet

The Southwestern omelet is a savory breakfast food staple, and one of the most delicious answers to how to make an omelet. Chop up fresh white onion, green bell pepper and red bell pepper, then sauteé in butter. Pour in your whisked eggs, then cook and add cheddar, cooked chorizo or more vegetables as your filling. Fold and serve with fresh cilantro and hot sauce.

4. Smoked Salmon Omelet

If you’re wondering how to make an omelet for the ultimate breakfast treat, a smoked salmon omelet is perfect for a lazy Sunday morning or garden brunch with guests. To make this omelet, you’ll need cold-smoked salmon, feta cheese, chives and dill. Cook a two-egg omelet as usual, then lay in your smoked salmon and feta cheese. Fold the omelet to melt the cheese and serve with a generous garnish of dill and chives.

5. Italian-Style Omelet

Want to how to make an omelet that’ll transport your taste buds to Italy? The Italian-style omelet is a unique option that’s a great carb-free alternative to pizza night. To make an Italian-style omelet, cook your two-egg omelet as usual, then lay in a few slices of pancetta or pepperoni, some red bell pepper, sliced cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella or parmesan cheese. Fold the omelet to marry the ingredients and enjoy. 

6. Korean Rolled Omelet (Gyeran-mari)

If you’re ready to step outside the box of a typical folded American omelet, learn how to make an omelet in the Korean rolled omelet style! To cook Gyeran-mari, you’ll need finely diced ham, carrots, green onion and a small squared pan. Pour in your beaten eggs as usual, then add the ham, carrots and green onion while they’re still wet. When the omelet is about 70% cooked, carefully roll it up and leave it on one side of the pan. Butter the pan again and immediately cook and roll another omelet. To serve, slice the rolls perpendicular to create a spiral shape and enjoy with kimchi. 

Omelet Tips and Recipe

• The key to how to make a fluffy omelet is to whisk the eggs until fully blended but avoid beating in too much air, which can cause slow cooking.
• Use a pan that’s the perfect size for the omelet you’re trying to make. Too large, and the omelet will be flat and thin. Too small, and it will cook slowly and feel rubbery.
• Cook over low heat to avoid burning the bottom of your omelet.
• Try learning how to make an omelet with different kinds of eggs, such as duck, quail or even emu. 

Eggs are one of the most versatile and protein-rich foods around, and they can be cooked in dozens of ways to enjoy at any time of day. Now that you’ve learned all about how to make an omelet, you’re ready to get cracking! Grab your eggs, vegetables and other favorite ingredients and check out this easy recipe for how to make the perfect omelet.