Preheat the stainless steel pan over medium heat
Add enough butter or oil to coat the bottom
Wait until the fat shimmers or a drop of water sizzles
Crack the eggs into a bowl or directly into the pan
Lower the eggs gently into the pan
Reduce heat to medium-low
Let the eggs cook without moving them
Use a spatula to loosen the edges when the whites begin to set
Flip the eggs if desired for over-easy, over-medium, or over-hard
Cook until the whites are set and the yolks reach your preferred doneness
Remove the eggs from the pan immediately
Season with salt and pepper after cooking
Clean the pan while it is still warm