What technique is used to cook an egg without flipping while still ensuring it's cooked through?

Basting is the technique that allows an egg to be cooked without flipping while ensuring it is cooked through. This method involves spooning hot oil or melted butter over the top of the eggs as they cook in the pan. The heat from the hot fat helps to cook the surface of the egg, while the steam created from the covered pan, if used, helps to evenly cook the egg throughout. This technique is especially useful for fried eggs, as it results in a cooked top while retaining a runny yolk if that is the desired outcome.

Scrambling is a cooking method where eggs are beaten and stirred in a pan, resulting in a different texture and consistency than the original egg form. This does not apply to the question, which focuses on cooking an egg without flipping.

Boiling involves cooking eggs in water, typically resulting in a hard or soft-boiled egg, which also does not align with the method described in the question.

Frying typically refers to cooking eggs in a frying pan, and while eggs can be fried without flipping by basting or covering, the option that most directly addresses the cooking without the need to flip is basting.