Cuban Mother Boils Egg in Water Due to Lack of Oil: "The Sad Part Is Having to Do It"

An image of an egg cooked in boiling water has emerged as a stark representation of the ongoing crisis affecting Cuban households. A mother shared that she resorted to this method because she had no oil to fry it, a product whose cost can now exceed the monthly salary of many workers on the island.

"Never in my life had I done this... how long will this go on, my God. Boiling an egg in water. The harsh reality," the woman posted in the public Facebook group "Madres Cubanas Luchadoras 2," which has over 28,000 members.

She elaborated on her cooking method: "Bring water to a boil, and once it's boiling, put the egg in and wait until it's done to your liking."

This wasn't presented as a recipe or a healthy alternative. It was simply the way she found to cook without oil in her home.

The Bigger Picture Behind a Simple Egg

The post sparked a debate that highlighted an issue far broader than just the photograph. Some users pointed out that boiling eggs is customary in other countries, with dishes like poached eggs being part of international cuisine.

However, other Cubans responded, emphasizing the lack of choice. "But in other countries, they do it this way because they like it, not because there's no oil to fry with and no other option," one participant noted.

Another summed it up succinctly: "The sad part is being forced to do it."

Skyrocketing Costs of Basic Cooking Supplies

The improvisation by this mother underscores the increasingly prohibitive cost of basic kitchen staples. On June 20, the Ministry of Finance and Prices' Resolution 150/2026 removed price caps on imported edible oils. Since then, prices have soared beyond the reach of much of the population.

In April, a liter of oil could be found for around 1,500 Cuban pesos (CUP). By July, the price had risen to approximately 2,500 CUP, and by August, it varied between 4,000 and 7,000 CUP, depending on the province and store.

Given these prices compared to wages, it's understandable why a family might end up cooking without oil. The lowest salaries in Cuba are only a few thousand pesos monthly, making a single liter of oil potentially cost as much as an entire month's income.

The Egg: A Once Affordable Commodity Now a Luxury

Even obtaining eggs is not guaranteed. For decades, eggs were one of the most accessible sources of protein for Cuban families, but their prices have also surged.

A carton of 30 eggs now costs between 3,600 and 7,500 CUP, depending on the province. In Santiago de Cuba, prices have reportedly reached as high as 7,500 pesos.

"At least you have eggs, a carton costs more than oil now," one woman commented sarcastically. Another response painted an even grimmer picture: for some families, the issue isn't how to cook them but finding them at all.

"Terrible to think I have to eat them raw because I can't find them anywhere," one participant lamented.

Another woman urged not to lose sight of this dimension: "I don't justify the people's misery, but we should appreciate having eggs because many don't have them at home."

Recurring Memories of the Special Period

This image also evoked memories of the toughest years of the Special Period, when scarcity forced Cuban families to continually improvise to feed themselves.

"During the Special Period, my mom did it," one user recalled.

"Then you didn't live through the '90s," another commented on the surprise caused by this peculiar cooking method.

Three decades later, practices associated with one of the most precarious periods in recent Cuban history are resurfacing in households. The current food insecurity has reached alarming levels.

According to data from the Food Monitor Program, 96.91% of surveyed Cubans lack adequate access to nutritious foods, and 33.9% of households reported that at least one member had gone to bed hungry in the past 30 days.

The organization also estimates that a family needs between 10 and 11 minimum wages to afford a basic food basket. These figures are staggering, but the everyday experience can be even more telling.

A mother, an egg, and a pot of boiling water were enough to illustrate this: the issue isn't that an egg can be cooked without oil. The problem is being unable to choose how to cook it because buying a bottle of oil has become a luxury for too many Cuban families.