A photograph of an egg cooked in boiling water has become another everyday image of the crisis affecting Cuban households. A mother shared that she resorted to this method because she didn't have oil to fry it, a product whose price can currently exceed the monthly salary of many workers on the island.
"Never in my life have I done this... how long, oh God. Frying an egg in boiling water. The sad reality," wrote the woman in the public Facebook group "Cuban Fighting Mothers 2", a community with more than 28,000 members.
The author even explained how she had resolved the food situation: "Boil some water, and when it’s at a rolling boil, add the egg and wait a moment to your liking."
She did not present the preparation as a recipe or as a healthy alternative. It was simply the way she found to cook due to the lack of oil in her home.
The publication sparked a debate that ultimately reflected a much broader reality than the photograph itself.
Some users recalled that cooking eggs in water is a common practice in other countries, and that preparations like poached eggs are part of international cuisine.
The difference, other Cubans responded, lies in the ability to choose.
"But in other countries, they do it that way because people enjoy it, not because there is no oil for frying and they have no other choice," noted a participant.
Another summarized it in one sentence: "The sad thing is doing it out of obligation."
A liter of oil can cost more than a monthly salary
Behind this mother's improvisation is the increasingly prohibitive price of one of the essential products in any kitchen.
The Resolution 150/2026 of the Ministry of Finance and Prices, published on June 20, removed the price caps set for imported cooking oils. Since then, prices have continued to diverge from the income of a large part of the population.
A liter that could be found for around 1,500 Cuban pesos (CUP) in April rose to about 2,500 CUP in July, and in August, it is being sold for between 4,000 and 7,000 CUP, depending on the province and the establishment.
The comparison with income explains why a family may find themselves cooking without oil: the lowest salaries in Cuba are barely a few thousand pesos per month.
For many workers, buying just one liter can mean spending the equivalent—or even more—of what they earn in an entire month.
Even the egg has become a luxury
Having the egg is not guaranteed either.
For decades, it was one of the most affordable proteins for Cuban families, but its price has also skyrocketed.
A carton of 30 units can currently cost between 3,600 and 7,500 CUP, depending on the province. In Santiago de Cuba, prices of up to 7,500 pesos have been reported.
"At least you have an egg, since cardboard is now more expensive than oil," a woman sarcastically commented.
Another response revealed an even harsher reality: for some families, the problem is not how to cook it, but rather how to obtain it.
"It's terrible to think that I have to eat them raw and I can't find them anywhere," wrote a participant.
Another woman emphasized the importance of not losing sight of that dimension: "I don't justify the misery of the people, I just say that it must be loved because many don't have an egg in their home."
"During the Special Period, my mom used to do it."
The image also brought back memories of the toughest years of the Special Period, when scarcity forced Cuban families to constantly improvise in order to feed themselves.
"My mom used to do it during the Special Period," recalled a user.
"Then you didn't live through the 90s," commented another in response to the surprise caused by the peculiar way of cooking.
Three decades later, practices associated in the collective memory with one of the periods of greatest hardship in recent Cuban history are reemerging in households.
The current food insecurity is, moreover, reaching alarming dimensions.
According to data released by Food Monitor Program, 96.91% of the consulted Cubans lack adequate access to nutritious food, and 33.9% of households reported that at least one member had gone to bed hungry in the previous 30 days.
The organization also estimates that a family needs between 10 and 11 minimum wages to cover a basic food basket.
These are enormous figures, but everyday experience can be more illustrative.
A mother, an egg, and a pot of boiling water were enough to demonstrate it: the problem is not that an egg can be cooked without oil. The problem is not being able to decide how to cook it because buying a bottle has become a luxury for too many Cuban families.
Related videos:
Filed under: