Boiling Eggs In The Microwave – Hard, Runny, And Soft Eggs
Today we look at how to boil eggs in the microwave. And yes, folks, it’s possible! I’ve tried a bunch of methods to find you the ultimate guide on safely microwave eggs without having them explode!
Now, you can make perfect soft, runny, or hard-boiled eggs for a delicious hearty breakfast. Alternatively, you can use them in many different recipes like my Guyanese Cassava Egg Balls or TikTok Egg Sandwich!
Boiling An Egg In A Microwave – Is It Even Possible?
Believe it or not, it is entirely possible to boil eggs in a microwave. However, the trick is to find a method that actually helps prevent the eggs from exploding during the process!
And trust me, after trying a ton of different techniques, I can confidently say there are few things worse than cleaning pieces of egg and shell from the entire microwave. It’s gross!
When microwaving eggs, there are a couple of things you need to look out for. The first is, as I’ve just mentioned, preventing an explosion. And the second is getting the eggs to the desired consistency.
It may sound easy, but because you are working with such an instant and intense temperature, it can be quite difficult to control the final doneness.
Luckily, I have tested every method I’ve come across! Today, I will share with you exactly how to hard boil eggs in your microwave and get them perfect every time! And here you will find some great tips if you want to know how how to tell when hard-boiled eggs are done.
Boiling Eggs In The Microwave Using The Salt Method
The method that I found works best for making boiled eggs in a microwave is the salt method. I tried it several times, and my eggs didn’t explode once!
You don’t need to poke a hole in the eggs, and you don’t have to slightly crack it either. These are techniques people try to help prevent too much pressure from building up in the shell, which causes the egg to explode. But, as I said, you don’t need to use any of these techniques.
All you have to do is combine hot water and salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Then, you can add your eggs and microwave them for the correct amount of time.
It is literally that easy. But how does it work? Why don’t the hard boiled eggs explode?
There are two reasons I could find. The first is that salt water makes egg whites solidify much more quickly than normal water. This means that it will take less time to cook eggs. In turn, it means that they won’t build as much pressure as they would in unsalted water.
The second reason I found is that the hot salty water helps soften the shell, which causes it to expand a little under pressure.
While neither of these makes complete sense, I’m not too fussed about why and how they work. The point is, the salt method just does. And definitely far better when compared to other methods I tried.
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Step-By-Step Guide To Boiling An Egg In A Microwave
All you need is a microwave-safe bowl, hot water, salt, and your eggs.
Remember, you will need to experiment a bit with the times because every microwave differs. Not only in max power but in hot spots and efficiency.
Step 1: Cover Your Eggs With Hot Water
To start, add hot water to a microwave-safe bowl. The water doesn’t have to be scalding, but it shouldn’t be lukewarm.
Then, add your fresh eggs. They should be completely covered with water to about 1/2 an inch above their tops.
Step 2: Add The Salt
Then, add 1/2 teaspoon of fine salt for every egg that is in the bowl. So, if you have two eggs, you will add 1 teaspoon of salt. If you have 6 eggs, you will have 3 teaspoons of salt.
Step 3: Microwave The Eggs
You can use the respective guides below on how to boil eggs in the microwave to get the exact times for the eggs. Use the microwave on its highest setting (usually at 1000 Watts).
The eggs will generally be microwaved for 4 minutes, rested for 1 minute, then microwaved for another 3 minutes. Then, they need to be left in boiling water again for varying amounts of time before being cooled. These times affect the doneness of the whites and yolk.
Step 4: Cool The Boiled Eggs
Once the boiling time has elapsed, you can immediately remove the eggs from the hot water. Add them to ice water bath which is a bowl full of cold water and ice cubes.
This will stop the cooking process and cook time to ensure your boiled eggs come out exactly as you want them to.
Step 5: Crack And Serve
Once your microwave eggs are sufficiently boiled, you can remove their shells and serve them immediately.
How To Make Hard-Boiled Eggs In The Microwave
To make perfect hard boiled eggs, microwave the fresh eggs for 4 minutes. Keep in mind, the water needs to come to a rolling boil. The more eggs you add, the longer that will take.
Once the initial 4 minutes have elapsed, leave the eggs to sit in the hot water (inside the microwave) for a minute.
Then, microwave them again for 3 minutes if you have less than 4 eggs, and for 4 minutes if you have four or more eggs.
Once they are microwaved, leave them to sit in the hot water again for about 8-10 minutes.
When all of the cooking time is done, let the boiled eggs rest into ice water bath and allow them to cool for 5 minutes.
How To Make Runny Eggs In The Microwave
Runny or medium eggs are made in exactly the same way hard-boiled eggs are. The only difference is that they are left to sit in the microwave-safe bowl with hot water for 6 minutes before being plunged into ice water bath.
You can leave these in ice cold water for 3 minutes.
How To Make Soft-Boiled Eggs
Finally, making soft-boiled eggs in the microwave can be tricky. You can leave them to sit in the hot water for 2-3 minutes before they are cooled in an ice bath. Let the cooked eggs sit in ice-cold water for only a minute.
How to Store Hard Boiled Eggs
Now you know how to cook hard boiled eggs, in the microwave, it’s also important to know how to store them correctly. Hard-boiled eggs should be stored in the refrigerator and can last for a week.
This is not only limited to hard boiled, but to any boiled eggs cooked in the microwave. Always store them separately from raw eggs, and ensure that they are wrapped tightly to avoid contamination.
You can also freeze hard-boiled eggs, but only for up to three months. To do this, crack open the eggshells and remove the yolks before freezing. The whites should be placed in an airtight container or bag before freezing. Once frozen, be sure to thaw the eggs before eating them.
How To Boil Eggs In The Microwave – Hard, Runny, And Soft Eggs
Ingredients
- Hot water (to cover the eggs)
- 1/2 tsp fine salt per egg
- 4 Large eggs
Instructions
- Fill a large microwave-safe bowl or container with hot water. Make sure that the water is hot and not room temperature or lukewarm.
- Add half a teaspoon of fine salt for every egg you are boiling. So, if you are making 4 eggs, you will need to add 2 teaspoons of fine salt.
- Stir the salt water mixture slightly. Remember, the addition of salt is the secret to preventing your eggs from cracking or bursting. It softens the shell during the cooking process. Don't skip this step.
- Next, you can gently lower your eggs into the hot water. Make sure that they are completely covered with water to about 1/2 inch above their tops.
- Set the microwave on its highest power setting and add the bowl of water-covered eggs.
To Make Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Microwave your eggs for 4 minutes.
- Once the 4 minutes have elapsed, leave the eggs in the water inside the microwave. If you remove them, the water temperature will drop and teh steam from the microwave will escape.
- When your minute has passed, continue microwaving the eggs for 3 minutes (if you have less than 4 eggs). If you have more than 4 eggs in the bowl, microwave them for 4 minutes.
- After they have microwaves, leave them in the hot water for 8-10 minutes.
- Finally, plunge the hard-boiled eggs into ice water and let them cool for 5 minutes.
- Now you can peel them.
To Make Runny Eggs
- If you want to make runny eggs (aka medium-boiled eggs), microwave them for 4 minutes.
- Leave the eggs inside the water for a minute in the microwave.
- Then, microwave them again for 3-4 minutes. Again, use 3 minutes if you are making less than 4 eggs and 4 minutes if you are cooking more than 4 eggs.
- Once the microwaving has finished, leave the eggs inside the hot water for 6 minutes.
- Finally, place them in ice water for 3 minutes to cool before peeling and serving them immediately.
To Make Soft-Boiled Eggs
- You can use the guide above for making soft-boiled eggs. That is microwaving them for 4 minutes, resting them for 1 minute, and microwaving them again for 3-4 minutes.
- When the time has elapsed, leave them in the hot water to rest for 2-3 minutes. 2 minutes will make them runnier.
- Finally, let them cool in the icy water for only 1 minute before removing them and peeling them for serving.
Cracking / Peeling The Boiled Eggs
- When you are ready to peel the eggs, you can use a tablespoon to firmly tap the top and bottom of the eggshell. It should crack.
- Use this as a starting point to peel the shell off the egg.