Can you boil eggs in the microwave?
Don't microwave eggs in their shells. Steam builds up inside faster than it can escape through the shell, and the egg can burst in the oven, or when you take it out or cut into it. Whole hard boiled eggs can do the same when you reheat them, peeled or not. Hot yolk can burn your hands and mouth.
Sources: American Egg Board, University of Georgia Extension. Most microwave manuals carry the same warning.
Why eggs burst in the microwave
A microwave heats the inside of the egg very quickly. The shell traps the steam, and pressure builds until the shell gives way. The yolk can do the same thing inside its own membrane, which is why even a cracked-open egg needs its yolk pierced. With a cooked egg, the yolk heats faster than the white, so the outside can feel fine while the middle is hot enough to burn.
A safer microwave egg
You can't boil an egg in a microwave, but you can cook one out of the shell. It won't look like a boiled egg. It's fine sliced into a sandwich or chopped for egg salad.
- Grease a small microwave-safe bowl or mug and crack the egg into it.
- Pierce the yolk with a toothpick or the tip of a knife.
- Cover it loosely.
- Cook at 50% power in short bursts of about 30 seconds, checking each time, until the white is set and the yolk is as firm as you want. Microwaves vary by wattage, so the total time varies too.
- Let it stand for a minute before eating. USDA recommends reduced power for eggs and a standing time to finish cooking.
Reheating boiled eggs
Don't put a whole boiled egg in the microwave, peeled or not. Slice or chop it first, or warm it in a bowl of hot tap water instead.
Other ways to get boiled eggs without a stove
Or use the stovetop egg timer and the hard boiled egg method.
Questions people ask
Can you hard boil an egg in the microwave?
Not in the shell. Steam builds up and the egg can burst, sometimes after it comes out. Cook the egg cracked into a dish instead, with the yolk pierced, at 50% power.
Why did my egg explode after I took it out of the microwave?
The steam and heat were still trapped inside. Cutting or biting into it released the pressure all at once. This is why whole eggs should never go in the microwave.
Can I reheat a peeled hard boiled egg in the microwave?
Not whole. The yolk can get much hotter than the white and burst. Slice it first, or warm it in hot water.
What about microwave egg cookers?
Follow the maker's instructions exactly, since they're designed for it. Don't try the same thing with a regular dish and a whole egg.