Cooking

Can you microwave eggs safely?

Why eggs can burst in a microwave and how to cook or reheat them more safely.

Short answer

Eggs can be microwaved after being removed from the shell, but intact shell eggs should never go into a microwave. Yolks and already-cooked eggs can also trap steam and burst.

01

Why explosions happen

Microwaves heat water within the egg. A shell, yolk membrane or firm cooked white can prevent steam escaping. Pressure may build until the egg bursts, sometimes after the oven stops when the surface is disturbed.

02

Safer microwave cooking

Use a microwave-safe container, remove the shell and break or pierce the yolk. Cover loosely rather than sealing. Use lower power or short intervals, stir scrambled preparations between bursts and allow standing time for heat to equalise.

03

Reheating cooked eggs

Do not reheat a whole peeled hard-boiled egg intact. Cut it into pieces and heat gently as part of another dish if appropriate. Microwave power and portion size vary greatly, so rely on even heating rather than a single universal time.

Evidence and guidance

Sources for this topic

  1. American Egg Board: egg functionality
  2. USDA: shell eggs from farm to table