Can You Microwave Eggs? 9 Hacks For Easier Egg-Filled Meals

Eggs are one of the most versatile ingredients in your refrigerator, and they aren’t complicated to cook and enjoy! Packed with protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals, eggs are a nutritional powerhouse to eat for any meal of the day, or even as a snack. And cooking eggs doesn’t even necessarily require you to turn on your stove, preheat your oven, or break out the Instant Pot. Can you cook eggs in the microwave? Absolutely! Eggs can 100 percent be cooked in the microwave, prepared in batches, or frozen for later for enjoyable meals that come together in minutes. Very few dirty dishes are required. And with the price of eggs lately, know that all these tips are tried and true, so you won’t be wasting that precious yolk.  

Here are the best egg prep and cooking hacks to make working with eggs so much easier. 

Poach An Egg in the Microwave

Poaching is notoriously one of the trickier ways to cook eggs, but it’s healthy (no oil required) and can take under two minutes when you poach an egg in the microwave. To do so, add water to a small bowl or mug, and crack an egg directly into the water. Microwave for 60 seconds and check. If the white has solidified, the egg is done. If not, add 30 more seconds (cook time will depend on microwave wattage). Drain the egg immediately and serve. 

Make Scrambled Eggs in the Microwave

Whether you’re cooking in a hotel room, dorm, or a gourmet kitchen, preparing scrambled eggs in the microwave is totally legit. Just crack 2-3 eggs in a microwave-safe bowl, add a splash of milk or cream, plus salt and pepper. Whisk until blended. You can also toss in shredded cheese or quick cooking veggies, like spinach or diced peppers, at this stage. Microwave the eggs for 30 seconds. Stir with a fork, and add 30 more seconds. Cook in 30-second intervals until the scrambled eggs have reached your desired consistency. 

Prepare Hard-Boiled Eggs in the Air Fryer 

Cooking hard-boiled eggs in the microwave isn’t super efficient, and does pose a risk for egg explosion (a pain to clean up). Instead, use your air fryer for a low effort method of hard-boiling eggs by the batch. Set eggs in a single layer in the air fryer basket, and cook at 250 degrees for 15 minutes. Rinse with cold water and peel, if ready to serve. Alternatively, refrigerate and peel when you're ready to eat. The eggs will stay fresh for up to five days.

Separate Eggs Easily

Separating the egg yolks from egg whites can feel like a pain, but there’s an easy hack that makes this task easier: chilled eggs. Eggs straight out of the fridge have a firmer white and yolk, making them easier to separate than at room temperature, when they’re more liquid. For the easiest egg separating, go straight from the fridge, or even throw your eggs into the freezer for 10 minutes before separating for an extra chill. 

Cook Sunny-Side-Up Eggs in a Sheet Pan

Cooking sunny-side-up eggs on a sheet pan is the ultimate hack to serve a crowd or meal prep breakfast, using just one dish. The recipes are mostly hands off, so you can go on with your morning and enjoy fresh eggs with delightfully runny yolks when the timer goes off. Try our Roasted Potato and Egg Sheet Pan Brunch, or Sunny-Side-Up Sheet Pan Breakfast with prosciutto and spinach. 

Freeze Fresh Eggs

Always have eggs at the ready by storing uncooked eggs in your freezer. To do so, crack eggs into a silicone ice cube tray, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the freezer. When you’re ready to use the eggs, transfer the container (or pop out a few egg cubes) to the fridge to defrost overnight. Don’t freeze eggs in their shells, as they may break once the inside liquid expands to freeze. 

Bake Eggs in a Muffin Tin

Meal prep eggs for the week to add to meals, grab as a snack (try adding hot sauce or everything seasoning on top), or even chop up to make egg salad. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a muffin tin with non-stick spray or spread butter in each cup to create a nonstick surface. Crack an egg into each cup. Cook for 15-20 minutes, until the eggs reach your desired consistency. Remove from the hot tin and store in an airtight food storage container for up to five days, or enjoy immediately. 

Use An Egg Timer For Perfect Boiled Eggs

Even the pros use an egg timer to know how long to soft-boil, hard-boil and jammy-boil eggs. The timing is specific and important to keep track of, and there’s no shame in having a little help. Set your oven or microwave timer to your desired time, or go hands-free and ask Siri, Alexa, or Google to set the timer for you. While the eggs are cooking, prepare an ice bath to cool them into. You won’t have to keep your eye on the clock, and won’t overcook the eggs when there’s a timer to remind you. 

Stir Eggs Into Soup

To add a bonus texture and boost of nutrients to soups, add eggs! Chinese egg drop soup and Italian stracciatella soup both use a similar cooking method to add tasty strands of eggs. To do so, whisk eggs in a small bowl until scrambled. Then, bring broth to a simmer and gently stir while adding a stream of scrambled eggs. They’ll take about a minute to set and then your eggs are cooked and the soup is ready.