For someone who loves eggs as much as I do, it was odd that I never took them to work for the first few years of my working life. Only because I never knew whether I could microwave them or not. Cooking a new meal every day became tedious as time went on. So, one day, I finally decided to research whether you can reheat eggs in the microwave.
The results of the research were not very useful. So, I decided it was time to experiment. After days of cooking and reheating eggs in all their different forms, here is some great news for you: I have finally compiled a detailed guide about it!
In this article, I will share everything I learned from hours spent cooking and reheating eggs in the microwave. If you want to know which forms of eggs are safe to cook, which aren’t, and how to microwave them, keep on reading!
Is it Safe to Reheat Eggs in a Microwave?
Yes, it is completely safe to reheat eggs in a microwave. Whether the eggs are in the form of a frittata or a french omelet, you can reheat them in a microwave when it is time to serve. Plus, there won’t be any extra pans to clean. Isn’t that every lazy person’s dream?
But there is one exception: a boiled egg. It might explode in a microwave. Yikes!
A boiled egg explosion can create a huge mess in your microwave, which is hard to clean and stinks. But no one wants to clean up this much mess over an egg. So, I recommend never microwaving boiled eggs.
But, if you still want to reheat boiled eggs using a microwave, the safest way possible is to boil water in a microwave and then let the egg sit in that hot water. But heating it over the stove will be much less time-consuming.
Does Reheating Eggs in a Microwave Affect their Nutritional Value?
Reheating eggs in a microwave will save more nutrients of the eggs, compared to reheating eggs on the stove or in the oven. This is because, unlike other methods, microwaving does not expose the eggs to high heat.
Instant direct heat from a pan or an oven can cause the eggs to lose a considerable percentage of their nutritional content. But, reheating eggs on low heat in a microwave can prevent this. Many nutrients in eggs like folic acid, Vitamin C, B1, and B2 thrive and will retain in a microwave.
Cooking eggs in a microwave takes lesser time and a lower temperature. This helps save the nutritional value of the egg. But, it also has a potential downside. The high temperature that comes from direct flame helps remove harmful bacteria present in the eggs.
How to Reheat Eggs in a Microwave?
There is an optimum way to reheat each type of egg in a microwave. Let’s get into each of them one by one!
Fried Egg
Put the egg on a microwave-safe plate, and cover it with a damp paper towel to retain the moisture. Reheat the egg at 30 seconds intervals until you reach the desired temperature. If you have a fried egg with a runny yolk, keep the heating time to the least to avoid overcooking the yolk.
Scrambled Eggs
Place the eggs into a microwave-safe container and cover it with plastic wrap. Reheat the eggs in 20 seconds intervals and stir the scrambled eggs between each interval. Keep checking after every interval and stop when you’ve reached your desired temperature.
Omelet
Wrap the omelet in a damp paper towel, to prevent the egg from getting rubbery, and put it on a microwave-safe plate. Heat it for 1-3 minutes, and if still isn’t warm enough, keep on heating it more at 30 seconds intervals, and enjoy a tasty warm omelet!
Sunnyside Up Eggs
Begin by preheating your plate for 30 seconds in a microwave. Rub some butter on the warm plate before placing the egg on it. Place the plate in the microwave and heat the egg for 30-45 seconds. Avoid overheating sunnyside-up eggs. No one likes an over-cooked yolk, right?
Drawbacks of Reheating Eggs in a Microwave
Reheating eggs in a microwave is no rocket science. It is quick and simple, but there are many drawbacks to it. Following is a list of them, accompanied by ways to avoid them:
Overcooking
Reheating eggs at high temperatures in a microwave can cause overcooking and loss of nutrients in an egg. But, you can avoid this by reheating the eggs at short intervals and following the instructions mentioned above.
Dehydration
Microwaves use water molecules present in the food to heat them. This is the reason dry foods take longer to heat. But, this also leads to food drying out in the microwave as all the water evaporates. Due to this, you might end up with rubbery and dry eggs, and why would someone want that?
A way to prevent it is by placing a damp paper towel over the plate. Or you can place a small bowl of water in the microwave when heating the food to retain the moisture in the eggs.
Dangerous Bacteria
If you leave cooked eggs uneaten for too long before reheating them, they might develop harmful bacteria. Unlike heating eggs on a stove, heating them in a microwave might not provide enough heat to kill those bacteria. This bacteria might cause many health issues.
Conclusion
So yes, this is everything you need to know about reheating your eggs in a microwave. Now you can take all kinds of egg dishes to work, and reheat them whenever it’s lunchtime. Just remember to follow the proper procedure for reheating eggs in their different forms, and you’re good to go!
By following the instructions and guidelines mentioned above, reheating eggs in a microwave is among the easiest and most nutritious ways of reheating eggs. But if you miss as much as a step, you might end up with rubbery, dry, and overcooked eggs.
Now that you know this, don’t be afraid to cook eggs only to avoid their leftovers. With enough practice, you’ll begin to reheat your eggs to perfection. Enjoy!