So you’ve got a few leftover boiled eggs and you’d rather eat them hot than cold. Well, you’re in quite a pickle, there. I see why you’ve come running to the internet.
Can you reheat boiled eggs in the microwave?
Yes, you can reheat boiled eggs in the microwave.
They will heat easily and will be perfectly safe providing you cook them to the correct temperature – 160°F or 71°C is considered safe for eggs by the FDA.
Will it lead to the best or even nice tasting eggs? Read on for more.
Is it a good idea to reheat boiled eggs in the microwave?
If you’re only looking for a convenient way to heat up boiled eggs then the microwave works well. On the other hand, it’s not the perfect way to reheat them from a culinary perspective.
Reheating eggs in any way is not ideal. This particular food does not lend itself well to being anywhere near as nice or tasty when cooked for a second time.
For boiled eggs, in particular, the texture will not be as soft as when first cooked and also the process of reheating will overcook things a little too. Your soft boiled egg may become a hard boiled egg, for instance.
How to reheat boiled eggs in the microwave
Here’s a quick step-by-step to reheating your boiled eggs.
- Pierce the skin with a fork a few times.
Steam will build up inside the egg as it’s heating, a few holes will let this steam escape so you aren’t scraping remains of egg from the inside walls of your microwave once you’re done.
The shell of the egg should definitely be removed. Otherwise, there is no way of steam escaping and will lead to a messy explosion. - Put it in for 15-20 seconds on high.
A boiled egg will heat up very quickly in the microwave because it is small and absorbs heat quickly.
A good rule of thumb is 15-20 seconds although you may want to start with 10 and add another 5-10 as needed. - Make sure the egg is piping hot before serving/eating.
The egg is safe when it has reached a temperature of 160°F (or 71°C). Ideally you can use a thermometer. More practically speaking, making sure the egg is piping hot will make sure it kills any harmful pathogens.
Best way to reheat boiled eggs
The traditional “best” way of reheating boiled eggs, and the one favored by many chefs, is to bring water to a boil and dunk your boiled egg in – shell or no shell – for 60-90 seconds.
An issue with reheating boiled eggs is that the process of reheating can make them overcooked and rubbery. So aiming to cook boiled eggs before you use them would be the best advice.
Boiled eggs kept in the fridge for less than a day are also considered safe to eat “as is”. Eggs being famously resilient to bacteria and the like (when still in the form of an egg).
