How to Boil Eggs

If you’re looking to make perfect hard boiled eggs every time, I’ve got you covered. And if you don’t know how to boil an egg in the first place, you’re also in the right place! In this post, we’ll cover three different tried and true ways to boiling eggs: the traditional way on the stovetop, then a faster way in the microwave, and finally making them in a pressure cooker.

So, for those last-minute meals when you just must throw an egg on it, or have a major hankering for Cobb salad, here’s how to boil an egg perfectly. In my humble opinion, eggs are the perfect food. Talk about versatility and nutrition!

Types of Boiled Eggs

Regardless of the cooking method (whether on the stovetop or in the microwave), there are a few different types of boiled eggs and it’s good to be familiar with the type you love most.

Soft-Boiled Eggs: Soft-boiled eggs have a runny yolk and a fully cooked white. They are typically boiled for about 4 to 6 minutes. Soft-boiled eggs are often served in egg cups and can be eaten with a spoon or added to dishes like ramen or salads.

Cook time: 4 to 6 minutes

Medium-Boiled Eggs: In a medium-boiled egg, the yolk is still partially runny but thicker than in a soft-boiled egg. The whites are fully set. These are usually boiled for around 6 to 8 minutes and are versatile, suitable for a variety of dishes.

Cook time: 6 to 8 minutes

Hard-Boiled (aka hard-cooked eggs): A hard-boiled egg has both a fully cooked yolk and white. The yolk is crumbly and pale yellow, while the white is firm. These are boiled for 9 to 12 minutes and are often used in recipes like deviled eggs, egg salad, avocado egg salad or simply eaten on their own with a sprinkle of salt.

Cook time: 9 to 12 minutes

Jammy Eggs: A trendier variant of the soft-boiled egg, jammy eggs have yolks that are slightly more set than soft-boiled eggs but not as firm as medium-boiled ones. They are usually boiled for about 6.5 to 7 minutes and are a popular topping for avocado toast and grain bowls.

Cook time: 6.5 to 7 minutes

Why I Use Fresh Eggs versus Older Eggs

This is something I didn’t know until fairly recently. But older eggs are generally better for hard-boiling than fresh ones! I know, I know. I was shocked also when I learned this a few months ago. But Trust me, I tried it out. 

The reason lies in the pH level of the egg whites. As eggs age, the pH level of the whites increases, which makes them less likely to adhere to the egg’s membrane. This makes it easier to peel the shell off a boiled egg.

Fresh eggs often have a lower pH in the whites, which causes the proteins to bond more tightly to the membrane, making them harder to peel after boiling. So if you’ve ever struggled with peeling a hard-boiled egg, it’s likely because the egg was too fresh.

If you’re planning to make hard-boiled eggs, it’s a good idea to use eggs that have been in your fridge for a week or two. This will make the peeling process much easier and less frustrating.

The more you know, right?

Making the Perfect Hardboiled Eggs (Stovetop Method)

Below are step-by-step instructions for boiling an egg in your microwave. So whether you prefer soft-boiled eggs or hard-boiled eggs, we’ve got you covered.

Ingredients

• Fresh jumbo eggs
• Water
• Large bowl of ice water (for ice bath)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Pot: Place the eggs in a single layer in a saucepan or pot. Add enough water to cover the eggs by about 1-2 inches.
2. Heat the Water: Place the pot on the stove over medium-high heat and bring the water to a rolling boil.
3. Cooking Time: Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low to maintain a gentle boil and set a timer for your desired cooking time. For hard-boiled eggs with a fully cooked, crumbly yolk, cook for 9-12 minutes.
4. Ice Bath: While the eggs are cooking, prepare an ice bath in a large bowl. Once the cooking time is up, immediately transfer the eggs to the ice bath to stop the cooking process and make them easier to peel.
5. Peel and Serve: Once the eggs have cooled for at least 5 minutes in the ice bath, peel them and they’re ready to serve.

Step-by-Step Guide to Boiling Eggs in the Microwave

Prep time: 2 minutes

Cook time: 8 minutes

Total time: 10 minutes

1. Choose the right container. Select a microwave-safe bowl or container large enough to hold the eggs and water without overflowing. A glass or ceramic container with a wide base works well.
2. Fill the container with water. Fill the container with enough water to cover the eggs by at least an inch (2.5 cm). The water provides a consistent heat source and helps prevent the eggs from cracking.
3. Add vinegar and salt. Add a tablespoon of white vinegar and a teaspoon of salt to the water. The vinegar helps prevent the egg whites from spreading if the eggshell cracks. While the salt raises the water’s boiling point, allowing for more even cooking.
4. Gently place the eggs in the water. Using a spoon, lower the eggs carefully into the water, ensuring they are submerged.
5. Microwave the eggs. Place the container in the microwave and cover it with a microwave-safe lid or plate. Set the microwave to 50% power and cook the eggs for 8-12 minutes, depending on your desired level of doneness. The cooking time may vary depending on your microwave and the number of eggs you cook.
6. Check the eggs. After 8 minutes, use a slotted spoon to remove one egg from the container. Carefully run it under cold water and peel it to check for doneness. If the egg is not cooked to your liking, continue microwaving in 1-minute intervals. Check after each interval until the desired level of doneness is achieved. For a soft-boiled egg, microwave the egg at 50% power for 4-6 minutes.
7. Stop the cooking process. Once the eggs are cooked, use a slotted spoon to transfer them from the hot water to a bowl of ice water. This technique is blanching and stops the cooking process. It also makes peeling the eggs easier.
8. Peel and enjoy. After the eggs have cooled for a few minutes, gently tap them on a countertop to crack the shells. Roll the egg between your hands or on the countertop to loosen the shell, then peel it off under running water for the best results.

Tips & Tricks for how to boil an egg in the microwave

Use room-temperature eggs. Room-temperature eggs are less likely to crack in the microwave due to the sudden temperature change. If your eggs are stored in the refrigerator, let them sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before microwaving.

Adjust the cooking time. Cooking times may vary depending on your microwave’s wattage and the number of cooked eggs. Start with the minimum recommended time and increase it in 1-minute intervals if necessary. Record the ideal cooking time for your microwave to make future cooking sessions easier.

Experiment with power settings. If your microwave allows for power adjustments, experiment with different power levels to find the best setting. Lower power settings can lead to more even cooking but may require longer cooking times.

Don’t overcrowd the container. Overcrowding the container may result in uneven cooking, as the eggs may not be submerged in the water. Cook eggs in batches if necessary to ensure even cooking.

Get creative with seasonings. You’ve mastered the basics. Now it’s time to try adding different seasonings to the water for extra flavor. Add a splash of hot sauce, a sprinkle of your favorite spices, or a few slices of lemon to give your eggs a unique twist.

Benefits of Microwaving Eggs

1. Time-saving. Microwaving eggs is faster than boiling them on the stove. Whether you’re making them while rushing out the door or need an easy WFH lunch, you can’t go wrong.
2. Energy-efficient. Using the microwave consumes less energy than cooking them on a stove. Ultimately, it reduces your carbon footprint. Always a good thing! Did you hear that? It was Mother Nature saying thank you.
3. Easy cleanup. Microwaving eggs requires fewer dishes than using a stovetop. It also has less cleanup, which makes for a faster cooking process.

Things to Keep in Mind

Before diving into the microwave method, it’s essential to acknowledge the potential risks. Microwaving eggs in their shells can cause them to explode due to the buildup of steam inside. So, it’s crucial to take the proper precautions to prevent any accidents.

Use microwave-safe containers. Always use a microwave-safe bowl or container for cooking the eggs. Avoid using metal or plastic containers that aren’t labeled as microwave-safe.

Pierce the eggshell. Gently pierce the eggshell with a pin to allow steam to escape during cooking. Be careful not to pierce the yolk. This reduces the risk of the egg exploding because no one needs that.

Cover the container. To cut the risk of an egg explosion, cover the microwave-safe container with a microwave-safe lid or plate.

Hardboiled Eggs in the Pressure Cooker

The instructions provided will yield hard-boiled eggs. In this method, both the egg white and yolk will be fully cooked, with the yolk being crumbly and pale yellow and the white firm to the touch. 

Ingredients

• 6 to 12 large eggs (preferably older for easier peeling)
• 1 cup water

Tools

• Pressure cooker
• Steamer basket or trivet
• Ice water bath
• Tongs

Instructions

1. Prepare the Pressure Cooker: Place the steamer basket or trivet at the bottom of your pressure cooker. Add 1 cup of water.
2. Arrange the Eggs: Carefully place the eggs on the steamer basket or trivet, ensuring they don’t touch the water.
3. Seal and Cook: Close and seal the pressure cooker. Set it to cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.
4. Natural Release: Once the cooking time is up, let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes.
5. Quick Release: After 5 minutes of natural release, carefully perform a quick release to let out any remaining pressure.
6. Ice Bath: Immediately transfer the eggs using tongs into an ice water bath. Let them sit for at least 5 minutes. This will not only stop the cooking process but also make the eggs easier to peel.
7. Peel and Enjoy: Once the eggs are cool to the touch, gently tap them on a hard surface to crack the shell, then peel. The shell should come off easily if the eggs are older.

What’s With Easy-Peel Eggs?

Despite what the internet might tell you, easy-peel eggs are not a type of egg. There are a few ways however to make peeling eggs easier. 

Use older eggs: As we covered above, using older eggs, can make it easier to peel do to the ph level of the whites.

Shock your eggs in an ice bath: Shocking boiled eggs in an ice bath is a technique designed to make the eggs easier to peel. This happens for several reasons:

1. Contraction of Proteins: When hot eggs are plunged into cold water, the proteins in the egg whites contract. This pulling away from the inner membrane creates a small gap between the egg white and the shell.
2. Temperature Gradient: The rapid change in temperature helps to separate the membrane from the egg white, which in turn makes the shell easier to remove.
3. Halting Cooking Process: The ice bath stops the cooking process, preventing the greenish-grey ring that can form around the yolk in overcooked eggs. This is not directly related to ease of peeling but is an aesthetic advantage.
4. Easier Handling: Cooling the eggs quickly makes them easier to handle, so you can peel them immediately without discomfort from the heat.

Boiling Eggs FAQs

How do you microwave an egg without it exploding?

This is a great question for when you’re learning how to boil an egg in the microwave. You’ll find different instructions with varying methods if you do a quick Google search. But in general, yes. It’s best to poke a hole in your egg prior to microwaving. This will prevent the egg from exploding. 

Are hard-boiled eggs healthy?

Yes, hard boiled eggs are definitely healthy. And since you’re cooking them in their own shell, there is no need to add oil such as cooking spray or butter. This helps to reduce the amount of saturated fat you are consuming. Eggs are also gluten-free, low carb, and keto friendly. 

What is the nutritional information for a hardboiled egg?

Below is the nutritional information for one medium hard-boiled egg:

Calories: 72

Grams of protein: 6.3g

Carbohydrates: 0.4g

Fat: 4.8g

Sodium: 71mg

Cholesterol: 186mg

Trans fat: 0g

Calcium: 28mg

Potassium: 69mg

Eggs also include essential amino acids and are high in vitamins such as Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D.

Fan Fave Egg Recipes

Avocado toast with an additional egg. Elevate your avocado toast with a soft-boiled egg that’s perfectly runny in the center.

Starbucks egg bites. One of our favorite recipes of all time. These egg bites are super easy to make. Bake them in a muffin tin in the oven for a delicious snack, lunch, or breakfast for dinner. 

Egg salad. You truly can’t go wrong with a traditional egg salad sandwich. Try using soft-boiled eggs and replacing mayo with greek yogurt. Don’t forget the herbs!

Bacon, egg, and cheese pinwheels. For an easy on-the-go breakfast with some extra carbs.

Still, need more inspiration? Check out our ultimate list of recipes to use up extra eggs.

Boiling eggs in the microwave is a time-saving and energy-efficient alternative to the traditional way. By following this comprehensive guide, you can enjoy perfectly cooked, microwave-boiled eggs in no time. 

Remember to use a microwave-safe container and take the necessary precautions. With some practice and experimentation, you’ll master the art of microwaving eggs and enjoy a delicious and nutritious yummy snack or healthy breakfast in minutes.

Have questions or suggestions about how to boil an egg in the microwave? Leave them in the comments below.