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Home » Cook

Microwave Poached Eggs Recipe

October 22, 2020 by Katie Berry | 52 Comments

22.7Kshares
How to Poach Eggs in the Microwave

This Microwave Poached Eggs Recipe is going to rock your mornings! I know it’s sure made mine a whole lot easier.

See, I’d pretty much given up eating poached eggs at home. Since one of my favorite breakfasts is Eggs Benedict, I’d only had it when we’ve gone to a restaurant for breakfast — something that doesn’t happen very often.

Then I found out how easy it is to make them in the microwave. We’re talking ONE MINUTE and they’re done!

So, while I’m not up to making Hollandaise Sauce very often, I’ve still been following this recipe a couple of times a week — it’s just that easy and convenient.

How to Poach Eggs in the Microwave

If you’ve tried poaching an egg on the stove you know what it’s like: you bring a pan of water to simmer, add a splash of vinegar, crack an egg on a saucer and then slip the egg into the liquid. Three minutes later you scoop the egg out of the water with a slotted spoon.

That’s all there is to it in theory.

In reality, my eggs would turn into wispy things with overcooked yolks, so I usually wound up eating oatmeal instead. Not anymore!

Helpful Tips

Use a coffee mug, not a teacup. I’ve used both 6- and 8-oz mugs without problems, as well as 900 and 1200 watt microwaves.

You want enough water to cover the egg by 1 inch. It’s important to leave a couple of empty inches above the water’s surface in your mug. If you don’t have that much room, use a bigger one.

Don’t forget to poke a small hole in the yolk! Using the tip of a sharp knife or a toothpick to make a tiny hole in the yolk allows steam to escape and keeps your poached egg from superheating and exploding. Remember, you’re just poking, not scrambling, so focus on piercing the “skin” of the yolk without jabbing too far into it.

Cover it. Use an actual saucer or plate on top to keep the heat and liquid in the mug. Paper towels or paper plates aren’t heavy enough and will allow steam to escape, which prevents the water from reaching the temperature needed to poach the egg.

Check it carefully. Don’t slosh the cup around when you check if the egg is done — it’s going to be steamy in there. If the whites are still runny, microwave it another 10 seconds and check again. Repeat until you’re happy with how it looks.

Serving Suggestions

Poached eggs are nice on toast, of course, and you can’t make Eggs Benedict without them. But there are many other ways to enjoy them.

Check out these ways to serve microwave poached eggs:

  • Top a green salad with a poached egg to turn it into a meal.
  • Slip one onto a rye crisp over some bacon and sriracha.
  • Slide one onto a burger.
  • Top your avocado toast with a microwave poached egg, a pinch of chili flakes, and some sea salt.
  • Spoon it on top of a bowl of ramen, then add some minced green onions and a pinch of black sesame seeds.
  • Sautee some fresh baby spinach, mushrooms, minced garlic, and onions in olive oil then sprinkle it generously with salt and add a poached egg for a nutritional powerhouse.
  • Toast half a bagel, smear it with creamy butter, then drape it with smoked salmon and a poached egg.
  • Nestle it in a bowl of rice and drizzle on some brown gravy for a Hawaiian treat called “Moco Loco.”
Microwave Poached Egg on avocado toast
Print Pin
4.83 from 17 votes

Microwave Poached Eggs

Enjoy a hot breakfast even when you’re in a hurry with this quick and easy method to make poached eggs in the microwave!
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Keyword easy, eggs, keto, low-carb, microwave
Prep Time 1 min
Cook Time 1 min
Total Time 2 mins
Makes 1 person
Calories 63kcal
Author Katie Berry

Equipment

  • Microwave
  • Coffee mug

Ingredients

  • 1 egg
  • water

Instructions

  • Fill a straight-sided coffee mug halfway with water. Crack an egg and let it slide down the side of the mug to the bottom. Make sure there's enough water in the mug to cover the egg by at least 1 inch with 2 inches of space above it. 
  • Using the tip of a sharp knife or a toothpick, gently poke a small hole in the yolk. This allows steam to escape during the cooking process, so your microwave poached egg doesn't explode.
  • Place a saucer (not a paper plate and not a paper towel) over the top of the mug and microwave it on HIGH for 1 minute. Check the egg for doneness and repeat in 10-second bursts, checking after each, until done.
  • Gently tilt the mug away from you and lift the lid. Remove the egg carefully with a slotted spoon. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 63kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 61mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

Filed Under: Cook Tagged With: breakfast, easy recipe, quick recipes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katie Berry says

    Oops, indeed! Hope it all came off okay.

    Reply
  2. Katie Berry says

    Thank you for the kind words, and the condolences, Kimberly!

    Reply
  3. Katie Berry says

    I’m sorry that happened. I think you’re right: the mug size matters.

    Reply
  4. Pat Sarsuelo says

    5 stars
    Great idea! I use a bowl and plate cover to microwave an egg for 55 seconds. That gives me a perfect diameter egg for my favorite breakfast sandwich. Tastes way better than McD’s!

    Oh, and that Hawaiian treat – it’s “Loco Moco.” =)

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      That’s it: Loco Moco. Yummy stuff but definitely not diet-friendly.

      Thanks for the tip about using a bowl and plate!

    • Kevin says

      4 stars
      Loco Moco is diet friendly if you don’t eat anything else for 2 days. ????

    • Katie Berry says

      LOL

  5. Katie Berry says

    I’ll have to take a look at those, Gerry. I love poached eggs. Thanks!

    Reply
  6. Trace' says

    5 stars
    I never tried poached eggs and was watching a cooking show and thought I wonder if you can make it in a microwave first one came out yolk was to my desire overcooked second one just right . I put it on a chicken fried chicken steak with country white gravy omg my taste buds totally satisfied ?thanks for the tip.

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      Poached egg on chicken fried steak with gravy? That’s some good eating right there!

    • Lynn J. says

      5 stars
      My mother used to make a recipe for us that still brings delicious memories. Golden Rod Eggs. She used a white sauce made with butter and toasted flour for a roux. But works as well with milk gravy and serve it over toast then either poached eggs or boiled eggs pushed through a potato ricer served over the white sauce or gravy over the toast. A real tummy warmer.

    • Katie Berry says

      You just brought back a delicious memory for me, too! We’d make that and add a pinch of dry ground mustard to the roux, sprinkle on paprika, and call them Poor Benedict’s Eggs.

  7. XdoveX says

    5 stars
    I found semi cooked whites with half the yolk completely cooked. I mean it’s similar to a poached egg, but definitely no substitute. I would do less time to get the yolk right, but then the whites would be inedible. 🙁 I guess I will try buying one of those little devices designed for this.

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      I’m sorry it didn’t work for you.

  8. Katie Berry says

    Great tip. Thank you!

    Reply
  9. Katie Berry says

    That’s what my results were, too, which is why the recipe says 1 minute. 😉

    Reply
  10. Kesia says

    4 stars
    Actually, the Hawaiian dish with rice and gravy is called a Loco moco ???? thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for.

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      That’s right. Good grinds!

  11. Jane says

    5 stars
    Perfect!

    Reply
  12. Cheryl Eisbrenner says

    Try Julia Child’s recipe for hollandaise! With a mixer, not a whisk.

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      I’ll give that a go. Thanks!

  13. David L. says

    5 stars
    Happy Thanksgiving holiday Katie Berry to you and yours. I had seen this same recipe, however it also called for a (splash) of vinegar.
    Also, I guess my microwave is more powerful than others. The reason I say that is because at 1 min. The yoke is closer to hardboiled than poached. I go 45 sec. And bump it up by 10 sec. Till it’s just right.
    Thanks for putting this recipe on you re site.

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      Thank you for leaving the kind review, David!

  14. Katie Berry says

    Hope you found it useful, and thank you for keeping the country moving!

    Reply
  15. Stephen says

    Do you boil the water 1st?

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      No. That’s the entire point.

  16. Jennifer says

    5 stars
    Mine turned out perfect!
    Thank you!

    I used a white ceramic straight sided ramekin that was plenty big for one egg.

    I added vinegar and turmeric powder for flavor in the water and covered with a small saucer.

    I minute and 15 seconds was just right!

    My mom and I both raved about the eggs!

    I spread red pepper pesto, mayo and Italian herbs paste from a tube, ontop of toasted sourdough , with a fresh tomato slice and salt and pepper.

    Only thing about nuking the eggs, is you can only cook one at a time, as opposed to several in a pot of hot water.

    Also good with garlic herb chèvre cheese on a baguette, with tomato and pesto .

    Yum!!

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      I love your flavoring ideas!

    • Yvonne says

      5 stars
      Omg i did exactly what you said came out perfect thank you so much im diabetic n thid is quick n healthy option for me appreciate the help im so happy

    • Katie Berry says

      I’m so glad you liked it, Yvonne!

  17. Sheila says

    5 stars
    Try Swiss Knorr Hollandaise Sauce packet……authentic flavour!

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      I’ll give that a try. Thanks!

    • Becky says

      I agree that Knorr hollandaise packets are awesome!

  18. Katie Berry says

    I’m sorry you had problems with it, Bill.

    Reply
  19. John says

    5 stars
    I’ve been micing scrambled eggs for years they are the best. Your micing poached eggs is terffic followed it to the letter except cut back 15 sec my mic is a high wattage. Thanks for a recipe addition.

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      My pleasure, John!

  20. Jacqueline says

    5 stars
    This technique worked great! Thanks! Yum

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      You’re welcome!

  21. Denise says

    5 stars
    Maybe everyone is getting different results because not everyone is using the same size egg. What size do you use?

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      Ah, that might be it. I buy Grade A Large eggs, since they’re the standard for use in recipes.

  22. Katie Berry says

    Great tip!

    Reply
  23. Lisa A Davis says

    5 stars
    I know this is an old post, but I just found it today (10/28/2018)! I have a big mug from QVC (Temptations) that actually HAS a matching lid/saucer (designer calls them “Lid Its”) which would be great for this. I love poached eggs and will be trying this tomorrow for breakfast…if not tonight for supper!

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      Let me know how it turned out!

  24. Dennis says

    5 stars
    Just found your post. I use a 4.5 inch ramekin filled about half way with water and 1/2 tsp. vinegar and a saucer on top. I cook for about 57-58 secs. The cook time depends a lot on the microwave being used. 55 secs. and the whites aren’t cooked, 60 secs. and the yolks are cooked thru. I haven’t tried making hollandaise sauce just because it looks like a lot of trouble and I’ve never had it so I don’t know if I would like it.

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      Hollandaise can be a bit fiddly. If you’re willing to open a jar, Kroger (and I’m sure other stores) sell it already made — just heat a couple of tablespoons and pour it on.

  25. Holly says

    4 stars
    Made the egg in a Sistema hot cereal bowl and punctured the yolk. 2 in a row, hard-cooked. No issues.

    A loco moco is rice, topped with a hamburger patty, one or two eggs as you like em, and brown gravy. Patty required. Egg can be poached, fried, or even scrambled. Zippy’s is good, so is Rocky’s Cafe

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      I miss Zippy’s!

  26. Katie Berry says

    Great tip!

    Reply
  27. Katie Berry says

    Well, that’s new. It didn’t have all the language about not using it in the microwave or using only warm, not hot, liquids when I bought it. Thank goodness I haven’t had any problems with it in the four years I’ve been using my set! I’ve deleted the link though. Thanks!

    Reply
  28. Katie Berry says

    I love Noodles and Company! Your idea of sliding a poached egg onto those sounds delish. Now I’ve got a craving!

    Reply
  29. Katrina says

    Works even better if you put a bit of vinegar (or lemon juice) into the water, helps hold the white together

    Reply
    • Katie Berry says

      Great tip. Thank you for sharing it!

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