Microwave Poached Eggs Recipe
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Starting your day with a hot, high-protein breakfast is easy once you know 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 lot easier. I’d given up eating poached eggs at home until I found out how easy they are to do in the microwave. We’re talking one minute and they’re done! If you enjoy eggs for breakfast or are looking for easy low-carb or keto-friendly breakfast recipes, you’re going to love this.
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 always dissolved into wispy things with overcooked yolks, so I usually wound up eating oatmeal instead. Not anymore!
Use a deep mug. You need to cover the egg with water and have a couple of empty inches above that to leave room for the water to boil.
Use cool tap water. Starting with hot water will poach your egg too quickly. Choose cool to room temperature water instead.
Cover with a plate. Paper towels aren’t heavy enough, so steam will escape and keep the water from reaching the temperature needed to poach the egg.
Pierce the yolk. Eggs poached in the microwave may explode if you do not poke a tiny hole in the yolk’s surface with a toothpick or the tip of a sharp knife. This step allows the yolk to expand while cooking.
Check it carefully. The water will boil as your microwave poaches the egg, so be careful when checking if it’s done.
Continue as needed. Microwave oven times vary, so yours may cook faster or slower than someone else’s. If the egg white is still runny, microwave it for 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 “Loco Moco.”
Microwave Poached Eggs
Equipment
- Microwave
- Coffee mug
- Plate or saucer
- Toothpick or sharp knife
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- tap water cool to room temperature
Instructions
- Fill a coffee mug halfway with water. Crack an egg and let it slide down the side of the mug to the bottom. Gently, use a toothpick or the tip of a sharp knife to poke a small hole in the yolk.
- Cover with a plate and microwave it on high for 1 minute. Check the egg for doneness and repeat in 10-second increments, checking after each, until done.
- Carefully remove the plate. Lift the poached egg out of the mug with a slotted spoon and wait a few seconds for the water to drain. Season with salt and pepper (optional) and serve.
A minute and a half yolk hard whites still not cooked
I’m sorry you’re having difficulties, Richard. Microwave oven times can differ for everyone. Did you start with room temperature water? That makes a big difference.
Gross! The smell alone was sickening. I will take the extra time to cook on the stove!
Sorry you didn’t like it but here’s no reason why it would smell any different unless you overcooked them or have a uniquely sensitive nose.