If you want to eat a hard-boiled egg but don't have the stove available, don't give up. A small bowl and a microwave oven are enough to prepare a hard-boiled egg quickly and easily. Break the egg, discard the shell and pierce the yolk to prevent it from exploding in the microwave. For the same reason, never reheat hard-boiled eggs in the microwave.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Break and Cover the Egg
Step 1. Butter a small bowl suitable for microwave use
Grease the inside walls with butter, using a sheet of kitchen paper. If you want to cook just one egg, you can use a dessert bowl (the one for panna cotta is the ideal size). What matters is choosing a container suitable for cooking in the microwave.
If you prefer, you can grease the sides of the container with olive oil instead of using butter
Step 2. Spread half a teaspoon of salt (about 2.5 grams) across the bottom of the bowl
You can dose the salt by eye; the goal is to cover the bottom of the container. The salt favors an even cooking of the eggs and also makes them tastier.
When cooked, you can further salt the eggs to taste
Step 3. Break the egg into the bowl
Tap the shell on the edge and divide it in half. Drop egg white and yolk into the container, then make sure there are no small pieces of shell.
It is best to cook one egg at a time to get an even result
Step 4. Pierce the egg yolk with the fork or the tip of the knife
During cooking, a lot of pressure may build up inside the thin membrane that surrounds the yolk, caused by the humidity that will be created as the temperature rises, so the egg could explode. To avoid this, pierce the membrane of each yolk 3-4 times using a fork, toothpick or the tip of the knife.
Warning:
It is extremely important to pierce the yolk before putting the eggs in the microwave. If you don't, they could explode and seriously injure you when they get hot.
Step 5. Cover the bowl with cling film
Tear off a piece of film that is slightly larger than the container. Make it adhere well to the edges to seal the steam inside, thus promoting quick and even cooking.
Do not use aluminum foil in the microwave as it could start a fire
Part 2 of 2: Cook the Eggs
Step 1. Cook the eggs for 30 seconds at 400 watts
If you can adjust the microwave power, set it to low to medium strength. After 30 seconds the egg may not be cooked yet, but it is best to proceed gradually to avoid problems.
If you can't adjust the oven power, assume it's set high and cook the egg for 20 seconds instead of 30. It's better to have to put it back in the oven than risk overcooking or exploding it
Step 2. Cook the egg for another 10 seconds if it is still not completely hard
Check the yolk to see if it has hardened. If it's still soft, place the egg back in the microwave and cook for another 10 seconds on medium-low power. Try not to cook it any longer to prevent it from overheating.
A cooked egg has a white, non-transparent egg white and an orange hard yolk
Step 3. Wait 30 seconds before uncovering the container
The egg will continue to cook for a few seconds in the bowl, even after you take it out of the microwave. Make sure the egg white has set and the yolk is firm before eating the egg.
Warning:
the egg will most likely be hot, so be careful not to burn yourself.
Advice
Turn on the microwave at short intervals to avoid overcooking the egg
Warnings
- Never put a whole egg (with the shell) in the microwave as it may explode.
- Do not heat hard-boiled eggs in the microwave as they may explode.
