How to Microwave Hard Boiled Eggs

Boiling eggs in the microwave may sound strange, but it actually works! In this post, I’ll share how to make Microwave Hard Boiled Eggs quickly and safely. This method is perfect for anyone with limited access to a proper kitchen, such as college students, RV owners, and hotel guests. 

Can You Boil Eggs in the Microwave? 

Hard boiled eggs in the microwave — seriously? Yes! 

Boiling eggs in the microwave sounds like it wouldn’t work, but it’s actually a useful kitchen skill to have tucked up your sleeve. 

So long as you boil the eggs using the exact method I’m sharing in this post, you can quickly and safely make hard boiled eggs using just your microwave! But PLEASE follow my instructions closely otherwise you risk the eggs exploding in your microwave. 

Boil one or two eggs in the microwave when the craving strikes, or boil a big batch to use in recipes throughout the week. 

In this post, I’ll explain how to hard boil eggs in the microwave safely so that you never experience a messy egg explosion in the kitchen. 

Why Use the Microwave vs. the Stove? 

Microwave hard boiled eggs have many benefits. 

For one thing, they’re quicker to prepare than boiling eggs on the stovetop since you don’t have to wait for a big pot of water to come to a boil. 

Boiling eggs in the microwave also uses less water and doesn’t require a saucepan, just a microwave-safe bowl. 

This method for hard boiling eggs is especially useful for anyone with limited access to a kitchen. Whether you’re traveling in an RV, spending the night in a hotel, live in a college dorm, or are currently renovating your kitchen, it’s worth learning how to boil eggs in the microwave! 

Tools Needed for Microwave Boiled Eggs

As with most microwave recipes, you’ll need very few tools to prepare hard boiled eggs in the microwave. Here’s what I recommend having on hand: 

• Microwave-safe bowl — For cooking the eggs. 
• Large mixing bowl – For the ice bath. 
• Measuring spoons — For measuring out the salt. 
• Slotted spoon — For safely and easily removing the cooked eggs from the hot water. 

Ingredients for This Recipe 

The ingredients needed to make microwave boiled eggs is nearly identical to making hard boiled eggs on the stove. Gather the following ingredients: 

• Water — Warm tap water works perfectly for this recipe. 
• Salt — Regular table salt is all you need. Do NOT omit the salt! 
• Eggs — The color, shape, and size of the eggs doesn’t matter. 

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make hard boiled eggs in the microwave, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Hard Boil Eggs in the Microwave 

Microwave hard boiled eggs are very easy to prepare, but it’s crucial that you follow these exact instructions. You definitely don’t want to risk the eggs exploding in their shells as that would create a big mess in your microwave and can also pose a health risk to you. 

Here are the basic steps to hard boiling eggs using just the microwave: 

1. Before cooking the eggs, you need to prepare an ice bath. To do so, fill a large bowl with ice and top off with tap water. 
2. Place your desired number of eggs into a microwave-safe bowl. Make sure the eggs fit in the bowl in a single layer and are not stacked on top of each other (this ensures even cooking in the microwave). 
3. Fill the bowl with enough tap water to cover the eggs by about ½ inch. 
4. Add ½ teaspoon of table salt per egg to the bowl (i.e. 1 teaspoon for 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons for 4 eggs, etc.). This is what prevents the eggs from exploding in their shells. 
5. Microwave the eggs on full power for 4 minutes, uncovered. 
6. After 4 minutes, let the eggs rest in the microwave for 1 minute. 
7. Then, cook the eggs for another 4 minutes. 
8. Once the eggs are done cooking, leave them in the microwave in the hot water for 2 to 10 minutes depending on how firm you want the yolk to be. (I’ve listed exact rest times in the section below.) 
9. After the eggs have rested for the desired amount of time, carefully remove the eggs from the hot water using a slotted spoon. Immediately submerge the eggs in the ice bath for about 1 minute to stop them from cooking further. 

The above is simply a quick summary of this microwave hard boiled egg recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

How Long to Boil Eggs in the Microwave 

The cook time for these hard boiled eggs will remain the same no matter what. However, the rest time will vary depending on how firm you like your egg yolks. 

So, microwave the eggs for 8 minutes total on full power, with a 1-minute rest period at the halfway point. Then, let the eggs rest in the hot water as listed below: 

• Soft boiled eggs with a runny yolk: Let rest in the hot water for an additional 2 minutes 
• Medium boiled eggs with a soft yolk: Let rest in the hot water for an additional 6 minutes 
• Hard boiled eggs with a fully cooked yolk: Let rest in the hot water for an additional 8 minutes 

Tips for Hard Boiling Eggs in the Microwave

• DO NOT OMIT THE SALT — This tip gets all caps because the salt is what prevents the eggs from exploding. I don’t want you to end up with a huge mess on your hands, nor do I want the eggs to burst while you’re touching them. So please, add ½ teaspoon of salt per egg to the bowl! 
• Use a large bowl – Using a large, microwave-safe bowl ensures that the hot water will not bubble over in the microwave. You also do not want to stack the eggs, so a large bowl is a must. 
• Boil the eggs on full power — Check that your microwave is turned to high / full power when making this recipe. 
• Use oven mitts or a kitchen towel to remove the bowl — It will be very hot (and also full of boiling water!) so remove the bowl carefully from the microwave. 
• Cook 2 eggs to test your microwave — As with any recipe, this method for hard boiling eggs in the microwave may vary slightly depending on the number of eggs you use, the wattage of your microwave, etc. Cook 2 eggs as a test round before committing to a bigger batch. 
• Use an ice bath — I recommend submerging the boiled eggs into a bowl of ice water as soon as they’re done cooking. This will prevent them from cooking any further and makes them safe to peel right away. 

Recipe FAQs

How do you boil an egg in the microwave without it exploding?

There are two key things to remember when boiling eggs in the microwave: 

1. Cover the eggs with ½ inch of water. If they’re not fully submerged in water, they may explode. 
2. Add ½ teaspoon of salt PER EGG. The salt plays a critical role in preventing the eggs from exploding. 

If you do these two things, you will avoid the eggs bursting in their shells. 

Can you make a boiled egg in the microwave without water?

No, you cannot boil eggs in the microwave without water. They will explode in their shells and create a mess. 

How to season hard boiled eggs

Dress up your microwave boiled eggs however you’d like! Some ways I like to season my eggs include: 

• Salt and pepper 
• Everything bagel seasoning 
• Garlic herb salt 
• Hot sauce 
• Salsa (salsa verde or restaurant style) 

How to Store Hard Boiled Eggs 

When storing microwave hard boiled eggs, I recommend storing them in a sealed container or sealed zip top bag in the refrigerator. Cooked eggs, especially already peeled eggs, can cause odors in the refrigerator. Keeping them sealed helps keep your refrigerator smelling fresh. 

Tip: If you do find yourself with some smells in your refrigerator, try these tips for deodorizing in your kitchen.

How Long Do Hard Boiled Eggs Last? 

Store the microwave boiled eggs in the refrigerator — peeled or unpeeled — for up to 1 week. 

Can You Freeze Hard Boiled Eggs? 

Yes! You can freeze hard-boiled eggs that have been shelled. 

However, the egg whites will become tough and rubbery. The hard boiled egg will still be safe to eat, the texture just may be unpleasant. 

Recipes Using Hard Boiled Eggs

Enjoy your hard boiled eggs as is, or add them to one of the following recipes: 

• Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad 
• Classic Potato Salad
• Southwest Breakfast Bowl 
• Bean and Egg Breakfast Tacos 
• Macaroni Salad

You can also use these microwave hard boiled eggs to make dyed Easter eggs, deviled eggs, and egg salad! 

Try This Recipe for Microwave Hard Boiled Eggs!

Next time you’re looking for an easy way to hard boil eggs, give this microwave method a try! 

Did you like the recipe? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of microwave boiled eggs .

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of microwave hard boiled eggs!

More Egg Tutorials: 

This recipe for easy peel hard-boiled eggs breaks down the best way to boil eggs so they’re easy to peel every single time.

Knowing how to bring eggs to room temperature quickly is useful when making cakes, cupcakes, waffles, and more. In this post, I’m sharing four methods for bringing eggs to room temperature and explaining why it’s important to do so. 

Pasteurized eggs are raw eggs that have been heated to a specific temperature in order to kill any harmful bacteria they contain. Learn how to pasteurize eggs yourself for using in homemade eggnog, meringue, Caesar dressing, and more! 

Freezing chicken eggs is a great way to preserve their shelf life and ensure you never run out of eggs for baked goods. This post will explain how to freeze eggs, including raw and cooked eggs! 

Soft and fluffy scrambled eggs are easy to make so long as you use the right method. In this post, I’ll explain how to cook scrambled eggs perfectly every time, whether it’s better to use milk or water in your eggs (or neither!), what to serve with scrambled eggs, and so much more! 

Learning how to separate eggs is important if you want to bake angel food cakes, macarons, macaroons, meringues, and more. It’s an important kitchen skill you’re about to master.

One of my favorite kitchen tips is how to measure partial eggs because it comes in handy when you’re making adjustments to recipes.

Get More Delicious Recipes via Email

Did you love this recipe? Sign up for Good Life Eats email updates and never miss another update!