# Of Eggs and Microwaves **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 21, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616 "2003-10-21T01:11:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnJet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@JohnJet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnJet)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/1 "2003-10-21T01:11:13Z")
No, I dont want to know if old eggs are better for peeling than new eggs. And I dont want to know how to stand an egg on end, all I want to know is can I safely microwave an egg? My friends say no, even though it says right on the lid of the eggs that they’re pasturized to FDA standards. I thought this meant you could eat them raw. Surely if you can eat them raw they’re ok to eat slighlty undercooked. So, tell me for certain, can I nuke 'em without fear of dieing from some crazy strain of bacteria? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/2 "2003-10-21T01:19:21Z")
Microwaving an egg in the shell is pretty likely to result in the egg exploding. I’ve heard rumors that it’s powerful enough to blow the door off the oven, but I doubt it’s quite that bad. Nevertheless, it’s sure to make a mess. I’d crack the egg in a dish before cooking. The come out just fine that way, if a bit rubbery. Eating raw or undercooked eggs carries a risk of cotracting salmonella, an unpleasant, if rarely fatal, food poisoning. ---
**Author:** ![JohnJet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@JohnJet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnJet)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/3 "2003-10-21T02:10:01Z")
I didn’t mean to imply that they were still in the shells, I may not be able to cook, but I know better then that. So if I can still get sick from them, what does the pasturized part mean? And why does it say I can eat them raw? Could I eat them raw and take them to court when I got sick? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/4 "2003-10-21T02:37:08Z")
They’ll cook fully out of the shells in the microwave, so it shouldn’t be an issue. Pasteurization certainly reduces the risk of salmonella considerably, so if you _must_ eat them raw, it’s relatively safe to do so. Personally, I wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/5 "2003-10-21T02:52:53Z")
The yolks cook at a different speed from the whites, so it’s a little tricky. I used to do this for breakfast a while back, but I don’t remember the numbers. Anyway, I’d PAM a soup bowl, and fork-whip a couple of eggs in it. Nuke it for x minutes, mix it up again, nuke it for x minutes. Your microwave owner’s manual probably has the numbers. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/6 "2003-10-21T02:54:42Z")
I don’t recall ever seeing a package of eggs marked as pasteurized, and according to [this site](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasteurization), eggs are not among the products that \*can be \*pasteurized. This is no surprise, since the pastuerization process involves heating, which would cook the eggs. So to answer your question, you can microwave eggs. But as for eating them raw a la _Rocky_, since they are almost certainly _not_ pasteurized, you _are_ at risk for salmonella. I don’t happen to know how serious that risk actually is. I imagine Googling on salmonella would get you plenty of info. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/7 "2003-10-21T02:59:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by commasense \* > \*\*I don’t recall ever seeing a package of eggs marked as pasteurized, and according to [this site](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasteurization), eggs are not among the products that _can be pasteurized._ [Wrong, dude.](http://www.dmaonline.org/fppublic/connect07.html) ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/8 "2003-10-21T04:49:11Z")
Scrambled eggs cook up nicely. Just remember to stop the cooking while the eggs are still a bit wet or they will come out rubbery. Pierce the yolk, more than once, to cook them without mixing. Unpeirced yolks explode with a mighty force and coat the inside of the oven. ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/9 "2003-10-21T04:57:56Z")
Scrambled eggs cook up nicely. Just remember to stop the cooking while the eggs are still a bit wet or they will come out rubbery. Pierce the yolk, more than once, to cook them without mixing. Unpeirced yolks explode with a mighty force and coat the inside of the oven. ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/10 "2003-10-21T04:57:59Z")
Scrambled eggs cook up nicely. Just remember to stop the cooking while the eggs are still a bit wet or they will come out rubbery. Pierce the yolk, more than once, to cook them without mixing. Unpeirced yolks explode with a mighty force and coat the inside of the oven. ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/11 "2003-10-21T05:06:00Z")
Sorry about that. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/12 "2003-10-21T06:01:37Z")
Microwaved shirred eggs… Take one egg cup per egg desired, place 1 tbs butter or mar. in. mic on high for about 30 sec, or until melted C rack one egg in each cup. Pierce yolk with fork. COVER WITH PLASTIC WRAP Mic on high (I usually do 2 minutes for 2 eggs, less if you like them runny) Serve on toast. One of my favorite breakfasts. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/13 "2003-10-21T06:22:50Z")
I have a device from a kitchen supply store for cooking eggs in the microwave. It’s basically a flattened sphere that hinges open and locks shut, with a hole on top for ventilation. You crack the egg into the bottom half, add a small amount of water (1 tsp I think), close it, and microwave for about a minute. It looks like a fried egg but it’s closer to boiled. Works well for putting eggs on a bagle or toast. ---
**Author:** ![Kegg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Kegg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kegg)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/14 "2003-10-21T08:23:17Z")
Microwave eggs explode because of steam bildup inside the shell. * * * Grammer and spelling subject to change with out notice. ---
**Author:** ![Kegg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Kegg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kegg)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/15 "2003-10-21T08:23:17Z")
Microwave eggs explode because of steam bildup inside the shell. * * * Grammer and spelling subject to change with out notice. ---
**Author:** ![Kegg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Kegg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kegg)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/16 "2003-10-21T08:25:11Z")
Or inside the yoke membrane (you know the story about hamsters and submit buttons. ---
**Author:** ![Bromley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Bromley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bromley)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/17 "2003-10-21T08:55:09Z")
I’ve (intentionally 🙂 ) microwaved an egg in it’s shell. It was _really_ boring for, in our case, 2 minutes (UK medium egg, 650 m/w). Then there was a huge whump, although not one that threated the door as far as I could see. Then a rather unpleasant smell, a bit like rotten eggs. It was a real bitch to clean up though, so it’s not recommended 🙂 . ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/18 "2003-10-21T13:55:12Z")
Amatuers! Put the egg in the shell on a paper towel, place a glass over the egg, set on high. Voila! Exploded egg without a mess! And I third or whatever scrambled eggs in a bit of butter, they are quite edible for something cooked in a microwave. Bacon on a rack is also edible, so these two work out well, but cooking them at the same time is too tricky for me when I’m in the breakfast state. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-eggs-and-microwaves/208616/19 "2003-10-21T14:12:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*[Wrong, dude.](http://www.dmaonline.org/fppublic/connect07.html) \*\* As someone once said, I grow wiser every day, to my extreme mortification. Thanks, Q.E.D.