How To Microwave Perfect Scrambled Eggs
Light And Fluffy Scrambled Eggs
About 20 years ago I stayed in a motel in Colorado Springs while I was waiting for an apartment I had leased to be renovated and updated with new appliances and carpeting. I spent about a month in a motel, it was nothing but an unpleasant experience.
I love to cook, and it was torture for me to be without a stove for a month, with only a microwave oven to cook and/or heat up my meals. After all, you can only do so much fast-food. It was a challenge to come up with fresh meals, something other than a salad, frozen TV dinner, or warmed up pizza. Microwave cooking can be limited, for sure.
Because I was staying in a motel, I had to frequent a laundromat to wash my clothes, it was located down the road at the local strip mall. One day, after I had finished my laundry, I decided to stop in the small café a few doors down and grab a late breakfast. I had a craving for scrambled eggs and some toast.
I’d been in this café in the past and the food was unusually good and reasonably priced. On this particular visit I happened to get a table near the kitchen, with a partial view inside. At one point I noticed the cook take what looked like a bowl of scrambled eggs out of the microwave. A minute later the waitress brought me my breakfast. Did he nuke my eggs?
I was surprised how light and fluffy the eggs were and I made a comment to the waitress that these were the best scrambled eggs I’d ever had, saying “Please let the cook know I really loved the eggs”. She replied “I’m sure he’d love to hear the complement from you, he’s just inside the door if you want to tell him yourself”.
I said “that’s a great idea, I’ll do that”. So I walked to the kitchen doorway and called out to the cook saying “I just wanted to let you know those were the best scrambled eggs I ever had. How did you do that? It looked like you microwaved them”. He replied “I did. The best way to cook scrambled eggs is in the microwave”.
He went on to say “Don’t use milk, just mix it with a little water, and stir it a few times, the eggs will come out perfect”. I thanked him again and told him I would have to try that someday. On the way home I bought a dozen eggs, even though I was a little hesitant because of a previous bad experience I had microwaving eggs**.
The next morning I tried cooking scrambled eggs in my tiny, cheap, motel microwave. The first batch was a little uncooked, so I decreased the amount of water I was adding and increased the number of times I stirred the mixture. It took me a few tries, but eventually I got it right. It’s actually pretty easy once you have a system down.
Here’s How It’s Done
Just follow this step-by-step guide to make the best scrambled eggs you’ve ever had, in under three or four minutes.
Step 1
Scramble the eggs in a glass bowl (plastic might be difficult to clean). I prefer jumbo eggs and have used three eggs in this demonstration. I did not use milk in the mix, instead, I added tap water, it works better; in this case I added about three tablespoons.
(Be aware the mixture will rise as it cooks. I usually look through the glass door and stop it when the eggs rise an inch or so, but you can time it too, once you get the hang of it. Just pay attention, so you don’t create a mess)
Step 2
I set the timer for four minutes even though three would work for this number of eggs. I used the standard setting, which I assume is ‘high’. You may need to increase the time for larger batches or weaker settings. Cook uncovered.
(Don’t give me a hard time, it took me 6 seconds to grab my camera and take the picture shown below)
Step 3
I stop the microwave after about 90 seconds and remove the bowl in order to stir the mixture. At this point the eggs have solidified slightly along the edge of the bowl and in the center, it needs to be stirred so that one area doesn’t overcook. Put the bowl back in the microwave and continue cooking.
Step 4
After cooking for an additional 30 seconds I take out the bowl and stir it again. At this point, in addition to the eggs that are touching the glass, the top layer has also solidified a little more. The texture reminds me of the solid layer that forms on pudding when you cook it. Stir it up a little and put it back in the microwave and continue cooking.
Step 5
Okay, it has been another 30 seconds. At this point the eggs are almost finished and may look a little wet, or slimy, on the surface. Now, rather than stirring the thickened eggs, I fold, or chop the eggs, because I don’t want to homogenize them or create an egg smoothie (yuk!), I just want to chop the eggs into something resembling bite-size pieces (see image 7).
Step 6
Cook the slightly moist eggs another 10 seconds or so and the remaining surface moisture, the slime, will dry out and you will have perfect scrambled eggs. I usually find my eggs have cooked in about 2 1/2 minutes.
Step 7
Remove the bowl from the microwave (beware, the bowl may be hot) and immediately scrape the eggs from the sides of the bowl and chop the eggs again to stop the eggs from cooking further. Spoon the eggs onto a plate or platter and serve.
Step 8
Looking good, time to add the side dishes.
Step 9
It’s time for breakfast; you can thank me later.
I hope you enjoy your fluffy, light, scrambled eggs. I know I do.
**WARNING: DO NOT TRY TO MICROWAVE HARD BOILED EGGS**
I tried it once, it did not go well. I don’t know that the eggs ever cooked properly because they exploded when I tried to cool them down with cold water. The minute the cold water hit the eggs – BOOM, it sounded like a shotgun had just been fired… it was that loud. There were bits of egg everywhere. On the wall, the ceiling, the floor, and me.
I looked in the mirror. Eggs were on my face, in my hair, and my beard. I guess I’m lucky I didn’t get burned or have part of an egg shell in my eye. Again, Don’t Try To Hard Boil Eggs In A Microwave, It Is Dangerous.
On Reflection:
I’m glad I talked to that chef in the diner, he knows what he’s doing. I always cook my scrambled eggs this way now. It’s easy once you get the hang of it and absolutely makes the best scrambled eggs. Give it a try!
Info Sources: My personal experience.
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