You must absolutely avoid cooking shelled eggs in a microwave — find out why

Note that even after removing the egg from the microwave, it continues to cook.

New Delhi | June 1, 2023 03:00 PM IST

3 min read

How do you cook your eggs? (Source: Pixabay)

Recently, a TikTok user made headlines after a viral egg hack she tried went horribly wrong. According to reports, the woman was cooking an egg in the microwave when it exploded, leaving her skin to peel from her face. The woman, a 37-year-old mother was in “absolute agony” after making a poached egg, which entailed boiling some water in a mug before adding the egg and putting it in the microwave for a “couple of minutes” until cooked.

According to independent.com.uk, when she put a cold spoon on the egg, it erupted “like a fountain” and scalded the right side of her face – leaving her in the “most excruciating” pain of her life.

Don’t cook eggs in microwave (representative) (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

“I just don’t want anyone else going through that, because it is trending on TikTok…It was the most excruciating pain in my life. It was a terrifying time for me. I was in absolute agony. As soon as I put the cold spoon in, it exploded like a fountain and it scalded me. I put my face under the tap and then had to get my mate to look after my daughter so I could go to A&E (hospital),” she told the outlet.

She recalled that she boiled the kettle, half-filled the mug with water, put salt, the egg, and microwaved it for a minute. “It wasn’t cooked, so I put it in for another minute. After it happened, I put my face under the tap for 20 mins. But the burning lasted for 12 hours. It just didn’t stop,” she continued.

Why cooking shelled eggs in a microwave is dangerous

Experts agree that cooking eggs with their shells on in a microwave is dangerous. “This can be a dangerous way to cook an whole egg as the shell can hold heat and steam, which on handling can cause an explosion of the boiling egg and shell pieces,” said Yogita Chavan, dietitian, Godrej Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.

In simple words, even after removing the egg from the microwave, it continues to cook.

You can make scrambled eggs in the microwave (representative) (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Agreeing, Dr Santosh Pandey, acupuncturist and naturopath, Rejua Energy Center, Mumbai urged everyone to never cook an egg with its shell in the microwave. “It will explode. Instead of keeping it directly, poke a hole in the bottom of the shell and microwave or place the eggs in the bottom of a microwave-safe bowl and pour warm water above the eggs. Add 1-2 pinch of salt into the bowl to avoid an explosion,” said Dr Pandey.

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Also Read | From peeling garlic to making hot compress: Microwave hacks that will make your life easier

What else can help?

Chavan suggested that if you want to cook eggs in the microwave, try making a scramble which can be a safe and easy way to have microwaved eggs.

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