No-Fail Microwave Hard Boiled Eggs

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Microwave hard boiled eggs are very easy, with no risk of leaving pots boiling dry on a stovetop. Perfect for busy people (parents, college students) and kids learning their way around the kitchen.

A side plate with two pieces of grilled toast, one topped with four pieces of hard boiled eggs and sprigs of parsley.

Why This Recipe Works

Fool Proof
A great way for kids (and busy mums) to prepare hard boiled eggs with no risk of leaving a pot unattended on the stove.
Perfect eggs every time.

Ingredients you will need

salt (optional)
baking soda (optional)
tap water
egg

A ceramic bowl of egg, next to two ramekins holding white powders.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutes

Salt: This is an optional ingredient. Adding salt to the water when you boil an egg reduces leakage of egg white into the water if you do happen to accidentally damage the shell during the cooking process.
Baking soda: This is an optional ingredient. Adding baking soda to the water when you boil an egg can help make the egg easy to peel once it is cooked.
Water and Eggs are essential when you are hard boiling an egg, they can't be left out or substituted for anything else. (Lol, I usually do provide ingredient substitutes but when it comes to boiling an egg you will need an egg and some water to boil it in!)

How to boil eggs in the microwave

Below are illustrated step-by-step instructions demonstrating how to boil an egg with a microwave. recipe, if you prefer just the written instructions then head straight to the printable recipe card below.

Step one: In a microwave safe-bowl or jug large enough to hold the egg and water, dissolve the salt and baking soda.

Baking soda and salt in the bottom of a round microwave proof dish.

Step two: Carefully lower the egg/s into the water being sure not to crack the shells. Make sure the eggs are completely submerged in the water and have around 1-2 centimetres of water covering them.

An egg in a microwave proof cup filled with water.

Step three:

One egg: Microwave on high for 4 minutes then leave to stand for 4 minutes
Four eggs: Microwave on high for 10 minutes then leave to stand for 5 minutes

Three eggs visible in a microwave proof bowl filled with water.

Step four Cool the egg by either running it under cold water or plunging it into a bowl of ice water. (Be careful when you remove the eggs from the microwave as your eggs are now in hot water!).

Four brown shelled eggs in a bowl of iced water. — Hard boiled eggs cooling in an ice water bath

Peel, season with salt and pepper

Enjoy!

5 halves of hard boiled eggs on a wooden chopping board.

An infographic showing the cook times for microwave boiled eggs in a 1100 W microwave for one and four eggs at a time.

Top Tips and FAQs

Here is how you can make these microwave eggs perfectly every time!

Cooking Times: My microwave is an 1100 watt microwave and the cook times I provide are based on my microwave at high power. Your cook times might be different depending on the wattage of your microwave and there might be a little trail and error for the first few times you boil your eggs in the microwave. BUT... once you have the cook times sorted for your microwave you will know for ever and ever and be able to cook perfect hard boiled eggs every time.
To serve hard boiled eggs for babies you can mash the egg with a little milk, breast milk or formula and offer on a spoon or spread on toast. Chopped or sliced hard boiled eggs can be tricky for babies to pick up as a finger food as they are slippery.
Soft Boiled Eggs: To make soft boiled eggs in your microwave you need to reduce the cook times a little. In my microwave the cook time for a soft egg yolk for one egg: Microwave on high for 2.5 minutes then leave to stand for 2.5 minutes : For four eggs: Microwave on high for 9.5 minutes then leave to stand for 6 minutes.
Runny Egg Yolk: (ie a dippy egg) In my microwave the cook time for a runny egg yolk for one egg: Microwave on high for 2 minutes then leave to stand for 3 minutes : For four eggs: Microwave on high for 9 minutes then leave to stand for 6 minutes.

An egg in an egg cup with a spoon resting in its runny egg yolk. Text overlay: dippy egg yolk.

How long can I store hard boiled eggs in the fridge?

Hard boiled eggs that are cooled promptly after cooking and stored I the refrigerator can be stored in their shell for up to one week.

A stainless steel lunch box packed with a sandwich, cucumber sticks and a hard boiled egg cut in half.

Baked beans on toast topped with a hard boiled eggs and sprigs of parsley.

Microwave hard boiled eggs

How to hard boiled eggs in the microwave, perfect for busy and easily distracted people, no risk of boiling a pot dry on the stovetop. Cook just one in a cup or in blue to store in the fridge for later.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: New Zealand

Keyword: microwave hard boiled eggs, hard boiled eggs in the microwave

Servings: serving

Calories: 63kcal

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Ingredients

½ teaspoons salt (4 eggs) 2 teaspoons
¼ teaspoon baking soda (4 eggs) 1 teaspoon
¾ cup tap water (4 eggs) 3-4 cups
1 egg (4 eggs)

Instructions

Prep

In a microwave proof dish or jug large enough to hold the egg and water, dissolve the salt and baking soda.
Carefully lower the egg/s into the water being sure not to crack the shells. Make sure the eggs are completely submerged in the water and have around 1 centimetre of water covering them.

One egg

Microwave on high for 4 minutes then leave to stand for 4 minutes
Cool the egg by either running it under cold water or plunging it into a bowl of iced water.

Four eggs

Microwave on high for 10 minutes then leave to stand for 5 minutes
Cool the egg by either running it under cold water or plunging it into a bowl of iced water.

Notes

Cooking Times: My microwave is an 1100 watt microwave and the cook times I provide are based on my microwave at high power. Your cook times might be different depending on the wattage of your microwave and there might be a little trail and error for the first few times you boil your eggs in the microwave. BUT... once you have the cook times sorted for your microwave you will know for ever and ever and be able to cook perfect hard boiled eggs every time.

To serve hard boiled eggs for babies you can mash the egg with a little milk, breast milk or formula and offer on a spoon or spread on toast. Chopped or sliced hard boiled eggs can be tricky for babies to pick up as a finger food as they are slippery.

Soft Boiled Eggs: To make soft boiled eggs in your microwave you need to reduce the cook times a little. In my microwave the cook time for a soft egg yolk for one egg: Microwave on high for 2.5 minutes then leave to stand for 2.5 minutes : For four eggs: Microwave on high for 9.5 minutes then leave to stand for 6 minutes.

Runny Egg Yolk: (ie a dippy egg) In my microwave the cook time for a runny egg yolk for one egg: Microwave on high for 2 minutes then leave to stand for 3 minutes : For four eggs: Microwave on high for 9 minutes then leave to stand for 6 minutes.

Nutrition

Microwave hard boiled eggs

Why This Recipe Works

Ingredients you will need

Ingredient Notes and Substitutes