On any given morning, most people are in a rush to either get to their jobs or school on time, so when you’re in this scenario, the easiest thing to do is usually just grab some cereal or waffles.
However, if you have one minute to spare per egg, then you can quickly cook sunny-side-up eggs for yourself and maybe even your roommates or family members.
Can You Microwave Sunny Side Up Eggs?
You can cook sunny-side up eggs in a microwave.
Here’s the short instruction for how to cook sunny-side-up eggs in the microwave.
Preheat your plate, and coat it with a half tablespoon of butter oil. Crack your egg open and pour it onto the plate. Microwave for about 45 seconds. Sprinkle with salt and pepper before serving.
However, it is not always the best idea to cook sunny-side-up eggs in a microwave. This is because of how microwaves work; most microwaves will basically “bake” food for you by constantly moving the molecules inside your food around with electromagnetic waves.
Because of this, if you try to make something like sunny-side-up eggs in a microwave, the york will likely still be runny inside, but the egg whites are about 90% of the way cooked, giving you the end result that resembles more like an over-easy egg than a sunny-side-up egg.
That said, this does not mean that you can’t cook sunny-side-up eggs in a microwave. It just means that you need to be a bit more cautious when cooking them this way.
How To Make Sunny-Side Up Eggs in the Microwave
The perfect sunny-side-up egg requires the right temperature and the right timing. When it comes to timing, a lot of people recommend cooking sunny-side-up eggs in the microwave for at least 45 seconds.
It’s also important to note that microwaves vary from home to home, so if your microwave is more powerful or less powerful, then you might have to adjust this value accordingly.
In any case, here are step-by-step instructions on how to cook a sunny-side-up egg in a microwave:
1. Take a Microwave-Safe Plate and Pre-Heat It
The first thing you need to do before cooking sunny-side-up eggs in the microwave is to preheat the plate. You can use any microwave-safe plate for this, although ceramic plates are the safest bet.
After picking out a suitable plate, heat it up in the microwave for about 15 seconds. It’s not absolutely essential that you do this, but it will help your sunny-side-up egg warm up faster.
2. Coat the Plate
For this step, you can use cooking spray or if you don’t have cooking spray, you can just add a half tablespoon of butter or lad. They are great alternative options. You can use your fingers to spread the butter across the plate.
But if you don’t want your hands messy, you can use a piece of parchment paper or paper towel to spread it with. Just grab a piece of parchment paper and rub it gently around the plate, and voila!
3. Crack an Egg onto the plate
This is relatively straightforward; just crack open the egg and pour the egg white (and yolk) onto your plate, close to the center. There are different methods for cracking an egg including cracking on a flat surface, cracking on the side bowl, or using one hand. Choose whatever method works best for you.
4. Microwave for 45 Seconds
Cook in the microwave for approximately 45 seconds. If you notice that the whites have not fully cooked through, you can just cook it for an additional 15 seconds. Cooks until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny.
5. Season the Sunny-Side Up Egg and Serve It
There are a number of things you can season your sunny-side-up egg with, but if you’re in a rush, you can just season it with salt and pepper. You could also use soy sauce if that’s what you have on hand, or even spicy sauce if you like your eggs to have a little bit of a kick.
How Long Do You Cook A Sunny Side Up Egg In the Microwave?
The whole process should only take about 60 seconds, including pre-heating the plate. In the case of reheating, 15 to 30 seconds should be enough.
Safety Tips for Cooking Sunny-Side-Up Eggs in the Microwave
If you intend on preparing sunny-side-up eggs in a microwave, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Always use a microwave-safe plate.
- Always preheat the plate first. Never microwave an egg without preheating the plate, as the egg yolk can overcook before the egg whites are fully cooked.
- Ensure that the plate is appropriately greased before adding the egg to prevent the egg from sticking.
- Watch the egg while it is cooking to avoid overcooking.
- To prevent an explosion, you need to place the yolk at the top gently. Additionally, don’t cut the egg right away. Let it stand for 30 seconds to allow the yolk to cool off.
Is It Safe To Eat Microwaved Sunny Side-Up Eggs?
Sunny side-up eggs can be an attractive option for a quick meal, especially among kids. But are they safe to eat?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) actually recommends against eating undercooked eggs or foods containing raw eggs. The reason is because they are made with raw eggs, which means that there’s a chance of getting salmonella or another food-borne illness.
What is Salmonella anyway?
Salmonella is a bacteria and is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the United States. Eggs and poultry are two of the most common carriers of the bacteria in question, but it is not the only carrier.
They can also contaminate other types of food, such as unpasteurized juice or milk, cheese, spices, and nuts, to name a few.
The symptoms of salmonella food poisoning are usually similar to the flu. They include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours of eating the contaminated food.
While these symptoms usually subside on their own within four to seven days, but for young children (under five years old), people who are 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems, salmonella poisoning could be deadly without treatment.
The only way to avoid this is to cook your eggs thoroughly.
Despite USDA recommendations, many people still like to eat their eggs this way. But is it worth the risk? If you have children under five or are in an otherwise risky category, you would probably be better off cooking your eggs another way.
Luckily there are still plenty of options for cooking eggs safely. But, of course, sunny-side-up eggs are not the only way to enjoy eggs, so think of other ways to prepare them. You can try scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, omelets, deep-fried eggs, chopped hard-boiled eggs, and more.
Related: Is it Possible to Warm Up Fried Eggs in the Microwave and What’s the Method?
Can You Reheat Sunny Side Up Eggs In the Microwave?
Yes, it is possible to reheat your eggs as long as you do not let them sit for too long. Reheating sunny-side-up eggs is the trickiest due to the runny yolk.
Follow the steps below to reheat your sunny-side-up eggs:
- Preheat the plate by microwaving it for 15 seconds.
- Place the egg on the plate and place it inside the microwave again.
- Set the timer for 30 seconds and check the egg every 15 seconds.
- After you have warmed the egg, remove it from the microwave and allow it to cool for 30 seconds to a minute before eating it.
Remember that when reheating sunny-side-up eggs, the egg will almost always be overcooked. This is because it’s nearly impossible to reheat the previously cooked egg without thickening the yolk.
Conclusion
So can you cook sunny-side-up eggs in a microwave? The answer is yes, but it must be done carefully.
How do you make sunny-side-up eggs in a microwave? First, heat the plate, grease it with oil or butter, then crack the egg and gently place it on the plate. Next, put it in the microwave and nuke for 45 seconds. Check every 15 seconds to make sure it’s not overcooking. Once it’s done, let it sit for 30 seconds before eating.
