Change how you make your eggs with this 10-minute steamed egg recipe using the microwave method. Regular steaming may take a while, so why not cook the eggs faster with a microwave? It is a quick and easy way to make steamed eggs for breakfast, a light meal, or an appetizer.
What Are Microwave Steamed Eggs?
If you have read my Steamed Egg with Minced Pork, particularly the Chinese Steamed Egg Recipe, which gained popularity on Instagram, you will know that the traditional way of cooking Chinese steamed eggs is by steaming for about 15 minutes. Now, if you are in a rush, steaming may not be the best option for you. That is why I created this recipe to share the fastest way to steam eggs using the microwave method.
Steaming the eggs with a microwave gives you the same silky and soft steamed eggs. Get the perfect texture that melts in your mouth as long as you follow my expert tips and detailed instructions in this recipe guide. In my version of microwave steamed egg, I used 2 beaten eggs mixed with warm water using an egg-to-water ratio of 1:1.5.
Heating in the microwave takes only 5 minutes, and you are done! Of course, I seasoned it with soy sauce and sesame oil to make it even more delicious. Pair this with other main dishes, such as Air-Fried Crispy Pork Belly, Shrimp Chow Fun, or Shrimp Wontons.
All About Microwave Steaming
Faster cooking time is the ultimate reason why you will love microwave steaming more than traditional steaming. Although the steamed egg may be slightly firmer than traditional steaming, it is still soft and silky overall when done right. Nevertheless, microwave steaming is a better method for a fast and convenient way of cooking.
Here are some expert tips to achieve the ideal texture and appearance:
- Cook on low heat: The trick to avoiding a wrinkly and uneven texture is heating on low heat. You want to make sure the eggs cook slowly but surely. The eggs will overcook and even burst in the microwave if cooked on high heat, giving you an uneven texture.
- Whisk and strain well: Beat the eggs until smooth, but do not also overbeat them as this will create more air bubbles. Bubbles in the eggs won’t give you a silky and smooth steamed egg. When bubbles form on top, simply remove them with a strainer. Another way to ensure a silky texture is by straining the entire mixture. In this way, it removes clumps that can cause an uneven texture.
- Use warm water: Aside from overbeating, another reason why there are air bubbles is using cold water. That is why I recommend mixing the eggs with warm water since warm water has less air and prevents the formation of bubbles. The warm water should be between 104°F and 122°F.
- Cover with plastic wrap that has tiny holes: This is important in preventing it from creating pressure while steaming, which can lead to an uneven texture. Pierce tiny holes in the plastic wrap to let the steam escape and prevent the eggs from boiling.
- Fill the container halfway: Do not overfill the container with eggs to allow enough room to rise. Make sure to use a microwave-safe container that can withstand heat.
- Follow the egg-to-water ratio of 1:1.5: In my opinion, this is the best ratio for a firm but soft and silky texture. If you want it to be less firm, then you can add more water and follow a 1:2 ratio.
- Adjust the cooking time if needed: For 2 beaten eggs, it takes about 5 minutes to cook in the microwave. However, the cooking time may vary depending on the amount of eggs and the size of the container. If you think you need more time to cook, I recommend adding 15-second intervals until you get the right texture.
The Ingredients Of Microwave Steamed Eggs
You only need 3 main ingredients: 2 eggs, salt, and warm water. To give the eggs flavor, drizzle a bit of soy sauce for umaminess and sesame oil for nuttiness. Here’s what you need to know about each ingredient’s suggestions and alternatives.
- Eggs: The eggs can be medium to large. You can increase the number of eggs, just make sure to follow the egg-to-water ratio (1:1.5)
- Salt: Salt brings out the flavor of the eggs. You can use sea salt, kosher salt, or table salt.
- Warm water: Heat water in a pan or microwave until it reaches the ideal temperature between 104°F and 122°F. I recommend using a kitchen thermometer to measure the temperature. You can swap warm water with chicken broth for an intense chicken flavor.
- Toppings: As a final touch, I cut the steamed eggs in a crisscross pattern to fully absorb the toppings. You can use sesame oil for an Asian nutty taste and soy sauce for umami and salty flavors. Aside from sesame oil, you can also use other types of oil, such as olive, avocado, and safflower oil. For the soy sauce, I recommend light soy sauce, regular soy sauce, tamari, liquid aminos, coconut aminos, or gluten-free soy sauce.
- Optional flavoring ingredients: If you like something chili, top it with chili oil or chili garlic sauce. It also pairs well with chopped green onions, dried bay scallops, and cilantro.
Ingredients And Kitchenware To Prepare
You don’t need a pan to cook the eggs, just a microwave and a microwave-safe bowl. Apart from these, prepare a mixing bowl, strainer, and whisk. These are the ingredients to prepare:
- 2 beaten eggs
- A pinch of salt
- Warm water (between 104°F and 122°F, following the egg-to-water ratio of 1:1.5)
- A drizzle of soy sauce and sesame oil
How To Make Microwave Steamed Eggs
It takes about 5 minutes to prepare the ingredients and another 5 minutes to steam them in the microwave. You can probably finish this recipe in 10 minutes or less. It’s that quick and easy!
Follow my Instagram or TikTok tutorial videos to learn more about the steps. Don’t forget to share your steamed eggs on social media by tagging me @kitchenmisadventures. Here’s how to make microwave steamed eggs:
- In a bowl, beat the eggs with a pinch of salt until the yolk and white are well combined. This can be done with chopsticks or a whisk.
- Pour warm water into the egg mixture. The water should be between 104°F and 122°F, following the egg-to-water ratio of 1:1.5.
- Whisk again and skim off any bubbles or clumps by straining it with a strainer. It should leave you with a smooth egg mixture without bubbles or clumps.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Poke small holes in the plastic wrap using a toothpick.
- Cook in the microwave for 5 minutes.
- Take out the steamed egg and make a crisscross pattern by slicing it with a knife. Creating a crisscross pattern lets the eggs absorb the toppings better.
- Drizzle soy sauce and sesame oil. Garnish with chopped green onions if you like.
If you loved this egg recipe, I recommend making Chinese Steamed Egg, Cantonese Steamed Egg Custard Buns (Nai Wong Bao), 15-Minute Bitter Melon Stir-Fried With Eggs, and How To Make Creamy Egg Pudding.
How To Make Steamed Eggs In Microwave
Ingredients
- 2 beaten eggs
- A pinch of salt
- Warm water between 104°F and 122°F, following the egg-to-water ratio of 1:1.5
- A drizzle of soy sauce and sesame oil
Instructions
- In a bowl, beat the eggs with a pinch of salt until the yolk and white are well combined. This can be done with chopsticks or a whisk.
- Pour warm water into the egg mixture. The water should be between 104°F and 122°F, following the egg-to-water ratio of 1:1.5.
- Whisk again and skim off any bubbles or clumps by straining it with a strainer. It should leave you with a smooth egg mixture without bubbles or clumps.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Poke small holes in the plastic wrap using a toothpick.
- Cook in the microwave for 5 minutes.
- Take out the steamed egg and make a crisscross pattern by slicing it with a knife. Creating a crisscross pattern lets the eggs absorb the toppings better.
- Drizzle soy sauce and sesame oil. Garnish with chopped green onions if you like.
Worse recipe ever, boiled over in microwave and had undercooked watery curds of eggs. Nothing like the picture.
Hi Dave,
I’m sorry to hear that the recipe didn’t turn out well for you.
In my experience, success with the recipe can vary depending on different microwave power levels.
I will not always success when using a different microwave.
However, the result wasn’t as smooth as expected, it might still be delicious.
The issue of undercooked, watery curds could be due to the absence of salt or a salt substitute, which acts as a coagulant in steamed eggs.
Additionally, insufficient microwave time may lead to incomplete cooking. You could try adding salt and microwaving for an extra 2 minutes.
Don’t forget to follow the egg-to-water ratio (volume) of 1:1.5
I recommend trying a regular steamed egg. Trust me, as long as you follow the steps, you’ll surely succeed. Check out the recipe at https://kitchenmisadventures.com/steamed-egg.