Is It Possible To Cook Sunny-Side Up Eggs In The Microwave?

One of the easiest foods novice cooks can learn to make is scrambled eggs. As long as you push them around a little in a pan and stop once they're no longer runny, you really can't go wrong making this staple breakfast food. Yet when looking at each state's preference for how to eat eggs, scrambled only took the top spot in West Virginia and North Carolina, according to Eat This, Not That!. Omelets, arguably one of the most difficult ways to cook eggs, was the most popular type in 27 states, followed by huevos rancheros and fried eggs.

It seems that most people surveyed shied away from sunny-side up eggs, which are simply eggs that have been cooked on one side until the whites are solid. Perhaps this is due to the fear that sunny-side up eggs aren't fully cooked, and are therefore dangerous to consume. While children under five are discouraged from eating eggs with runny yolks, according to Kitchn, older children and adults shouldn't have an issue if they're cooked properly. MasterClass reveals the American Egg Board recommends eggs reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit to be safely consumed, which sunny-side up eggs typically do.

Or maybe people eschew this cooking method because it just seems too difficult. If you're still trying to master scrambled eggs, or don't want to break out any cooking equipment, the microwave may seem like an ideal option. But can you cook sunny-side up eggs in this handy kitchen appliance?

Microwaved sunny-side up eggs are possible, but not preferred

Beginner cooks can breathe a sigh of relief, because it turns out you really don't need to learn how to cook anything to make sunny-side up eggs. Instead, you can turn to the trusty old microwave. According to MasterClass, the perfect sunny-side up egg can be achieved by cracking an egg on a plate and microwaving until the whites are set, about 45 seconds. The trick is to heat up the plate in the microwave for 15 seconds before adding the oil and egg. This method should save time, since the Food Network notes sunny-side up eggs can take up to two and a half minutes on the stove.

As you would with the stovetop method, Microwave Meal Prep advises allowing your egg to rest for a minute or so once it's out of the microwave and continues to cook. You'll also want to avoid nuking the egg for too long, as it may eventually explode or change in texture.

While it is possible to microwave your way to a sunny-side up egg, it's not the ideal method. Because of the way a microwave's electromagnetic waves heat food, your egg will most likely have more liquid than usual, according to Kitchen Appliance Answer. But if you're pressed for time or don't want to risk messing them up on the stove, microwave eggs are worth a shot.