How To Reheat Boiled Eggs – I Test 3 Methods [Pics]

This article was updated on 9th September 2023 for freshness and to incorporate new insights.

Boiled eggs are quick to cook, but even saving two minutes in the morning can make a difference. So can you prepare them in bulk and reheat them later?

The answer is yes! Warming them up is surprisingly fast, easy, and hassle-free. In a rush?

The best way to reheat boiled eggs is to submerge them in boiling water for 10 minutes. This warms the egg without cooking it further, so it’s great for hard and soft-boiled eggs.

How I tested reheating boiled eggs

For convenience’s sake, I often boil a whole batch of eggs in one go and keep them for later, which means I’ve become a pro at reheating them.

The methods I’ve experimented with in the past include:

• Using hot water: Best method overall
• In the microwave: Risky.
• Steaming: Similar to the hot water method.

Reheating boiled eggs with hot water

Time: 10 minutes
Rating: 10/10

1. Boil some water on the stove or in a kettle (you can also use the microwave or a coffee machine).
2. Remove the water from the heat source and submerge your boiled eggs in it.
3. Cover the pot with a lid and allow your eggs to warm for 10 minutes.
4. Remove the eggs from the pot, pat them dry, and serve.

10 minutes is a suggested time frame for eggs without their shells. The whites will be warm, but the yolk may still be a bit cold. Leave your eggs submerged for a few minutes longer for a warmer yolk or if they’re in their shells. There’s no risk of the eggs cooking because the water will be cooling down.

Pro tip: If you want to reheat your eggs on the go, put some boiling water in a flask and take that with you, ready to pop the eggs into when you want to warm them.

Results: This method is low-risk, low-fuss, and effective. My egg whites were nice and warm, and while the yolk wasn’t particularly hot, it hadn’t cooked further. This is a residual rather than a direct heating method, so it works well for soft-boiled eggs too.

Reheating boiled eggs in the microwave

Time: 20 seconds
Rating: 5/10

1. Peel your boiled eggs and cut them into halves or slices.
2. Place on a microwave-safe plate.
3. Sprinkle them with some water and cover with a lid, or use a piece of damp paper towel.
4. Microwave in 2×10-second intervals.
5. If you’d like the eggs warmer, pop them back into the microwave in 5-second intervals until heated to your liking.

Reheating eggs in the microwave is risky because they can explode. Slicing your eggs reduces the chances of this, but it’s still not guaranteed which is why I recommend covering it with a lid or some sort of shield, like a paper towel, to contain it (if the worst happens).

If you want to keep the egg whole, submerge it in cold water before putting it in the microwave.

It’s also easy to overheat eggs and turn them rubbery in the microwave. Sticking to short warming intervals helps prevent this.

Results: This method worked well in the sense that I ended up with a nice warm egg super quickly (much quicker than cooking one fresh), but the texture was a little rubbery. The microwave also cooked the yolk a bit more.

Reheating boiled eggs by steaming

Time: 2-3 minutes
Rating: 7/10

1. Set up your steamer.
2. Add water to the lower compartment and bring it to the boil.
3. Place your eggs in the steamer basket and cover with a lid.
4. Warm for 2-3 minutes, turning once at the halfway mark.
5. Remove from the basket and serve.

If you don’t have a steamer, you can improvise by using a regular pot, a colander or a sieve, and a lid.

Results: While this method works well, it’s no better than heating your eggs in a hot water bath and therefore feels like unnecessary effort.

Why do boiled eggs explode in the microwave?

In case you’re interested…

When you cook an egg, it turns from its uncooked liquid state to a solid form. However, some liquid may remain in tiny “water pockets” even after the egg is fully cooked. These water pockets can overheat to a point exceeding boiling water in the microwave, which the egg’s delicate shell cannot contain.

The result is generally a loud bang and bits of egg flying everywhere (check the video to see).

How to store boiled eggs

You can keep boiled eggs in the fridge for up to 7 days, and you can store them peeled or unpeeled. For unpeeled eggs, simply keep them in an airtight container. If you’ve peeled the eggs, wrap them in a damp paper towel before putting them in the airtight container.

The damp paper towel will stop the eggs drying out, but you need to change them every two days. You can also submerge the eggs in cold water instead of using paper towels.

Can you freeze boiled eggs?

Hard-boiled egg yolks freeze well, but egg whites don’t. Frozen egg whites will turn watery, tough, and inedible once you reheat them. For this reason, you’ll need to separate the yolks from your whites before freezing them.

Frozen egg yolks retain their best quality in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Psst… a handy use for leftover egg yolks is for thickening runny deviled eggs.

How to freeze boiled eggs:

1. Cool your eggs to room temperature and separate the yolks from the egg whites.
2. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
3. Spread your egg yolks out on the baking tray and freeze for 1-2 hours.
4. Once hard, transfer your yolks into an airtight zip-lock bag.
5. Remove the excess air while sealing.
6. Return your yolks to the freezer and use them within 6 months.

Flash-freezing your yolks prevents them from sticking together and makes it easier to grab your desired portion for reheating.

Removing the air from your zip-lock bag will keep them fresher for longer and reduce the risk of freezer burn. The best way to remove the air is to dunk the bag in a bowl of water while sealing it. The water will force the air out.

To thaw boiled egg yolks, leave them overnight in the fridge until they’re soft and ready to be reheated. Alternatively, run the sealed package under cold running water until they defrost.

How To Reheat Boiled Eggs [Tested Methods]

In this short recipe, I show you the best way to revive and reheat your leftover boiled eggs.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: boiled eggs, reheat boiled eggs

Prep Time: 0 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 155kcal

Ingredients

• 1 portion boiled eggs

Instructions

• Boil some water on the stove or in a kettle.
• Remove the water from the heat source and submerge your boiled eggs in it.
• Cover the pot with a lid and allow your eggs to warm for 4-5 minutes (minimum, longer is fine too).
• Remove the eggs from the pot, pat them dry, and serve.

Notes

You can also boil water in the microwave or even a coffee machine!

4-5 minutes is a suggested time frame. The whites will be warm, but the yolk may still be a bit cold.

There’s no harm in leaving the eggs in the water for longer than 4-5 minutes because the water will be cooling down, so there’s no risk of overcooking the eggs.

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 155kcal