Name: Exactly How To Reheat Scrambled Eggs
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 portion scrambled eggs; 1 portion water (hot, not boiling)

Table of Contents

Is it even breakfast without scrambled eggs?

They don’t take long to cook, but even a 2 minute saving in the morning can help when you’re not a morning person.

Can you prepare your scrambled eggs in advance and reheat them later without them turning into a rubbery mess?

I tested four different ways of reheating scrambled eggs to find out.

The best way to reheat scrambled eggs is in a hot water bath. Place your scrambled eggs in a freezer bag. Fill a bowl with hot water from the tap or kettle (not boiling) and rest the eggs in the water for 5-10 minutes. Check if they’re warm, and if not, return them to the bowl for a further 1-2 minutes.

A note on my experiment

I cooked up a big batch of creamy scrambled eggs and (after eating my fill) left them in the fridge overnight.

The next day, I tested reheating them in the following ways:

In the microwave (convenient but risky)
In hot water (won’t overcook your eggs)
On the stove (okay but might as well make fresh eggs)
In the oven (good for big portions)

Reheating scrambled eggs in hot water is the safest way to ensure you don’t overcook them, but it’s not the fastest.

The microwave was fast and can work okay on low power. The stove also works fine if you use low heat, but both methods will cook your eggs slightly.

The oven works well for large quantities, perfect for make-ahead eggs before entertaining.

Related: Best Way To Reheat An Omelette

Tips for make-ahead scrambled eggs

If you know you’re going to have a few busy mornings, make-ahead scrambled eggs are a perfect breakfast solution.

They keep well in the fridge, and you can easily reheat them in the microwave or a water bath at work.

Here are some tips for getting the most out of your make-ahead eggs.

Combine your scrambled egg mixture with some milk, cream, sour cream, or soft cheese to help keep them moist during storage.
Try not to add too many watery veggies. Leafy greens, in particular, release water in storage and will turn your eggs soggy when you reheat them.
Make-ahead scrambled eggs are best if you slightly undercook them the first time. Then they’ll still have a creamy texture after you reheat them.
Another option is to store your scrambled egg mixture raw and cook it up fresh in the microwave just before you want to eat it. Keep any cooked veggie or meat extras separately.

Reheating scrambled eggs in the microwave

Place your leftover scrambled eggs in a microwave-safe bowl and cover them with a damp paper towel. Heat on medium (50% power) in 30-second intervals until piping hot. Drain any excess water from the bowl before serving your eggs.

Gently stir or fold your eggs at each stop to ensure even heating.

How to reheat scrambled eggs in the microwave:

Transfer your leftover scrambled eggs into a microwave-safe bowl.
Cover the bowl with a piece of damp paper towel.
Heat on medium (50% power) in 30-second intervals until steaming.
Drain excess water and serve immediately.

Using a lower heat setting reduces your risk of ending up with yucky, rubbery eggs.

For smaller portions of eggs, reduce your heating intervals to 20 seconds at a time.

Using short intervals to reheat eggs means you can serve them as soon as they’re hot, to make sure you don’t overcook them.

An ideal temperature for warmed-up eggs is 165°F (75°C). You can test this with a kitchen thermometer if you have one.

My verdict

This microwave is great if you’re in a hurry, but there’s a high chance your eggs will come out a bit rubbery.

That being said, they tasted perfectly okay, just not as fresh as the previous day.

One thing to watch out for is if you have veggies mixed into your eggs. Greens like spinach hold a lot of water and don’t reheat well in the microwave.

Reheating scrambled eggs in hot water

Place your leftover scrambled eggs in a zip-lock freezer bag. Fill a bowl with hot water from the tap or kettle (not boiling) and rest your egg package in the water for 5-10 minutes. Check if they’re warm, and if not, return them to the bowl for a further 1-2 minutes. Serve immediately.

Try to remove as much air from the bag as possible before sealing it to ensure your eggs have close contact with the warm water bath.

How to reheat scrambled eggs in hot water:

Transfer your scrambled eggs into a freezer bag and remove the excess air.
Fill a container or bowl with hot water from the tap/kettle/coffee machine.
Rest your eggs in the water bath for 5-10 minutes. The exact timings will vary depending on how much scrambled egg you have. If you have a lot of eggs, use several freezer bags.
Check if warm, and if not, return to the water for a further 1-2 minutes.
Serve immediately.

Use water that is hot but not boiling, or you’ll end up overcooking your eggs (and possibly melting your bag).

To speed up the process, it may help to smoosh your eggs around a bit to distribute the heat.

This is an indirect reheating technique, so there’s less chance of overcooking your eggs and losing their signature fluffy texture.

My verdict

This method delivered excellent results, warming my eggs without cooking them any further or altering the texture.

It’s also convenient, especially for an office environment.

Reheating scrambled eggs on the stove

Set a skillet over low heat on your stove. Grease it with a bit of butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking. Add your eggs and sprinkle them lightly with water. Stir the eggs frequently for 2-3 minutes. If you have a lot of eggs, using a lid can help trap moisture.

Adding water remoisturizes your eggs if they’ve gone dry in the fridge.

How to reheat scrambled eggs on the stove:

Set a skillet over low heat.
Coat it lightly with cooking spray or butter.
Add in your eggs and sprinkle them with water.
Heat the scrambles eggs for 2-3 minutes (stirring frequently).
Once hot and steamy, remove and serve immediately.

Spread out your eggs as much as possible in the pan to ensure even (and quick) heating.

You want the eggs to be in and out of the pan as fast as possible.

If you’re cooking sides or extras, you can use the same pan and just add your leftover eggs last to reheat.

They taste AMAZING if there’s a little bit of bacon grease in the pan.

My verdict

This method worked okay, but if you’re going to be using the stove anyway, you’re better off making fresh eggs.

You won’t be saving much time or clean-up with this method, so why not opt for the fresher option?

Reheating scrambled eggs in the oven

Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Transfer your leftover scrambled eggs into a greased, oven-safe dish. Cover with foil, and warm for 10-15 minutes. Check and stir your eggs occasionally, making sure to re-cover them before returning to the oven. Serve once hot.

Covering your eggs with foil steams them and prevents them from drying out.

How to reheat scrambled eggs in the oven:

Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
Place your leftover eggs in a greased (with butter or oil) oven-safe baking dish.
Cover the dish with foil.
Warm your eggs for 10-15 minutes, occasionally stirring. Add some extra moisture (e.g milk) if the eggs seem like they’re drying out.
Serve immediately once hot.

Greasing your dish prevents the eggs from sticking or burning to the bottom.

If your eggs have gone a bit dry and clumpy in the fridge, you can add some butter, milk, or water and stir it through to re-moisturize them.

For a delicious treat, uncover your eggs right at the end of heating and sprinkle grated cheese on top.

Heat until melted or switch on the broiler for a crispy topping.

My verdict

Given how long this method takes, it’s not worth it for a small portion.

However, for large quantities of scrambled eggs, it works well.

You’ll end up with tender, fresh-tasting eggs that are well cooked but not rubbery (as long as you don’t forget about them).

How to store scrambled eggs

Scrambled eggs store well in the fridge and can be kept for 3-4 days. Cool the eggs to room temperature, then transfer them into an airtight container. You can also store the scrambled eggs in a zip-lock freezer bag. This option is convenient if you plan to reheat them in a water bath.

Letting your eggs cool to room temperature first prevents a build-up of condensation in your container, which could turn your eggs soggy.

Can you freeze scrambled eggs?

You can freeze cooked or raw scrambled eggs. They’re best used within three months but can be kept for up to six months. Cooked eggs should be transferred into freezer bags with the air removed at a slightly undercooked consistency. Raw eggs should be pre-mixed and kept in an airtight container.

To portion raw eggs, you may even want to consider freezing them in sealable ice-cube trays.

How to freeze scrambled eggs (cooked):

Cool your leftover scrambled eggs to room temperature.
Transfer your desired portion sizes into zip-lock freezer bags.
Remove the excess air by submerging in water while sealing.
Mark and use within six months.

As with fridge storage, it’s best to avoid using lots of watery vegetables in the scrambled eggs.

Vegetables like tomatoes or mushrooms can get very mushy in the freezer and give the scrambled eggs a weird texture.

You can keep several portions of scrambled eggs in the same freezer bag by just drawing lines in the eggs with your hands.

Lay the freezer bag flat in the freezer until it’s frozen solid to keep the portions separate.

How to freeze scrambled eggs (raw):

Whisk the raw eggs with a fork until well mixed.
Transfer your scrambled egg mixture into an airtight freezer-safe container or ice-cube tray.
Mark and use within six months.

Don’t add extras to your liquid mixture before freezing your raw eggs.

Store any extras you want to add separately and then add them just before cooking the eggs.

If you use an ice cube tray, you can transfer the eggy-ice-cubes to a freezer bag once they’re frozen solid.

They won’t stick together, so you’ll be able to take one or two out at a time.

How to thaw and reheat frozen scrambled eggs

You can thaw frozen scrambled eggs overnight in the fridge. Alternatively, defrost them in the microwave on your absolute lowest setting, checking regularly. You can also submerge them in a bowl of cold water until soft (changing the water every 30 minutes).

Once thawed, reheat your eggs in the microwave, in a skillet, or using a hot water bath.

Read Next: How To Reheat Hollandaise