We eat a lot of eggs in our house! They are an excellent source or protein and nutrients while working perfectly in many delicious dishes.
And my husband has been eat a ton of hard and soft boiled eggs recently. He is upping his protein intake and takes them on the go for a healthy, protein packed snack.
This has led me to experimenting with different ways to prepare eggs and this got me thinking about whether or not you can reboil eggs.
After some experimenting with different methods I was surprised with the results!
Can You Recook Boiled Eggs?
Yes you can! If you are careful about how and how long you cook them, you can safely reheat a hard or soft boiled egg. I have found that each method does alter the texture and taste of the egg but they are completely safe when thoroughly cooked and it prevents throwing them out.
I will show you each way to tackle reheating a boiled egg and which one I prefer the most.
How To Reheat A Boiled Egg
Important: Each of these methods is for an egg that has already been boiled and then cooled. These are not the way to complete an underboiled egg. I will tell you how to do that later in this article.
I’ve seen people try and reheat an egg in the microwave but this results in a rubbery and dry egg. Not the most appetizing!
It’s safe to eat and if you smother it cheese or sauce it might be tolerable but honestly, it’s just not the way to go.
You also risk it exploding and causing a huge mess!
I’ve found the best ways to recook an egg is on the stovetop. Reboiling consistently produces the best results.
This also works for taking a soft boiled egg and turning it into a hard boiled egg. So if that is something you want to do, go with the stovetop.
How To Re-Boil An Egg On The Stove
First, use a pot deep enough to fully submerge the egg in water. Place the egg in gently (to avoid cracking it) and cover with cold water.
Then turn on the heat and bring to boil.
Once boiling, set your timer for 2 minutes. Don’t set it too high because you don’t want the egg to cook too long and get overdone.
Then remove the egg from the water and place on a paper towel for cooling.
How To Reheat Boiled Eggs In The Microwave
While I don’t recommend this method for the reasons stated above, I understand there are times when you don’t have access to a stove. And in that case, use this method for microwaving your eggs.
Put a paper towel wrapped around the egg (or use an egg cup for some eggs) and microwave it for 2 minutes.
If you find your yolks are still cool, you can scoop them out and microwave the yolk for an additional 45 seconds.
How To Reboil Undercooked Hard Boiled Eggs
So this is an entirely different situation and to do this you will need to use the stovetop method.
Instead of leaving them in cold water to cool, take your eggs and place them in a pot of cold water.
Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover and remove from heat. Let them sit for 12-15 minutes (more for chewy yolks) and then use the same technique above to reheat your eggs and gently place in cold water if needed later.
How Long Do Recooked Eggs Last?
Any of these methods of reheating hard boiled eggs will increase the shelf life of the egg up to 1 week. (minus how many days they were stored before recooking)
If you are using any other method, I would only keep them for 1 day maximum.
How To Prevent an Exploding Egg In The Microwave
The best way to avoid an exploding egg is to never microwave it. But if you are going to use a microwave, you can try the following method.
Crack an egg into a bowl and heat it in 30 second increments until cooked through.
Then cook for 60 seconds before removing from the microwave.
Can You Boil An Egg Too Long?
So this is a pretty common question and most people are concerned that they might have overcooked an egg.
While I can’t assure you that this isn’t the case if it’s overcooked, I will clarify a few things.
You will know if an egg is overcooked by looking for a green ring around the yolk, the whites changing color or texture, or smell.
If you are unsure, just remove the egg from the water.
Some people like to use a thermometer to make sure their eggs are cooked and about 165 degrees F.
How Long To Boil An Egg For A Runny Yolk
To soft boil an egg bring a pot of water to a boil and place eggs in as gently as possible.
Cover the pot and remove from heat. Let sit for 10 minutes depending on how you like your yolk.
Is It Safe To Eat Undercooked Boiled Eggs?
No. It is completely unsafe to eat undercooked eggs.
While it is slightly safer to eat undercooked eggs than raw eggs, the risk of salmonella still remains. You should avoid eating undercooked or raw eggs.
Conclusion
You now know after reading this article that there are several different ways to reheat hard boiled eggs, just like there multiple ways of cooking original.
I recommend the stovetop method for two reasons.
Eggs have a better shape and texture when they are cooked properly and the end result is far superior to microwaved eggs. But if you are on the go and don’t have access to a stovetop, use the microwave method above for decent results.