Fried eggs ready in 60 seconds with a chef’s no-pan microwave trick
Cooking eggs might sound straightforward, but when you're rushing in the morning, standing over a frying pan isn't exactly ideal. Making a perfect fried egg usually means hovering over the hob, fiddling with the temperature, and hoping it doesn't turn rubbery. However, Tom Ferris, an expert from Roostys, reckons there's a far simpler method, and it doesn't involve a frying pan at all. In fact, you can have your egg cooked in under a minute using just your microwave, reports the Express. This trick is handy for busy mornings or anyone stuck without a cooker. "You can make a perfect fried egg in the microwave. People are always surprised when I tell them you can make a fried-style egg in the microwave," Tom said. "It's one of the first things I learned as a teenager experimenting in the kitchen. It looks, tastes, and even feels like a fried egg, but you don't need to use a hob or lots of oil, and it's ready in about 60 seconds." The secret, Tom explains, is all about how eggs respond to heat – the whites firm up quickly when zapped with microwave energy. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info To kick things off, Tom suggests grabbing a microwave-safe bowl or mug, a sheet of kitchen roll, one egg, and a tablespoon of cooking oil. He notes that any oil will do the job, or you can swap in butter if you're after that traditional fried taste. "Start by adding the oil and swirling it around so it coats the bottom of the bowl," he said. "Then crack your egg into it and gently pierce the yolk with a fork a few times. "This is really important, because if you skip this step, the yolk can literally explode in the microwave." Then sprinkle on a pinch of salt and pepper and loosely cover the bowl with a paper towel. This allows the egg to steam slightly and prevents any messy splattering. Zap it on full power for roughly one minute, or, if your microwave is on the more powerful side, check it after 45 seconds. Once done, let the egg sit for a minute. "It'll continue to cook gently while it's standing, and that's when it gets that nice texture - firm whites and a soft yolk," Tom said. "You can lift it out with a spoon and pop it straight onto toast."
The microwave method explained
The secret, Tom explains, is all about how eggs respond to heat – the whites firm up quickly when zapped with microwave energy. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Zap it on full power for roughly one minute, or, if your microwave is on the more powerful side, check it after 45 seconds. Once done, let the egg sit for a minute. "It'll continue to cook gently while it's standing, and that's when it gets that nice texture - firm whites and a soft yolk," Tom said. "You can lift it out with a spoon and pop it straight onto toast."
Finish and serve
After cooking, the egg rests for a moment and finishes cooking from residual heat, giving a fried-egg texture: firm whites and a soft yolk, without ever needing a pan. Lift the egg gently and slide it onto a slice of toasted bread for a quick, satisfying breakfast.
