Baking eggs in their shells is a convenient alternative to boiling them on the stovetop. However, it’s important to understand the potential risks and benefits before attempting this method.
Risks of Baking Eggs in Their Shells
1. Exploding Eggs:
The most significant risk associated with baking eggs in their shells is the potential for them to explode. This occurs when the steam generated inside the egg rapidly expands due to the high temperature, causing the shell to burst. This can be dangerous, as the hot egg contents can splatter and cause burns.
2. Uneven Cooking:
Baking eggs in their shells can result in uneven cooking, with the whites becoming overcooked while the yolks remain runny. This is because the heat penetrates the shell unevenly, leading to inconsistent temperatures within the egg.
3. Brown Spots:
The high temperatures in the oven can cause brown spots to appear on the shells of baked eggs. These spots are harmless but may affect the appearance of the eggs.
Benefits of Baking Eggs in Their Shells
1. Convenience:
Baking eggs in their shells is a convenient method, as it requires minimal preparation and attention. You simply place the eggs in a muffin tin or on a baking sheet and bake them for the desired time.
2. Easy Peeling:
Baked eggs are generally easier to peel than boiled eggs. The high temperature of the oven helps to loosen the membrane between the shell and the egg white, making peeling a breeze.
3. Flavor:
Some people prefer the flavor of baked eggs, as the high temperature caramelizes the sugars in the egg white, resulting in a slightly sweet and nutty taste.
Tips for Baking Eggs in Their Shells
1. Use older eggs:
Older eggs are generally easier to peel than fresh eggs. This is because the pH level of the egg white changes over time, making it less adhesive to the shell.
2. Preheat the oven:
Preheat the oven to the desired temperature before placing the eggs inside. This helps to ensure even cooking.
3. Bake for 30 minutes:
Bake the eggs for 30 minutes at 325°F (160°C) for hard-boiled eggs. For soft-boiled eggs, reduce the baking time to 20 minutes.
4. Cool immediately:
After baking, immediately transfer the eggs to an ice bath to stop the cooking process and make them easier to peel.
5. Peel immediately:
For the easiest peeling, peel the eggs immediately after cooling them in the ice bath.
Baking eggs in their shells is a convenient and effective method for cooking hard-boiled or soft-boiled eggs. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks and follow the proper techniques to ensure safe and successful results. By using older eggs, preheating the oven, baking for the appropriate time, and cooling the eggs immediately, you can enjoy perfectly cooked and easy-to-peel baked eggs.
When making large batches of eggs, “hard-boiling” them in the oven yields consistent results with minimal fuss or attention needed.
We apologize, but it appears that there is a problem with the video. Please refresh the page or try again in a moment. If you continue to have issues, please contact us here.
Stovetop cooking is the best method for cooking eggs in their shells. Eggs can be cooked in two different ways on a stovetop: in boiling water or by steaming them in a basket slightly above shallow boiling water. In either case, the eggs are cooked through and the internal temperature rises gradually as the water heats (Pillsbury). Once more, the eggs are kept from building up pressure from steam inside the yolk by the gradual rise in temperature. Some people are adamant that adding vinegar, salt, or even baking soda to the water will result in easy-peel eggs.
Eggs explode in the microwave when they are cooked inside or even outside of their shells. Steam builds up inside the yolk of a microwave faster than it can escape due to the microwave’s rapid heating (via Incredible Egg). This causes the steam to explode because it bursts out of the shell with a lot of force. Because of this, pricking the yolk of an uncooked or unscrambled egg before microwaving it is imperative. This functions as a sort of vent to let steam out, preventing the egg from blowing up through the shell or the egg white during cooking.
Unless youre a fan of dangerous shell shrapnel from what is essentially an egg grenade that could end any food fight, you shouldnt microwave eggs in their shells. In all seriousness, this food hack of boiling an egg in the microwave actually sent a woman in England to the hospital with burns on her face. She tried what was billed as a “boiled egg hack” in the microwave, and the eggs exploded causing burns (via Eater). Keep in mind that steam burns are particularly bad because they essentially burn twice — once as steam on the surface of the skin and a second time when the vapor soaks through the first layer of skin where it then condenses, which is why steam can cause second-degree burns (via Science Daily).
If you need to make boiled eggs for a crowd and do not have the time to boil batches of eggs, however, there is a way to bake eggs in their shells inside the oven. Simply heat the oven (325 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit) and place eggs inside muffin tins and bake for around 30 minutes. Once the eggs come out, they should go straight into an ice bath to cool. The slow heating of the eggs in the oven should also mean they wont explode. Though this is a handy hack, it is worth noting that the eggs dont taste exactly the same as when boiled on the stovetop (via The Kitchn).
Baking Eggs In the Oven – In The Shell!
FAQ
Can you cook eggs with the shell?
Can you cook an egg in the shell without boiling it?
What is it called when you cook an egg in its shell?
Is it safe to bake an egg?
Can You bake eggs in the shell?
The baked eggs are commonly known as shirred eggs. Eggs in the shell can be baked. You can bake them in the oven. Just put the eggs in muffin tins and put them in the oven. Heat the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. However, you cannot bake eggs in the shell in the microwave. In fact, you should avoid it.
Can You bake boiled eggs in a muffin tin?
If you need to make boiled eggs for a crowd and do not have the time to boil batches of eggs, however, there is a way to bake eggs in their shells inside the oven. Simply heat the oven (325 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit) and place eggs inside muffin tins and bake for around 30 minutes.
How do you hard boil eggs in the oven?
The steps for how to hard boil eggs in the oven are super simple: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and place eggs into a muffin tin. Bake for 20-30 minutes (see the time chart below for how long to bake eggs in the oven!) Plunge the eggs into ice water for 10 minutes. That’s it – you can make soft or hard eggs in the oven in no time!
Should you bake hard boiled eggs?
Surprisingly, popping your eggs into the oven to bake makes perfect hard boiled eggs every time; the egg shells don’t splinter or crack and internally the eggs cook in the exact same way. What’s more, you get to skip scrubbing your dishes and just get right to enjoying your eggs!