Learning to boil an egg without using a stove can come in handy for plenty of reasons. Let’s say you’re out camping, and you (obviously) don’t have a stove handy but were looking forward to some boiled eggs and toast for breakfast.
Lucky for you, I’ve got a fantastic Ziplock bag hack you can use!
Or, perhaps you’re a student with a limited budget who can’t afford the luxury of buying a stove just yet. Did you know you could boil an egg in a kettle?
Maybe you were in a rush this morning, and you forgot to boil your eggs at home and are now stuck with a bag of fresh ones (it’s happened to me on more than a few occasions). All you need is a microwave or some hot tap water!
Whatever the reason, it’s good to know there are other ways to boil eggs that don’t include the use of a stove! Now, let’s get to the fun part!
1. Boil Your Eggs in an Electric Kettle
Boiling eggs in an electric kettle is quite simple. Overall, this hack is especially useful for students since an electric kettle is way cheaper to purchase than a stove. You can find one for as low as $15!
Anyway, all you need is a kettle, some eggs, and a container full of cold water. Here’s what you need to do:
- Place the eggs inside the kettle, making sure they fit comfortably at the bottom. Keep in mind that a regular-sized kettle can usually boil approximately four eggs at a time.
- Once the eggs are inside, fill the kettle, so there’s about an inch of cold water covering them. Make sure that the eggs don’t float up when you fill the kettle, or they might end up touching the steam cut-off tube. The older the eggs, the more likely they are to float.
- Prop up the kettle using a small notepad or a stack of sticky notes. Doing so will prevent the eggs from touching the heating elements in the kettle and breaking.
- Next, switch on the kettle and let it do its magic!
- Once the water reaches the boiling point, the kettle will turn off. However, don’t take the eggs out just yet!
- If you want soft-boiled eggs, leave them in the kettle for about ten more minutes, and then take them out. On the other hand, if you’re craving hard-boiled eggs, leave them in the boiling water for fifteen or more minutes.
- When taking out the eggs, remember to drain the water first. Never reach inside the kettle with your hand to retrieve them!
- Finally, place the eggs inside the container with cold water and let them sit for a few minutes. Once they’ve cooled down, enjoy!
Here’s an article on how to boil eggs in an electric kettle, if you want more information.
A Few Additional Tips
If you want to take extra precautions before boiling eggs in an electric kettle, here’s a trick you can use to determine how fresh they are:
- Fill a container with water.
- Place the eggs inside the water.
- The eggs that drop to the bottom of the container are fresh, the ones that float are old.
It’s best to use fresh eggs when boiling them in a kettle because they’re less likely to float and touch the heating elements.
2. Boil the Eggs in a Microwave
This hack is useful if you forgot to boil your eggs before going to work. However, it requires a microwave, so, hopefully, you have one of those in the break room.
All you need is a microwavable container, some water, and eggs.
- Fill the microwaveable container with water, and put it in the microwave until the water is hot.
- Take out the container and place the eggs inside the hot water.
- Let the eggs sit for about 15 minutes.
- Use a spoon to remove the eggs and place them in cold water for a few minutes.
- Peel the shell and enjoy!
A Few Additional Tips
Ultimately, you can opt to use hot tap water if you don’t have a microwave nearby. Just remember to keep the eggs in hot water for no fewer than fifteen minutes.
However, if you plan on using a microwave, here’s an excellent trick to prevent superheating:
- Fill a microwavable container with water.
- Before you place it in the microwave, put a wooden object such as a chopstick or popsicle stick inside the container.
- Once the water starts to boil, bubbles will begin forming on the wooden object, which means you can take it out of the microwave. This trick will help you prevent the water from spilling over the side of the container.
Also remember to:
- Never put a lid on the container.
- Never boil the water for longer than one minute at a time.
3. Prepare the Eggs in a Ziploc Bag
Are you tired of eating hard-boiled eggs on your camping trip? My Ziploc bag hack can save the day!
You can easily make scrambled eggs, and all you need is a pot, some water, a Ziploc bag, eggs, and, of course, a campfire.
- Fill your pot with water until it’s more than half full.
- Place the pot on the fire and let it boil.
- Crack the eggs into the Ziploc bag. Add some ingredients such as peppers, onions, tomatoes, etc., to make eggs yummy. Shake the Ziploc bag to mix everything.
- Once the water starts to boil, add the Ziploc bag.
- Let the eggs cook until they appear solid. Feel free to take out the bag and check every once in a while, but be careful not to burn yourself.
- Once they’re cooked, take them out of the bag and enjoy!
You can also opt to leave the eggs unscrambled if you prefer. In that case, all you need to do is crack them into the bag and let them boil. That way, they’ll taste just like hard-boiled eggs (or soft-boiled, depending on how long you leave them in the pot).
A Few Additional Tips
I find that boiling eggs in a Ziploc bag is a fantastic way to have a healthy, protein-filled breakfast, even if you’re camping in the middle of nowhere. If you plan on doing so, here are a few additional things to keep in mind:
- Remember to deflate the Ziploc bag before you place it in the boiling water. Doing so will keep the eggs from floating to the surface, and, ultimately, help boil the eggs faster.
- Use two spoons or two sticks to take the Ziploc bag out of the water to prevent any accidental burns.
- Try to place the Ziploc bag in the middle of the pot. Sometimes, the pot can burn holes in the bag, causing the eggs to leak out.
4. Use an Egg Cooker
Sometimes, you need the right equipment to get the job done. And what’s the right equipment for boiling eggs? The answer is quite obvious — an egg cooker.
The cool thing about egg cookers (also known as egg boilers) is that they provide a vast range of options. You can prepare soft, medium, or hard-boiled eggs, poach them, or even make a neat omelet.
All you need in order to use an egg cooker are six eggs, some water, and (optionally) a little salt or pepper for seasoning.
- Pour the water into the cooker using the measuring cup included in the package.
- Carefully pierce the wider end of all six eggs with the pin that comes with the cooker.
- Place the eggs in the egg tray, then put the tray in the cooker.
- Turn on the appliance and set the timer; 10 minutes will do for hard-boiled eggs.
- Remove the eggs from the cooker once they’re done.
A Few Additional Tips
Egg cookers usually have everything you need for boiling eggs right there in the package. However, there are still some details you need to consider:
- Read the instructions carefully, and make sure to use the proper trays and the right amount of water.
- Use oven mitts when removing the lid of the cooker once it’s done boiling the eggs.
- If necessary, cool the eggs in cold water; remember to submerge them slowly so that they don’t crack.
Final Thoughts on Preparing Eggs Without a Stove
Eggs are an essential food in every household. Let’s face it; everyone has at least a carton lying around!
They’re full of nutrients and are considered one of the best sources of protein for every healthy diet. What’s more, I find that eggs are an incredibly versatile food that you can prepare in numerous ways.
Learning these tips for boiling eggs without a stove can help you when you’re in a sticky situation where you find yourself stoveless and hungry. I’ll admit they’ve helped me more times than I can even remember! What’s more, you’re bound to impress the people around you when you show them your Ziploc bag trick!
