Does microwaving eggs kill salmonella?

Does microwaving eggs kill salmonella? - Close-Up Shot of Painted Eggs on Egg Tray

If eggs are thoroughly washed and of course beaten before microwaving, and after the process I can find no liquid, is there a possibility that salmonella is still there, or does it die from high temperatures?



Best Answer

Microwaves do not kill bacteria, heat kills bacteria. The higher the temperature, the faster those bacteria will die off.

"Instant death" for most bacteria (including salmonella) is about 160° F (71° C). You only need a few seconds at this temperature. The notoriously strict USDA recommends 160° F for egg dishes but is considerably more lax about whole eggs and just says to cook until firm. Very few eggs are contaminated in the whites or yolks, so the risk is very low.

Pasteurization begins around 57° C (135° F), so many bacteria are killed before the egg coagulates (at 63° C / 145° F), which is why the USDA is not very strict about it; if an egg by itself is "firm" then it's generally already been hot enough for long enough to ensure safety.

Unfortunately, microwaves tend to heat (a) quickly and (b) unevenly, so if you are concerned about food safety and insist on making eggs in the microwave (not recommended), be sure to use short bursts and stir several times, otherwise you might end up with a combination of uncooked and overcooked parts, which is bad for food safety and for general taste and texture.

Note that there is not only a possibility but actually a certainty that some salmonella is still there, assuming that there was any to begin with. Cooking is equivalent to pasteurization and that does not kill every single bacterium, nor is it meant to; it just kills about 99.9999% of them which makes the cooked item safe enough to consume.




Pictures about "Does microwaving eggs kill salmonella?"

Does microwaving eggs kill salmonella? - Close-Up Shot of Painted Eggs on Egg Tray
Does microwaving eggs kill salmonella? - Close-Up Shot of Painted Eggs on Egg Tray
Does microwaving eggs kill salmonella? - White and Brown Cake on White Ceramic Plate



Quick Answer about "Does microwaving eggs kill salmonella?"

Microwaves do not kill bacteria, heat kills bacteria. The higher the temperature, the faster those bacteria will die off. "Instant death" for most bacteria (including salmonella) is about 160° F (71° C). You only need a few seconds at this temperature.

Can salmonella survive the microwave?

Studies have shown that both E. coli and Salmonella can survive inside the microwave.

Is it safe to eat eggs cooked in the microwave?

Is Cooking Eggs in the Microwave Safe? Yes, it is safe to cook eggs in the microwave, whether you wish to poach, scramble, or \u201cfry\u201d your eggs. Sometimes, microwaved eggs taste even better than stovetop eggs.

What temperature kills salmonella in eggs?

"To kill salmonella you have to cook eggs to 160 degrees Fahrenheit," she wrote. "At that temperature they are no longer runny."

Is salmonella killed by heat?

A Yes, heat destroys salmonella, but the food has to be heated thoroughly. When peanuts for peanut butter are properly roasted (typically 350 degrees), salmonella bacteria are killed.



How to Kill Salmonella in Eggs




More answers regarding does microwaving eggs kill salmonella?

Answer 2

Not necessarily: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/22/health/22real.html?_r=1

However my guess is that the heat generated by a microwave would be hot enough to kill most of the bacteria (backed up by some of the research in this article: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2947/do-microwave-ovens-kill-bacteria), so as long as it's a fresh egg the risk of salmonella poisoning is low.

Answer 3

If you're using pasteurised eggs, you should be fine.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA, EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA, EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA, Pavel Danilyuk