Can Eggo Waffles Be Heated In The Microwave?

When it comes to breakfast items, there are perhaps none as famous and well loved as Eggo waffles – a popular brand throughout North America, and one that remains a staple of the average American breakfast table. 

But what exactly are Eggo waffles, and what are the best ways to heat them for eating? 

What Are Eggo Waffles?

Eggo is a brand of frozen waffles owned and manufactured by the Kellogg company, a popular breakfast cereal manufacturer who are perhaps most famous for producing Corn Flakes and other notable cereal products. 

Invented in 1953, and sold throughout North America ever since, there are numerous different flavors available – including cherry, cinnamon, blueberry, strawberry, vanilla bliss, brown sugar cinnamon, apple cinnamon, buttermilk, chocolate chip, and thick and fluffy. 

As well as their selection of sweet waffles, the company also produces a number of other savory breakfast items – including pancakes, french toast, egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches, as well as varieties including ham and sausage. 

Are Eggo Waffles Frozen?

As mentioned above, one of the major selling points of Eggo waffles is that they are manufactured, frozen, and then able to be reheated for people to home to save time at breakfast.

Whereas it once would have been necessary for people to make their own waffles and pancakes from scratch, Eggo allows them to take them out of the freezer, reheat them, and consume them as normal. 

Can They Be Cooked In The Microwave?

Eggo waffles are perfectly designed to be reheated in the microwave – making a simple task even easier at breakfast time, and ensuring a great tasting breakfast for everyone involved. 

How To Cook Eggos In The Microwave

When it comes to heating Eggo waffles in the microwave, there are a few key steps you need to follow to ensure you get the best results possible. 

Step One

The first thing you need to do is to get a microwave safe dish or plate, within which you can put the Eggos ready for cooking. 

This can be a toughened glass dish, or it could be a ceramic plate. Once you have done this, ensure it is cleaned properly, and then place the Eggos inside. 

You should also include a mug of water inside the microwave while the Eggos are inside, as this will help to keep a degree of moisture inside the microwave, and stop the Eggos from drying out and going limp. 

Step Two

Once you have done this, you can place them inside the microwave on a low-medium heat, and set them for approximately 2 minutes – being sure to keep an eye on them through the door of the microwave to see that they are still doing okay. 

Step Three

After the two minutes have elapsed, open the door and examine the Eggos. If you are satisfied with the finish, then pour away the hot water and enjoy the Eggos how you wish. 

However, if you are not satisfied, then be sure to place them back inside and continue with the cooking. 

Step Four

As you proceed, you should then continue to cook for a minute at a time, feeling the Eggos after each session to ensure they have not dried out, and that they are remaining soft and edible. 

Step Five

Once you have reached the five minute mark, you should no longer need to cook them anymore. Be careful when taking the dish out of the microwave, not to mention the cup of water which will now be boiling. 

Allow these to cool to one side, while you remove the Eggos from the dish, plate them up to your liking, and enjoy with whichever toppings you would like to include. 

What Are The Benefits? 

When it comes to using the microwave to heat Eggo waffles, there are many benefits that make it a popular method for many people. 

Quick

One of the main benefits of heating Eggos in the microwave is that it doesn’t take very long – and this can be a godsend for those with hectic morning routines – or numerous children that need feeding before school. 

Generally speaking, microwaving Eggos takes roughly 5 minutes, and the beauty of the microwave is that you can fit plenty inside at once – meaning an already quick task can become much easier. 

Soft Finish

Another benefit of microwaving is that it can create a soft finish to the Eggos. This might not be to everyone’s taste, but it is useful if you are using the Eggos to wrap other ingredients and fillings to create specific dishes. 

This is much easier than toaster or oven cooked Eggos, which tend to be crispier and less moldable during preparation of more intricate meals. 

Are There Any Downsides To Microwaving? 

However, when it comes to reheating with the microwave, there are certain downsides that you may experience with the finished product. 

Sogginess

The main downside of using the microwave for something like Eggo waffles is that they can turn out soggy. This is due to microwaving, and the processes involved. 

To avoid dryness, people might choose to put a cup of water in the microwave with the waffles to ensure they remain moist.

However, this can have the opposite effect, instead turning them soggy, and making the texture be much less appealing when it comes to eating afterwards. 

Dryness

As mentioned, one problem of microwaving is that it can dry out the waffles. This is because microwave ovens reheat the water molecules in food, and if too high a temperature or time is used, then it can leave the waffles looking and tasting dry as a bone. 

As you might have noticed, there is a fine line between dryness and moisture levels when preparing waffles, and this is why the microwave is not always the best option when it comes to cooking them ready for breakfast. 

Texture

The texture of the waffles heated in the microwave will also not be as crispy as many people might like. 

When it comes to the perfect waffles, they should be a little crunchy on the outside, and fluffier on the inside.

However, this finish is seldom achievable in the microwave, and the exterior usually ends up limper and softer than it would have been had it been reheated via other methods. 

Cooking Time

The cooking time in the microwave might be quicker than other methods – such as using the oven – but it is by no means the quickest. 

And when you consider that it also doesn’t achieve the greatest result for your waffles afterwards, it makes you wonder why this is even a popular cooking method. 

For the quickest method, Eggo fans are better using something like the toaster. This too can be adjusted like the microwave, but has the benefit of generally being quicker, and leaving them with a nice subtle crisp once they are finished. 

What Other Heating Methods Can Be Used?

However, if you do not feel like using the microwave to cook your Eggo waffles, there are some other methods you can use to create a great breakfast for you and your family. 

Using The Toaster

One of the major benefits of Eggo waffles is that they can be reheated in the toaster – and in actual fact this is one of the best ways of cooking when it comes to the end result. 

Like microwaves ovens, toasters allow you to adjust the cooking time – letting you achieve the perfect level of crispiness to the exterior, without drying out the inside. 

What’s more, this is also a quicker method than the microwave (as mentioned above), and when combined with the better end result, it really is a no brainer. 

Using The Oven

Of course, most people have an oven, and you can use this to reheat the Eggos if this is the only option you have.

However, this is by no means the best option, and requires a lot more work than the other methods on this list. The one benefit though is the finish, which makes it easier to get the crispy exterior, and the fluffy interior, without burning either part of the Eggos. 

However, this requires more monitoring than the other methods on this list, not to mention taking longer for the oven to heat up and reach the key temperature – meaning that it is not really suitable for mornings when time is usually of the essence. 

Are Eggo Waffles Healthy?

Generally speaking, Eggo Waffles are not considered to be a healthy breakfast food, and there are certainly healthier methods to achieve the same result. 

However, for those who enjoy an Eggo waffle or two in the morning, there are ways to make them healthier if that is a concern you have. 

One way to make them healthier is to opt for the standard flavor of waffles – i.e. the ones that do not include processed fruit flavoring or products inside.

Then, once cooked, you can combine them with other toppings – such as fresh blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, or Greek yogurt – for a healthier example of a waffle breakfast. 

Are Eggo Waffles Processed Food?

One of the main things that makes Eggo waffles so unhealthy is that they are forms of processed food – something that is known to be bad for our overall health and wellbeing in the long run. 

All of the ingredients featured in Eggos (with the exception of water) are highly processed, high in calories, low in fiber, and high in sugar. 

Are There Any Positive Benefits?

There are however some positive elements to eating Eggo waffles that should be included for the purposes of a fair assessment. 

Firstly, they are good sources of iron, calcium, vitamin D, and protein – all of which are beneficial for a number of functions throughout the body.

Secondly, they also contain good amounts of zinc, which is a beneficial mineral – good for things like the healing process in the body. 

Another benefit of them is that, when combined with healthy additions, they can be a good gateway to get children interested in healthier eating – namely the consumption of yogurt and fruit, both of which have proven, factual nutritional benefits. 

How To Make Eggos Healthier?

As mentioned above, there are many ways you can improve the healthiness of your Eggo waffles – ensuring you can continue to enjoy your favorite breakfast treat, albeit without the associated guilt that many of us might feel.

Use Fresh Fruit

As mentioned, one of the best ways to improve the healthiness of Eggo waffles is to combine them with fresh, natural produce – such as berries and fruits – to get some real goodness and nutrients from your breakfast. 

Common additions include blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, or strawberries – but the options really are limitless, allowing you to add any fruit you like to your morning dish. 

Avoid Sauces/Syrups

Eggo waffles already contain plenty of sugar, and as such you don’t really need to add syrups and sauces to them to make them even more unhealthy. 

Maple syrup and other syrups are where all of the badness really resides, and these can not only be bad for your waistline, but also preexisting conditions like type 2 diabetes, as well as dental decay. 

Use Healthy Toppings

For healthier toppings, why not use natural or Greek yogurt – both of which are available in low fat, sweet options, and provide a hit of freshness and sweetness with your morning waffles. 

What’s more, these are both good for your waistline, your blood sugar, and your digestive health – something that is important for maintaining all manner of bodily functions. 

Other options include a drizzle or organic honey, or something like agave syrup – both of which are sources of healthy sugars. 

Add Spices

For that extra hit of flavor you could also use things like cinnamon and raw sugar. These are notably more healthy than things like syrup and sauces, and can be great when combined with fruit and yogurt. 

These can be a great way to enhance the natural flavors of the fruit and ingredients on your waffles, as well as making your regular morning breakfast full of difference with each passing week. 

Final Thoughts

And there we have it, everything you need to know about Eggo waffles, and the best ways to heat them ready for eating. 

It’s true that waffles are a much loved and popular breakfast treat throughout the world – but perhaps nowhere more so than the United States, where they are a breakfast staple for many.

However, without the proper cooking techniques, these dreamy breakfast treats can soon turn into a nightmare. 

So if you are wanting to heat your Eggo waffles, then be sure to take note of these methods. Something tells me you won’t be disappointed!

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