The viral challenge of “cracking eggs” that has taken over TikTok is under scrutiny from doctors, who have warned about the risk of blindness if eggs cooked in a microwave are handled. Although the trend began in 2020, it has gained more traction on the platform in recent months, especially in the United States, raising concerns among health professionals.
What is involved in this risky experiment? First, an egg is boiled for about ten minutes till it is fully cooked. Then, after the egg has cooled, it is placed in the microwave for about one minute, the exact time depending on the wattage of the appliance. The last step is to try to cut the egg with a metal knife. The key behind this challenge is that trying to crack an egg triggers a natural reaction that ends in a violent explosion, destroying both the white and the yolk.
Although microwaving eggs is risky due to the potential for explosion, the danger becomes the highlight of the exercise for the participants of this TikTok challenge. Most people do not take the necessary safety measures to protect themselves from this spectacular explosion, as can be seen in several videos.
Grace Wang, an ophthalmologist at the University of Michigan Medical School, expressed her concern over the issue to the Daily Mail. He admitted during an interview, “These videos get a lot of attention because of the thrilling explosion.” However, he also warned the population: “Don’t try it, it’s not worth it. What they can achieve are traumatic injuries that can affect your face, appearance and vision,” he says, including blindness as a potential risk.
Why does an explosion happen?
The answer can be found in an explanation provided by the popular science TikTok account, Soycienciakosina, which has over 2.2 million followers. As they explain, the hard-boiled egg is “a network of gelatinized proteins that retain water and, in the microwave, the radiation directly heats the water molecules, creating steam.” The explosion is caused by cracking the egg with a knife, which “aggressively releases pressurized steam.”
As this dangerous challenge draws attention to TikTok, doctors are urging the public to refrain from participating, highlighting the health risks and, in particular, the danger of damage to vision from these household explosions.