An unpleasant incident in Bolton, Greater Manchester, serves as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers behind viral food hacks.
A starving mum from Bolton, Greater Manchester, has been left scarred for life after a botched food hack. Shafia Bashir, 37, was microwaving a fried egg when it exploded in her face. The culinary hack has recently become popular as the latest TikTok craze. But a furious mother was left with peeling flesh from her face after trying to make an egg in the same way as recommended by a Chinese social media video-sharing app.
The mother put the egg in a mug filled with boiling water. Then she microwaved the whole thing for a few minutes longer until the egg was fully cooked. When mom placed a cold spoon on top of the egg, it exploded “like a fountain” of hot lava. The woman’s face was scarred by an egg blast and the entire right side of her face was scarred. A mother who gave birth claimed that the exploding egg caused her the “most excruciating” pain she had ever felt in her life.
Despite going to the emergency room to have her burns treated, Bashir was still in excruciating pain for twelve hours afterward. The skin is now peeling from her face and is burnt and blackened.
Fortunately, the mother’s wounds have healed, but she issued a warning to anyone who wants to try this dangerous food for themselves. He advises people to steer clear of the popular TikTok cooking craze and avoid microwaved fried eggs, as they can crack in your face if handled carelessly.
“I just don’t want anyone else to go through that because it’s trending on TikTok,” she explained. It was the most excruciating pain I have ever experienced. It was a terrible time for me. I was in excruciating pain. When I put a cold spoon in there, it gushed out like a fountain and scalded me. I washed my face and then had to ask a friend to look after my daughter so I could go to A&E. My face recovered, thankfully without scars. I used Vaseline, Sudocrem, and everything I could find.”
Shafia Bashir claims she had been creating the dish for three years when she decided to try it again on May 12, 2023. She was “hungry” and wanted to eat a microwaved fried egg. This time the culinary trick failed when she dropped a cold spoon into the egg.
“I did everything exactly as I usually do. I have already cooked the toast; I was hungry! My former mother-in-law informed me about this. She showed me how to make poached eggs in the microwave.”
“I did it for three years,” she added. I boiled the kettle, filled a mug halfway with water, added salt and eggs, and microwaved for a minute. It wasn’t done, so I fried it for another minute.’
Reflecting on the incident, Bashir shared details of her previous experience with the same cooking method. She used this technique for three years without incident and enjoyed poached eggs with a microwave efficiency. However, on May 12, 2023, the routine turned into a nightmare. Driven by hunger and a desire for a quick meal, Bashir followed the method as usual, oblivious to the impending disaster.
Despite the horrific outcome, Bashir remains resilient, her voice serving as a cautionary tale amid the alluring appeal of viral trends. Her journey highlights the need for critical thinking and careful consideration when trying new and unconventional methods, especially when they become popularized through social media platforms. As her story fades, Shafia Bashir hopes her painful experience will serve as a powerful deterrent and encourage others to prioritize safety over fleeting internet fame.