Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs are the BEST and ONLY way to make PERFECT hard-boiled eggs. Eggs are cooked to perfection EVERY SINGLE TIME!
How to Make Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs
I will never forget my first Easter I spent away from my family.
We were living in Georgia at the time and invited friends over for an Easter Egg hunt and Ham Dinner. While the ham and scalloped potatoes were delicious, the eggs were a complete disaster.
After coloring the eggs, our guests cracked a few open for a snack to find that they were not fully cooked!
But I used the same stove-top method for cooking hard-boiled eggs that I had for years. That method worked MOST of the time, but clearly, it was not fool-proof. And frankly, I became a bit fearful to ever cook hard-boiled eggs again--well at least for company!
By cooking eggs in my Instant Pot, I no longer have to worry about embarrassing accounts of under-cooked (or over-cooked) hard-boiled eggs. Pressure cooked hard boiled eggs are FOOL-PROOF. You will have golden, set centers without green rings, and these hard-boiled eggs peel like a dream!
5-5-5 Method for Cooking Hard Boiled Eggs
The perfect technique for cooking hard boiled eggs in the pressure cooker is the 5-5-5 method.
- 5 minutes to come to pressure
- 5 minutes cook time
- 5 minutes natural release
But to really get PERFECTLY cooked hard boiled eggs that peel like a dream, I have added another step:
- 5 minutes in a water bath.
So really, the PERFECT method for hard-boiled eggs is 5-5-5-5 method!
This means in 20 minutes, you will have hard-boiled eggs that peel perfectly and are perfectly set and bright yellow (no green rings here!!)
How to Cook Hard Boiled Eggs in Instant Pot
- Place 1 cup of COLD water in the inner pot of pressure cooker (liquid is ALWAYS needed for the pressure cooker to be able to reach pressure.)
- Place eggs in egg rack or carefully on top of the rack that the Instant Pot came with.
- Seal pressure cooker.
- Set cook time to 5 minutes (5 minutes on high pressure--push the manual button and adjust the timer to 5 minutes)
- After cook time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes (I suggest setting a timer that will beep at 5 minutes so you don't lose track of time. )
- Once 5 minutes has elapsed, release any remaining pressure in Instant Pot by using a wooden spoon or kitchen towel to knock vent knob to vent position.
- Carefully, remove eggs from the pressure cooker and place it in an ice bath. Eggs are VERY hot, so use potholder if your fingers aren't made of steel!
- After eggs have been in an ice bath for 5 minutes, remove eggs from the ice bath.
- Peel and enjoy your PERFECT hard-boiled eggs.
How to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs are the easiest eggs to peel EVER!
- Once eggs have cooked and cooled in the ice bath, crack them open by rolling them on a kitchen counter.
- The peel will come right off--and will NOT take any egg white with it!
Storing Hard Boiled Eggs
- I find it is best to PEEL eggs before storing them in the refrigerator.
- Once eggs are peeled, place in a sealed container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. If unpeeled, they can be stored for 7 days.
How Long are Hard Boiled Eggs Good For?
- Hard boiled eggs will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator when peeled, 7 days if unpeeled.
- Hard boiled eggs will last for up to 2 hours at room temperature. So be sure that Easter Bunny doesn't leave the eggs hidden too long!
- Hard boiled eggs do not freeze well! Cooked egg whites will become rubbery.
- You can freeze the cooked egg yolks if desired by placing cooked yolks freezer bag and freezing for up to 3 months.
Are Fresh or Old Eggs Best for Hard Boiled Eggs?
Isn't this an age-old question?! While everyone has their theory, I can tell you I have tested older eggs and farm fresh eggs in my pressure cooker and both came out perfectly and peeled with the same ease.
Instant Pot Basic Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken Breasts (Fresh or Frozen)
- Instant Pot Yogurt
- Instant Pot Quinoa
- Instant Pot Beans
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Egg Recipe
I would love to know how you enjoy this recipe! Be sure to leave a comment and let me know. Or snap a picture and tag @amindfullmom on Instagram and hashtag it #amindfullmom
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
Ingredients
- 12 eggs
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Place 1 cup of COLD water in the inner pot of Instant Pot for a 6 quart instant pot and 1.5 cups COLD water for an 8-quart Instant pot.
- Add in egg or steam rack and carefully set as many eggs as desired on or in the rack.
- Place lid on the pressure cooker and set for cook time for 5 minutes on high pressure.
- Once cook time has elapsed, let the pressure release for 5 minutes. Then do a quick release and carefully remove eggs from Instant Pot and place in ice water bath.
- Let eggs sit in water bath for 5 minutes.
- Remove eggs from the water bath.
- Store in the fridge for up to 7 days unpeeled or peel and use within 3 days.
Equipment Needed
Notes
- You can use as few as 1 egg and up to 16 eggs in a 6-quart pressure cooker.
- I find it is best to peel eggs right from the water bath, the shell comes off beautifully every single time.
- To help prevent your eggs from cracking during cooking, let your eggs come to room temperature before pressure cooking.
- Be sure to use cold water, warm water or hot water will change the cooking time.
- If you live at high altitude, be sure to use Instant Pot Altitude Adjustments.
Carrie
Followed instructions exactly and they were runny :/ Egg whites werent even hard
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Carrie. I am sorry this happened. A few tips that may help: Be sure your eggs are room temperature, be sure to use cold water, and if you live at high altitude, use my high altitude adjustments. Some models also run lower heat (just like ovens can vary) So it may be as simple as adding 1-2 minutes of cooking time if you already followed my tips. I hope that helps.
Nathalie
Forgot to add that they peeled easily AND I blew my own mind…I decided to add salt to the water the eggs were being cooked in…OMG I actually TASTED the salt!!! I was never able to taste salt in my boiled eggs on the stovetop. Next time I’ll add pepper also & if I taste that too that’s gonna be a GAME CHANGER because sometimes on the go salt & pepper isn’t always available. Kristen girl I signed up to be your fan! Do you have recipes in the Instapot app? If not you should! Girl I’ll sing your praises there too!
FYI, I have ZERO contact to her except googling for an Instapot boiled egg recipe & getting lucky!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks so much for your glowing review! I am so happy you had success! I don't have recipes in the Instapot App, but I hope you find many here to enjoy!
Nathalie
You are my HERO!!! Instant pot has a recipe for this that I tried & was soooo disappointed like many others who commented on their recipe because the eggs were half cooked (white part that is🤢🤮). I’ve been trying to tweak it myself & have had overly cooked eggs. Today after getting some fresh eggs from a neighbor, something told me to google a recipe instead, scrolled past a couple & BAM there you were🤔 I made it to a T & them eggs came out & looked EXACTLY like your picture👏👏👏👏. You know have a new follower🙌
Andrew
I cant find my steamer basket, can I just put the eggs in there without it?
Kristen Chidsey
I would use the cooking rack or even foil bunched up. It is really important to not have the eggs in the water, as that will change the cooking time.
Anthony McKissick
What did I do incorrectly?, one cup cold water, eggs on rack, set for 5 minutes on high, and 2 eggs came out broken?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Anthony! One way to help prevent cracked eggs, is to bring them to room temperature before pressure cooking. However, sometimes the eggs will crack. I don't find it happens often, but occasionally.
Matt
I did this and the eggs came out soft boiled? They peeled great, but the yolks weren't as done as I would like. Should I cook them longer?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Matt! Be sure to use cold water and room temp eggs for the timing to be right. If you did that, I would suggest adding 1 minute longer to the cooking time but still keep the 5 minute release. Just like ovens, instant pots can vary in how they cook 🙂
Nathalie
I agree with Kristen, I bring all my meats to room temp before cooking. I learned that years ago.
Tia Brungardt
I am 35 years old and I have NEVER been able to successfully hard boil eggs AND peel them without it’s looking like a massacre…until today!! Thank you so much for these easy and perfect instructions!!
Al Haring
I have been looking for a good instant pot recipe book or website. I tried the hard boiled eggs recipe and the pot roast recipe. Your web site is not only good it's great.
Both recipes turned out much better than I expected. This is the first time I got perfect boiled eggs and was able tp peel a dozen eggs in about five minutes without a blemish.
I made your website a favorite on my browser. Do you have a Instant Pot recipe book? I would buy it in an instant.
Thanks Al Haring
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you so much for your kind words Al! I love hearing that you are enjoying my recipes. I don't have a cookbook at this moment, but it is on my radar.
Katie
Hi! I’m wondering if you can stack the eggs on the rack (2 layers for example), or if they need to be in a single layer. You mention putting up to 16 eggs in a 6 court instant pot, and I’m not sure how you do that if you don’t stack them.
Kristen Chidsey
You can stack the eggs no problem 🙂