Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs: This is the BEST way to make PERFECT hard boiled eggs. Eggs are cooked to perfection EVERY SINGLE TIME!
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!
Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
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!
Pressure Cooker Hard Boiled Eggs
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!
Which 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 Pressure Cooker
- Place 1 cup of COLD water in 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 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 timer to 5 minutes)
- After cook time has elapsed, let 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 wooden spoon or kitchen towel to knock vent knob to vent position.
- Carefully, remove eggs from pressure cooker and place in ice bath. Eggs are VERY hot, so use pot holder if you fingers aren’t made of steel!
- After eggs have been in ice bath for 5 minutes, remove eggs from 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 ice bath, crack them open by rolling 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 in the refrigerator.
- Once eggs are peeled, place in sealed container and store in the fridge for up to 7 days.
How Long are Hard Boiled Eggs Good For?
- Hard boiled eggs will keep for up to 7 days in the refrigerator.
- 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.
- Place cooked yolks freezer bag
- freeze yolks 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 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 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 rack.
- Place lid on pressure cooker and set for cook time for 5 minutes on high pressure.
- Once cook time has elapsed, let 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 water bath.
- Crack egg on counter top and remove shell.
- Store in fridge for up to 7 days.
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 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 cook time.
To Make Hard Boiled Eggs in Pressure Cooker, You May Need
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Kristen Chidsey
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I have a pretty decent handle on cooking and baking, but hard boiled eggs has always been impossible for me. These came out practically perfect! Only a few stuck to the shell but most of them peeled perfectly! Thank you!
I am so glad you had success Nicole. I have always hated making hard boiled eggs until perfecting this method!
PERFECTION! I have tried many methods of so called “perfect hard boiled egg” recipes and none gave perfect results, until now.
Thank you Kristen
You are so welcome Mark! I am glad you had such success with this recipe.
What if I don’t have a rack?
Hi Bridget. I have had many people tell me they place the eggs right in the water. This will make your eggs more prone to cracking though.
Do you leave the “keep warm “ feature on or turn it off? It comes on automatically when you press “pressure cook”.
Hi Ginger! I leave it on. That way if pressure releases and I am busy, my food is kept at a safe temperature.
So I’ve tried this twice now and I have had broken/cracked eggs both times. My daughter has the crock pot instant pot, and she said she rarely has any crack. She was here and helped me do them. The first time I did 8 and one oozed out, and two cracked. The second time I did 4 and two cracked. The first set were older and not room temperature so I made sure to get to room temperature on the second set. They do peel easy though. Can you still eat the ones with small cracks?
Hi Angel! I am sorry you had some eggs crack. A few tiny cracks won’t hurt anything 🙂
Never have I ever! These eggs were PERFECT! The shell literally rolled off and the yolks were fluffy. Thank you!
I am so happy you are as amazed as I continue to be with making hard boiled eggs this way Brenda! Game changer for sure.
I canceled my Costco membership and decided to start making my own h.b. eggs instead of buying them prepackaged. The stars must have aligned because a friend was gutting her pantry and gave me her 6qt Instant Pot. I followed your steps and had “egg-celent” results! Thank you!
P.S.- I buy eggs for $0.58/dozen at Aldi and this is a fraction of the cost of the $11 for 32 h.b. eggs at Costco. It doesn’t bother me that they’re not organic because the rest of our food is as clean as we can find. Happy $aving$, Mom’s!
WAHOO!! What a savings! I love that you had success with this recipe and that it will save you money!
Did just what it proposed. I will have to use it again.
I am so glad you found success using this recipe. And enjoy many more times.
I can’t find my rack 🙁 can I still make them in the instant pot?? Christmas Eve mission is at risk!!!
Hi Katie! DO NOT PANIC! Some people have told me they don’t even use a trivet at all–your eggs may crack easier, but it is worth a try!
My first time using an Instantpot, followed your instructions. Perfect eggs and a dream to peel. Will be looking to you for more recipes, too.
Oh I am so glad you had success Cynthia! And I hope you find many more recipes here to enjoy!
Perfect! I followed the recipe with the exception that I used 8 qt pot and added 1/2 water because of that
I only tried 4 eggs because I just wanted to test they turned out perfectly! And agree so EASY to peel!
I just put one on the counter and pushed with the palm of my hand she’ll practically fell off!
Thank you so much!
I used “egglands best” because that’s what I had the we’re not super fresh
Forgot to add that I didn’t see that the eggs had to be room temperature mind were not
Great! I often find that I may have a few more eggs crack at room temp.
I am so glad you had success Page! And yes, you need 1.5 cups of water for the 8 quart.
Hi,
I’ve tried several times to do the 5-5-5 method of cooking hard boiled eggs in my Instant Pot. Every time they were runny and not edible, at least to me. I like mine with a solid light middle. I took into account that as we’re living in Calgary Alberta, we’re at 3800 feet altitude. So, I increased the time. I used the “egg” setting, high pressure, set time for 8 minutes, let vent naturally for 8 minutes and used the ice bath for 8 minutes. They were absolutely perfect! So silky and easily peeled. My IP is now my egg machine!
I am glad you found the altitude conversion I have helpful 🙂
Thank you, Kristen, for the recipe, especially the video (I had never used an IP before and the video was very helpful). And thank you Susan for sharing your adjustments for high altitude. I live at high altitude as well and would have never thought to adjust the times had I not read your comment. I did your 8-8-8 method and they were perfect!
Hi Tracy! I am so glad you found this recipe, video and Susan’s tips helpful! You can use my altitude chart in the future to help with other recipes.
No more struggle 😊
Awesome!! That is exactly what I love to hear! Thanks for sharing!
Finally, I found a recipe that actually helped me cook the perfect hard boiled egg! It was close easy & the shells just slipped off. Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome Kelley! I am so glad you found as much success as I have!
Every time I have tried this recipe I have ended up with eggs that won’t peel at all. I end up with no whites and all yolks or holey eggs as part of the whites peel off. I have tried this three times with the same results. Show me how to easy peel!.
Hi Joy! I am sorry you are having issues. A few things that may help–use older eggs–ones that are close to their best by date. Let the eggs come to room temperature before pressure cooking, and use cold water to cook. Also be sure to let them sit in ice bath for full 5 minutes. I hope those tips helps.
I have had my Instant Pot for a couple of months. I have cooked hard boiled eggs at least a dozen times, and perfect. Did them today, and almost raw. Cooked them a second time and still not done. Pressure is up, water is boiling, any help?
Hi Sandy–this may sound obvious, but check to be sure your seal is ON your Instant Pot. Also, be sure to use cold water in bottom of the Instant Pot.
Are the eggs in your recipe large or extra large? No one ever posts the size of the eggs they use. I only buy extra large eggs. Will this recipe work? Also will the recipe work if you put the eggs in the IP right out of the fridge?
Hi Branna! That is a great question. This is for large (standard size) eggs. I would cook for 6 minutes and let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes still. Also, it really is best to let your eggs come to room temperature. This helps them cook evenly and not crack. You can run under lukewarm water for a few minutes to speed the process up.
Ok tried eggs for the first time turned out perfect thank you
YAY! So glad you had success Deb 🙂
Just bought an instant pot. With your directions, my boiled eggs turned out perfectly and so much better than on the stove! Thx!
I am so glad you had success Nan!!! Thank you for leaving a review!
I did 6 eggs and they were PERFECT! Thank you!! The shells slid right off!
Half my eggs had cracked and exploded During cooking. The Eggs that did not crack peeled wonderfully tho. Maybe ill try 4 min next time.
Hi Amanda! Try to let your eggs come to room temperature before pressure cooking–that helps with the cracking 🙂
I am a new instant pot owner and was skeptical about cooking eggs in one. This recipe came out just as promised! No gray/green on the yolks. I left my eggs in the ice bath a few minutes longer so that the eggs would completely cool on the inside. Thanks for this great tip
I understand your skepticism–I was there with you at first too! It really is amazing!
Can I use less than 12 eggs?
Yes Tanya! This recipe works with any amount of eggs 🙂
It took 10 min to come to pressure before the timer started. Is that normal? Do I adjust other times?
Hi Dawn! Sometimes it can take longer to come to pressure than expected, but the cook time will remain the same 🙂
My sister in law got me an egg holder for my instant pot a few months ago and I’ve been dying to use it. I had to make deviled eggs for a work party tomorrow and decided to give your hard boiled egg recipe a whirl! They came out PERFECTLY! I told my husband I would never boil eggs on the stove again! Thank you!
I am so glad you had the same experience as I did Hayley! I just love using my Instant Pot for Hard Boiled Eggs–no other way for me either 🙂