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.
- 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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Two questions:
1. Instapot comes with ‘egg’ setting—worth a try? Have some had success with this egg setting?
2. My instapot takes > 10 minutes to come to full pressure—how to use your method with this being the situation?
Thanks for you thoughts/help in advance Kristen ☺️
Hi Anne! I do not recommend using presets for various reasons, I discuss on Instant Pot Functions post. Don’t worry about your pressure cooker taking 10 minutes to come to pressure, you mainly want to worry about the cook time and natural pressure release 🙂
I used this recipe for six fresh duck eggs from my flock. I cooked them for six minutes because the shells are thicker than chicken eggs, I didn’t wash off the bloom, and the albumin is also thicker.
They turned out perfectly.
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing that for those that may try duck eggs as well!
Perfect!! Thank you so much! No more stove top hard boiled eggs for me! 😊
Isn’t it wonderful Amy?! I just love using my Instant Pot for hard boiled eggs.
My first time making hard boiled eggs in the IP, and I don’t think I’ll do eggs like this any other way in the future. Perfectly peeled a dozen eggs, no breaks. I was very pleased. The eggs did slightly over-cook using the 5-5-5-5 method, and I like my yolks to be just on the jammy side, so I might experiment with cooking for 4 minutes instead of 5. Definitely close to perfection though! Maybe my IP runs a bit hot…I’ve had other things over-cook in the suggested time.
Hi Don! So glad you had success with Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs. It is important to know you IP runs hot too, and adjust accordingly. I would try 4 minutes cook time, 4 minute natural pressure release–it not done enough, do 4 minutes cook time and then 5 minutes natural pressure release.
i only used two eggs which is probably why the yolk was dry but the white was delicious and i will tweak this recipe for when i cook my single serving of eggs again:)
They came out perfectly!!
I am so glad you enjoyed the ease of this recipe Paige!
Tried this and you’re right, they were PERFECT. Thank you!
I am so glad you had such great success Wendy!
You might mention that each Instant Pot is slightly different and will be a little hotter or cooler. Just like ovens, perfection across the board is nearly impossible. My IP cooks a bit hotter and 5 minutes overcooks my eggs to the point of chalky and with a green ring around the yolk. 3 minutes is perfect for me with instant release. They are put under cold running water for a minute then popped into the fridge. An hour later, they peel perfectly. I encourage everyone to experiment.
I am grateful for your tip about bringing the eggs to room temperature first. I always have some cracked and even exploded eggs. I thought this might be because of the instant release, but no. They did it even at natural release.
This isn’t usually an issue for me, though, because I have chickens and they are already at room temperature (or chicken temp) when I bring them in. I just gathered a dozen eggs and will wash them and cook a batch in the IP.
Oddly, though, when I tried to make yogurt in the insert pot instead of in glass jars like I usually do, I could not get the milk to heat up to 180° with the yogurt “boil” setting. It would only get to 174. I know this accurate because I used my super-fancy Thermopen to take the water temperature. So now, I heat the milk on the stove, let it cool, inoculate it with starter, pour it into quart jars (3) and incubate it in the IP. Perfect Yogurt every time.
Thanks. I love your blog!
Hi Anita! One of my biggest tips in learning to use your Instant Pot is knowing it. Just like ovens vary, electric pressure cookers vary as well. I test my recipes in 3 different models and ensure the cook time is the same for each model, but there are many brands out there. Noting the model you have may help others in the future 🙂 And I am so glad you enjoy my blog 🙂
Thanks for responding. Good suggestion. I have an 8 quart Duo 80. It’s about a year old. I just tried the room temp eggs for cracking. Seems like the cracked and burst even worse. I fed most of them back to the chickens. Tried again and used really, really cold water. Much better.
I tried this method and it DID work perfectly. Honestly, I was amazed. It was the first time I had used the Instant Pot and after the eggs turned out so well I felt like my fears of using the appliance was alleviated!
Oh I am so happy to hear this Deborah! I love that this helped give you the confidence to use your Instant Pot more!
Wow! I was reluctant to try making hard boiled eggs in the instant pot but what a game changer! Thanks for the exact times – eggs were perfect and super easy to peel!! No going back now!
I agree Sharon, total game changer. Glad you enjoyed this method too!
I always buy packaged boiled eggs at Costco because I can never get boiled eggs right. I tried this recipe and followed it exactly, using a timer as suggested. The eggs came out perfect! Peeling them was soo easy! I was a little too enthusiastic and applied too much pressure while rolling them on the kitchen countertop which cracked the egg white. I would suggest a more gentle approach. Never going back to Costco again – for boiled eggs, that is.
YAY for perfect hard boiled eggs!!!
I’m new to IP and I would like to make 24 hard boiled eggs and use them to make deviled eggs. I have an 8qt IP. What adjustments do I need to do? I want the center to be done, without the yucky green thingy of course, so it would be easy to separate when making my deviled eggs. Thank you!
Hi Miky! The amount of water and cook time remain the same. For an 8 quart be sure to use 1.5 cups cold water and it helps to let your eggs come to room temperature before pressure cooking–this cuts down on chance that eggs will crack. Enjoy 🙂
Hello! I’ve tried several different ways to make hard boiled eggs in the IP but this is by far the BEST and they always come out PERFECT! Thank you so much! 🙂
I am so glad you have great success with this method Shannon 🙂
Hi Kristen,
I’m a notice IP user and have hard boiled eggs several times. I love how they peel so easily!! I’m wondering if the temperature of the eggs makes a difference. Do you begin with eggs right out of the refrigerator or do you let them sit on counter for 30 mins or so? I always end up with at least one broken egg shell when hard boiling eggs in the IP. Thanks for your thoughts.
Hi Judy! I do suggest getting the eggs to room temperature first (so 30 minutes on the counter is perfect). This really cuts back on the amount of eggs that crack 🙂
We get eggs daily from our hens and they are so fresh that they were hard to peel. This method works great. Although, being that the eggs are extra large, I have to do 6-5-5.
Thanks for the tip for your extra large eggs! Glad you had success peeling the eggs Tricia 🙂
This was the first weekend using my instant pot after having it for about two weeks. I was afraid! Not any more. This was the second item (I haven’t graduated to meals yet) I tried and OMG, the eggs came out awesome sauce!! I usually boil eggs on Sunday evening for a quick breakfast during the week and when I tell you these eggs came out perfect….they came out PERFECT! Peeled with absolutely no egg on the shell. None! I’m sharing so the world knows. Thanks so much for your fun and easy recipe. I’m ready to kick this instant pot thing up a notch.
Yay!! I am celebrating with you Yvette–because of perfect eggs AND because you are ready to use your Instant Pot more!!! 🙂
I’m making boiled eggs for our Vacation Bible School for the kids to dye. When I was little we always dyed warm eggs. I need to make a lot of eggs. It says not to leave boiled eggs out over 2 hours. Can you dye cold eggs? I need to make them this morning for use tonight. Any suggestions? BTW: Thank you for your recipe!
Hi Allison! I would let the eggs come to room temperature for 30 minutes before you color them. Then pat dry, as they may form a bit of condensation from coming straight from fridge. Have fun 🙂
I ❤ this recipe. I have shared with friends!
Thank U
YAY! So glad you had success and thank you for sharing with others.
Have been meaning to try steaming hard boiled eggs in my Instant Pot for ages.
Your method worked perfectly.
Thank you.
jb
YAY!! I am so glad this method worked so well for you Jim! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
What method do you use if your Instant Pot does not have a manual setting??
Hi Cyndee. If you don’t have a manual button you should have a button that says “Pressure Cook.” If not, then any function on high pressure that you can adjust the time.
A foolproof method for hard boiled eggs. I don’t have the Instapot brand but a Presto cooker and the results are flawless, no matter how old the egg. I’ve been searching for a method that works consistently and this is is.
YAY!! I love that you have had so much success Steve! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
Hi this is Linda again… All 12 eggs turned out PERFECTLY‼️
So I’d like to change my stars to FIVE, if possible. But I’d still appreciate it if you’d specify COLD water in the directions. (Perhaps veterans of the IP already know to use cold water – but alas I am not numbered among them:)
Thank you Linda! I clarified to use cold water in my video and in my Instant Pot Basics, but agree it would be helpful for the reminder here. The post is updated to clarify that now.
I just got my Instant Pot and this was 1st thing to test with it. Followed your Recipe and BAM in 5 minutes eggs were done 5 minutes to Depressurize and 5 minute Ice Bath Eggs came out of shells. This was the Easiest way for the eggs to come out the Peels and Eggs Came out Best Ever. I won’t make them any other way after this, Thanks.
YAY!!! This is one of my favorite things to make as well Mike! I am so glad you enjoyed.
Worked perfectly. Thanks!
YAY!! I am so glad you had success Caryolyn!
Oh, my goodness, you made my day with this recipe! I have never been able to boil and peel eggs without literally tearing them up. I just tried this and it worked!!! Not even one egg was damaged when I peeled them.
This will be the way I make boiled eggs every single time from now on.
Thank you soooo much! 🙂
YAY!! Pam, I am so glad you found this recipe as helpful as I do! It is a game changer!
Will it matter if mine took 12 minutes to come up to pressure and start the countdown?
Hi Randy, that seems like a long time? Did you use just the 1 cup water for 6 quart or 2 cups for 8 quart? If so, try it out with 5 minutes cook time, 5 minutes NPR, and then ice bath. If overdone, next time to decrease to 4 minutes cook, 4 minutes NPR. Hope that helps.
It took 12 minutes for mine as well. Five minute natural release and they were perfect! No ugly green ring inside. I cooked 6 eggs this way after experimenting cooking at 5, 7, 9 and 10 minutes.
I tried this and my eggs turned out grey. I tried just doing 5 minutes and releasing steam right away and they were underdone. Somewhere in the middle I guess.
Hi Dave! I am sorry these did not work out perfectly for you. Sometimes altitude and different models can produce different results. I would try 4 minutes high pressure, 4 minutes release and then ice bath. Hope that works!
Can you do eggs without a rack? I need 20 eggs done
Hi Karlie! I do not recommend making Hard Boiled Eggs without a rack because they will be more likely to burst open due to being closer to the direct heat. I would use the trivet that came with your Instant Pot and carefully stack all 20 eggs on it. And remember, room temperature eggs will be less likely to burst open as well 🙂
Perfect hard boiled eggs! FINALLY!!
Thank you. I will only use the INSTANT POT to make hard boiled eggs from now on. WOW!
I am right there with you Nora! Hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot are a dream come true! So glad these turned out perfectly for you as well.
Best hard boiled eggs ever! The shells peel off so easily. I will never boil eggs on the stove again.
Love the 5555 thing. I’ve been doing eggs in the IP for a little while now but I don’t do it regularly so I always end up looking it up every time. I’ll remember this! I rarely make recipes just as they are written so I rarely rate but I wanted to be sure to give you a rating bump for making this so easy to remember! Thank you!
Thank you Kristin for taking the time to leave a review! I am so glad my instructions are easy, clear and helped you have perfect eggs 🙂 Have a fabulous day!
I love the way my eggs cook in the instant pot but every time I do it I have an issue with about four or five of my eggs cracked open(after hard boiled) and the shells laying on the bottom. I have a rack I put them in. Anyone else have this issue?
Hi Heather! One thing I would suggest trying is to let your eggs come to room temperature before pressure cooking. That trick tends to help with cracking. Hope that helps.
Hi, I just followed your instructions for the 5-5-5 method, using six fresh large eggs from my hens. They were done in my I.P. Duo on the rack that came with it. One of the eggs cracked while being “cooked”. Does this normally happen from time to time?. Took about 5 minutes to come to pressure. My keep warm button was lit the entire time which I used to watch it count up to 5 min of natural release. Should I have turned it off?
Hi Tricia! Yes, eggs can crack at times. I minimize the risk by bringing eggs to room temperature before cooking. Also, no worries on leaving keep warm–that is what I typically do as well.
Perfect! As a low carb guy, I eat some serious eggs. After trying this method, I’ll never boil another egg. The best part is, the shell comes off in “one piece”. No more destroyed eggs due to sticky shells!!!
Hi Eric! This method truly produces the most perfect eggs. Enjoy!
I have tried this twice and swear I’m following the directions and each time the eggs are not cooked through at all. Like, the egg white part is still translucent and everything! The only thing I can think of that was different was that I put the eggs in a glass Pyrex container on top of the metal rack to hold the eggs. Do you think that’s the problem? I will try it again without the Pyrex and see!
Oh yes, I would remove from the dish for sure Kaye, that may be the issue. Also, be sure you use cold water and set pressure to high.
This is the second time I have used my Instant Pot for making hard cooked eggs, and they are so easy to peel, it’s a pleasure. This time, I needed to make eggs for a party, so I did so in two batches. The first batch turned out well, with the exception of 3 cracked eggs; however, the second batch was hardly cooked at all. The yolks were totally uncooked and I had to throw them out. I wondered if anyone else has experienced this, and if you have any ideas as to what could have caused this?
Hi Lauren! I am sorry that this happened to you. If you did not put fresh COLD water in the bottom of the inner pot, that would be the reason your 2nd batch of eggs did not work. With warm water it takes barely any time for the pressure cooker to come to pressure so not enough time for eggs to cook. Hope that helps!
The eggs were perfectly cooked. Made my Easter perfect!Thanks!
Oh that makes me so happy!!
I have chicks and never could boil them with out recking the egg trying to peeling them. Till now, Thank you . Your a Blessing.
You are so welcome😘
simple instructions, easy to follow, thanks
I always use Jumbo Eggs for all recipes. I should I adjust this method to ensure perfectly cooked JUMBO eggs. I am new the the instant pot, Christmas gift. It is an 8 Quart Instant Pot Ultra. Your assistance would be appreciated.
For jumbo eggs, I would cook for 6 minutes on high pressure and do 6 minutes npr then 5 minutes ice bath.
My ehhs came out absolutely perfect! I’m so happy.
Yay!! So happy you had success.