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 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 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 Make Hard Boiled Eggs in Pressure Cooker, You May Need
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Its interesting to know how to boil eggs, but what if we will boil the eggs in salt water?
Hi Aditi! Putting salt in boiling water is said to help raise temperature of the water. However the Instant Pot holds the perfect temperature to hard boil eggs, so you can skip adding the salt.
This would come in so handy during Easter time when it’s boiled egg overload! lol
Abeer, it is the ONLY way I will hard boil my eggs now!
You mention the addition of a five-minute warm bath, but nowhere do I see the point at which you do so. I assume you’re not counting the natural release five minutes as it, as you said your new “recipe” is 5-5-5-5.
There is a 5 minute cold bath after cooking. 5 minutes to pressure, 5 minutes to cook, 5 minute release, 5 minute cold bath. Hope that helps 🙂
I’m still confused. You talk about after cooking. Is the warm bath at the 5 minute to pressure?
I’m a guy, so——
No worries Glen. After the cook time, you want to leave your eggs in the pressure cooker with the lid on for 5 minutes exactly. Then you want to release pressure and place the cooked eggs into a bowl with ice water (NOT warm water)–this is to stop the cooking process so your yolks do not get overcooked. Leave them in the ice water for 5 minutes. Then your eggs are ready to enjoy. Let me know if you have any other questions!
I have always struggled with hard boiled eggs and may times cook them too long and get that ugly green ring around the yolk. No longer. Thanks for sharing this recipe for the Instant Pot. Now I’m a hard boiled egg master!
YAY!!! I am so glad this technique works for you as well as it works for me!
I did it! Always love hard-boiled eggs but hated the overdry yolks. This was perfect! And peeling was a dream!!!
Tonight I borrowed my friend’s IP and made boiled eggs in it! I’ve never used the IP before but I wanted to try it out before thanksgiving since I’m in charge of deviled eggs. LOVED IT!! Thank you so much. It went perfectly.
WAHOO!!!! Melanie, you need to get an Instant Pot now 😉 Regardless enjoy your Thanksgiving and Deviled Eggs.
Right? I’m hoping Santa will bring me one. 😉😉
Fingers crossed for you!
We just tried eggs for the first time and it was perfect the only thing we noticed the shell was brown on some insides is that normal?
Hi Pam! I have never seen brown on the shell…HMMM, did you just place eggs directly in inner pot or did you place on rack? If you had them right on the bottom of the inner pot, that may have caused the browning. It may also be the type of eggs.
Just got an Instant Pot. Can you fill the pot where eggs are stacked or touching or do you have to keep them spread out as in your picture and do multiple batches?
Hi Regina!! Congrats on your pressure cooker. As for hard boiled eggs, as long as you use the trivet and 1 cup of water you can stack your eggs…you risk cracking just a bit more but that is the nature of eggs.
Enjoy!!! And hope you check out more of my Instant Pot Recipes
What size eggs work best? I’ve only tried this using large in the come out perfect but wondering if you could use extra large and with the cook time be the same ?
Hi Carlita. For Extra large eggs, 5 minutes high pressure with 5 minutes NPR will work, but may be a slightly softer center. I would actually do 5 minutes high pressure and 7 minutes NPR. That turns out perfect for me in the past 🙂
Hi there. Has anyone had their eggs crack? I followed the recipe and half of my eggs were cracked when it was done. A few minutes after it reached high pressure it displayed a warning message C6L but then it started working again so maybe my pot is defective. 🙁
Hey there Christina! I am sorry about your eggs. But a c6 error is an internal pressure issue. You need to call Instant Pot immediately, and they will handle it for you… their customer service is amazing and they can handle it. Here is the number 1-800-828-7280. I am sorry for your hassle.
I have done eggs in a stove top pressure cooker for years. (It was suggested in one of Julia Child’s cookbooks.) They often cracked. Warming them up under warm water first helped a lot.
I find it easiest to set a 10 minute timer when I start the instant pot so I don’t have anything to do until the eggs are done. Cheers.
Great tip
Wouldn’t you have to set for 10 minutes after you see it’s started to count down?
First time using my Instant Pot…..and first time…EVER…I was able to hard boil eggs that peel and come out perfect! Love it. Can’t wait for the next recipe. Thank you
Yay!!! I agree, eggs are SO SO much easier to handle in instant pot.
Just got the instant pot. I know you said hi pressure, but do you have to change the temperature?
Hi JW! Welcome to the Instant Pot Club 🙂 The buttons and functions can be a bit overwhelming. Here is a breakdown with video on how what all the functions mean and how to change pressure (but the default is typically high pressure.) https://amindfullmom.com/instant-pot-functions/ And this may be helpful as well : https://amindfullmom.com/instant-pot-101/ Let me know if you have more questions.
Are the pressure & time for XL eggs only? what if you use medium or large–would it be different? Just got my IP for Christmas. This would be my first attempt cooking anything. The initial test run went fine.
Hi there. This is for large eggs. Medium may take 1 minute less to cook and x large may take up to 1 minute longer.
I forgot my second batch and left them in for 10 minutes. Didn’t even see a difference. This is a super forgiving way to boil eggs.
Thank you for his recipe!!!! I’m pretty good in the kitchen but have always struggled with hard boiled eggs. I will never do eggs any other way.
I am right there with you, I will never do eggs another way myself.
Thank you. This will change my life for the better. Haha.
I understand completely 🙂
When I tried this recipe, it made amazing soft boiled eggs, but that is maybe because I didn’t let them sit for 5 minutes in the Instant Pot.
Hi Naomi! I have a recipe for soft boiled eggs today 😉 But yes, if you don’t let them sit in the IP, they will not be cooked fully.
I could seriously cry happy tears at how easy these were to peel. “Peel” isn’t even the right word— I tapped the egg on it side, the shell broke in half, and the egg practically fell out! There was no peeling! And perfectly cooked! THANK YOU!!!!
I totally understand how you feel Amanda, this recipe MAKES me want to cry tears of joy myself. All the best!
This worked fantastically! My come to pressure time was six and a half minutes, but I also did a oz xl Eggs; and in 30 min I had 12 perfectly cooked and peeled eggs. I used this steamer basket, super easy. https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dkitchen&field-keywords=Hatrigo+Steamer+Basket+for+Instant+Pot
Hi Steve! So glad this worked out for you! And LOVE my steamer basket, just never used it for eggs, great idea!
Hi, Thank you for posting this? Do you know what are the timings if you wanted to have soft boiled eggs? Thanks! Teja
Hi Tej–I have very specific instructions for soft boiled eggs here: https://amindfullmom.com/instant-pot-soft-boiled-eggs/ ENJOY!!! 🙂
I have followed your method several times now, and it works perfectly every single time. Thank you so much!
You are so welcome! All the best!
Came out Great but had to keep them in ice bath for about 10 minutes. Made deviled eggs and the eggs were delicious. Thank you!
I am glad they turned out 🙂
Excited to try this! Would the recipe be any different for an 8-quart instant pot (specifically, the timing and amount of water)?
Hi Tessa! For an 8 quart Instant Pot, I would use 1.5 cups of water but timing remains the same.
Thank you!
I was EXTREMELY skeptical! I was prepared to clean up a bunch of gooey-eggy mess from my Instant Pot. I concur with others – I will never hard boil eggs any other way. (PS – I did use the Egg setting on the pot.)
Yay!! So glad you had success.
Oh my goodness – they were absolute perfection!!! Thank you!!
You are SO welcome!
This worked out awesome. Thanks again.
Absolutely Steve!
OK, I don’t mean to sound picky-or more like dense! I used the egg button to cook my eggs. When that five minutes is up; do I leave them sit for another five minutes before releasing the pressure? I just don’t want the whites to turn tannish in color.
I appreciate your explaining this for me.
Anneinmichigan
I am happy to help. Yes, let them sit for 5 minutes, then remove and place in ice bath. Enjoy!
For the first time, I tried making hard boiled eggs in the instant pot today following your directions. I, too, had amazing results! Getting frustrated over peeling hard boiled eggs is a thing of the past! woot!
Isn’t it AWESOME Kristin?! I will never hard boil eggs another way 🙂
Follow up from my last comment – the eggs that slid into the slightly lower part of the rack that comes with the instant pot seem like they touched the water and got pressured all weirdly. The other eggs cracked beautifully and are ready for my breakfast tomorrow! THANK YOU – I’ve been trying to get hard boiled eggs right forever!
I am sorry not all turned out perfectly–sometimes eggs just crack, especially if not on rack correctly. BUT yay for perfect hard boiled eggs!
A tip on peeling the eggs. I use the “shake in the jar” method and the eggs literally slip out of their skins.! Just use an old mayonnaise jar or what whatever size jar you have handy. You need to put at least two eggs in but depending on the size of the jar you can put three or four put the lid on and just shake 3-4 shakes that’s it! Open it up, try to pick them up out of the jar and they slip out of their skins.
I thought using an instant pot for boiling eggs was silly…. until I did it. No lost whites now even with fresh eggs. This is the only way to do hard boiled eggs!
100% agree! 🙂
It works. Great!!!!!!!!
YAY!!! I am glad you discovered how well this works for yourself 🙂
This worked perfectly! I always struggle peeling hard boiled eggs when I boil them. These were simple to make and peeled with ease!
Isn’t it wonderful Tina? This is the ONLY way I will peel eggs from now on.
I don’t have a wire egg stand, but do have a silicone one. Will that work out okay?
Yes, if that was designed for the instant pot it will work perfectly.
Will this recipe work without the steaming rack? I don’t have one.
I myself have not tried it without a steaming rack. However, I have heard from others that used my recipe they have had success. My only concern would be that more eggs would be at risk for cracking due to being in direct contact with bottom of pot.
Perfectly cooked – just as described. Thank you!
YAY!! I am so glad to hear that!
Crazy easy and it works!! Best and easiest peeling eggs ever!
Thank you
You are so welcome!
I’m so confused at what it is I’m doing wrong. My first batch of eggs I did for 5 minutes and released the pressure immediately. The eggs still came out really well cooked in the center. So my second batch was last night and I did four minutes and released pressure again. The eggs came out better but the center is not soft in any way. I prefer a slightly soft egg yolk. Any tips?
You will probably like my recipe for Soft Boiled Eggs 🙂
I have tried every boil method for hard boiled eggs from salt to vinegar, boil vs. set aside, 5 minutes ice vs. 30 minutes, etc. First time with your recipe and they literally came out perfect. I was dreading the peeling (the part that was never good) and after the first couple, I was smiling. Such a simple joy in a perfect hard boiled egg. Whatever has been done to eggs over the years (I don’t remember my mother ever having the trouble I have with hard boiled eggs) this method is tops now and has beat the genetic modifications. Maybe a bit much but thanks.
I am right there with you Bill–I hated making hard boiled eggs before this method. I am so glad you had success as well. And thank you for taking the time to thank me. 🙂
Amazing! Spot on. Will never boil eggs on the stove ever again! I will never again be embarrassed by poor peeling whites for deviled eggs.
Isn’t it fabulous!! I used to get so embarrassed of my egg skills 😉
Came out perfect using this recipe! Easy peeling which sometimes presented an issue in the past. So easy to use the instant pot.
I am so glad you had great success Elaine!
Came out absolutely perfect!! Thank you for the awesome recipe:)
You are so welcome!
Thank you for this recipe! I have used Julia Child’s method for hard boiling eggs in a stove top pressure cooker, and wondered why it was not better known. The eggs peel so easily! Anyway, I was hoping to modify her method for the Instant Pot, but you have given me the solution!
YAY!!! I am so glad you I saved you the work and you found this recipe 🙂
I just received an instapot a few weeks ago and I tried your hard boiled egg receipe. They were awesome! Absolutely perfect!! Thank you so much!
YAY!! I am so glad!
A recipe that actually was as easy as it said it would be! Thank you so much for this <3
You are welcome!
My Instant Pot takes longer than 5 minutes to build up pressure (more like 10 minutes). Would that change the cook or sit time?
Hi Kari–no that will not change the timing for you 🙂
I followed your directions exactly and 2 of the eggs were cracked and one of the eggs actually came half way out of the shell. any idea what the problem could be? they were cold right out of the fridge. going to bring to room temp and try again. thanks for any other thoughts.
Hi Laura, occassionally that can happen, as it will depend on the age of your eggs. Bringing eggs to room temperature will help reduce that risk, as the temperature change won’t be as extreme. You can place your eggs in a bowl of lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes before cooking as well.
I just made 24 PERFECT hard boiled eggs (two batches of 12 each) with this recipe.
I followed all the suggestions and the eggs turned out with easy-to-peel shells and beautiful yellow centers. LOVE IT!
Yay!! It is amazing to me how perfect the eggs always are with this method. Happy Easter!
Perfect. I made these in my new IP Ultra. They came out perfect. It surprised me because so many people had complained that they could not do it without the eggs bursting or some other mishap. It made me a little hesitant to try it, but it worked. Thanks for sharing your method.
I love this method too!! So glad you had such great success.
Omg!!!!! My egg problems are solved!!!! iP to the rescue! I just made a dozen boiled eggs using this method. I used my egg rack. 2 eggs did crack during cooking. 1 of them turned out fine. The other one was hard to peel because the skin refused to release from the egg. The other 10 eggs practically fell out of their shells!!! Whaaaaat?!!! This is fantastic! Boiled, peeled eggs in less than 30 minutes! Just wow! Had given up on deviled eggs and egg salad. Just too daunting. Not anymore! 5-5-5 method for deviled eggs and egg loaf for egg salad! Thank you so much for giving me back my beloved hard boiled eggs!!!! 😋❤️😊
I can relate Erin, making hard boiled eggs could not be easier and the results are perfect every time. So glad you found the same success. 😊
I tried this recipe and followed all steps in your directions. My IP took around 9 minutes plus to get to the high pressure. So it didn’t follow your 5-5-5-5 from the start. Do you have any ideas/suggestions to help me alter the timing to have success? I had about a third of my egg shells crack. I was going to use these to dye for Easter. I’d appreciate any thoughts you have. Thank you.
Hi Carrie. Well, don’t worry if it takes longer for your pressure cooker to come to pressure, that CAN vary and should not effect your end product. One thing that will help is to make sure your eggs are room temperature before pressure cooking. And older eggs seem less likely to crack in my experience.i suggest putting eggs in lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes before pressure cooking to help with cracking. Happy Easter and Happy Egg Coloring.
I use jumbo eggs for deviled eggs.
After some experimentation, I find that 6-6-6 works perfectly….oddly appropriate!
The eggs won’t crack if you let them come up to room temperature before cooking, by the way/.
I followed this recipe exactly as written and have never had such an easy experience hard boiling eggs. I peeled them right after the ice bath. The shells came off so easy I was amazed and the inside was perfect! This is now my go to way to hard boil eggs.
Yay!! I am so glad you had as much success as I do!
My ehhs came out absolutely perfect! I’m so happy.
Yay!! So happy you had success.
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.
simple instructions, easy to follow, thanks
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😘
The eggs were perfectly cooked. Made my Easter perfect!Thanks!
Oh that makes me so happy!!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.