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
- water for cooking
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.Â
- Place lid on the pressure cooker and set for cook time for 5 minutes on high pressure.Â
- 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.Â
- Let eggs sit in water bath for 5 minutes.Â
- Remove eggs from the water bath.Â
- 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.Â
- I find it is best to peel eggs right from the water bath, the shell comes off beautifully every single time.Â
- 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.Â
- If you live at high altitude, be sure to use Instant Pot Altitude Adjustments.Â
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 🙂
Susan
Eggs Came out perfect! Peels easily.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for sharing!
Brooke
Hi! I don't have the rack that came with the pot (no idea what happened to it). Can I still follow this?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Brooke! Yes! You can either crumble up a piece of foil to lift the eggs above the water or just place into the water. They may be more apt to crack, but it still works better than stovetop.
Kathleen Sanderson
Just made these . I can't believe it's taken me 72 years to know how to cook and peel perfect eggs. starting to love my instant pot . Thanjs
Kristen Chidsey
YAY! This makes me SO happy! I am so honored to help you learn to love your instant pot and that you know can enjoy hard boiled eggs--the easy way.
Chris David
These are my new favorite instant-boiled eggs pot. Easy to prepare and so good. I think the water worked magic!!
Kristen Chidsey
LOL! I believe the Instant Pot Worked magic!
Jen
Easiest peeling of hard boiled eggs - ever - in multiple decades of cooking. Thanks so much!
Kristen Chidsey
You are so welcome Jen!
Susan H.
Hi,
Any changes that should be made for this for a 3 quart Insta Pot? Newbie here. 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
Not for this recipe. You will love eggs in your Instant pot😊
Judy
This is a tried and true method. One question, not sure if it matters or not. Is it best to use eggs straight from the refrigerator or should they come to room temperature before cooking in your Instant Pot?
Kristen Chidsey
I have better luck with room temperature eggs...they don't crack as easy.
Pedro
Thanks, helping out single dad
Peggy
They came out perfect and did not stick to the shell
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Peggy!
Dotty
I have the Instant Pot that you just pull the basket out, not with pressure cooker. Do I still use water to hard boil my eggs and at what te and for how long? Am dying to try them with the instant pot.
Thank you for any advice you can give me.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Dotty! It sounds like you have an Instant Pot model air fryer, not pressure cooker. Unfortunately, that does not work the same. Let me know the exact name of the model you have or you can email me (kristen@amindfullmom.com) a picture and I can try to help you more determine if you can use as a pressure cooker. 🙂
Mary David
Made two dozen fresh eggs and followed directions exactly. Will definitely do them again this way. They can put perfect BUT some look yellow, almost burnt like. They small and taste good. Any idea why or how this happened?
Kristen Chidsey
It may have been the type of eggs you had if they came from fresh chickens. If not, be sure to place the eggs on a rack above water before pressure cooking 🙂
Zachary Lucy
This is a great recipe for hard boileds. I appreciate it and I’m so glad you were one of the first recipes to show up when I searched.
I learned something when cracking the eggs before peeling - when I crack while holding the egg upright, it’s pretty tough to peel. However, when I cracked the egg while holding sideways, it was soooo quick and efficient. I don’t know if anyone else has ever noticed this but saved me a lot of time when I figured that out.
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you found this recipe as well. And thanks for sharing your tip!
Jenny
I found this method and followed it exactly, but my eggs ended up over cooked. Any ideas why that may have happened? Maybe it’s just my instant pot?
Kristen Chidsey
It may be your instant pot cooks a bit hotter. I would try 4 minutes of cook time and 4 minutes of release. Use this recipe as a base recipe and then adjust according to what works for your Instant Pot.
Sue Clark
New instant pot. First try at hard boiled eggs. Followed the 5-5-5-5 rule. Eggs came out perfect! Thanks so much!
Kristen Chidsey
You are so welcome! I am glad you enjoyed.