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.
- 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.
Mikr
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!
Kristen Chidsey
I am glad they turned out 🙂
arj
I have followed your method several times now, and it works perfectly every single time. Thank you so much!
Kristen Chidsey
You are so welcome! All the best!
Tej
Hi, Thank you for posting this? Do you know what are the timings if you wanted to have soft boiled eggs? Thanks! Teja
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Tej--I have very specific instructions for soft boiled eggs here: https://amindfullmom.com/instant-pot-soft-boiled-eggs/ ENJOY!!! 🙂
Steve eh
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
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Steve! So glad this worked out for you! And LOVE my steamer basket, just never used it for eggs, great idea!
Amanda
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!!!!
Kristen Chidsey
I totally understand how you feel Amanda, this recipe MAKES me want to cry tears of joy myself. All the best!
Naomi Korol
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.
Kristen Chidsey
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.
Matt
Thank you. This will change my life for the better. Haha.
Kristen Chidsey
I understand completely 🙂
Dawn
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.
Kristen Chidsey
I am right there with you, I will never do eggs another way myself.
LILLIAN WILSON
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.
Kristen Chidsey
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.
CINDY
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.
JW Atkinson
Just got the instant pot. I know you said hi pressure, but do you have to change the temperature?
Kristen Chidsey
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.