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.
Cheryl Turner
This is the first time I did hard boiled eggs in the instant pot. I did the 5-5-5 and my eggs came out not done. I used an egg rack and only did 7 eggs. What did I do wrong? I used a timer for everything!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Cheryl! I am sorry you had issues. Some instant pots run a bit cooler or hotter (just like ovens can vary) and altitude can play a role. I would be sure to use cold water, room temperature eggs, and try 1 egg at a time at 6 minutes of cooking with 5 minutes pressure release and adjust until you reach your desired doneness. I hope that helps.
Bruce Robson
Was your instant pot set to high pressure? I had the same problem and realized I was not setting it to high.
David Nelson
Kristen,
I've been making "boiled" eggs (really hard-cooked I suppose) in a 6 qt Mueller pot for a few years now, but today I did something different.
I have two stacking 7-egg trivets similar to the one pictured in a photo above. I have been "doing the max" of 14 eggs with each go.
Today, I put in only the bottom trivet and began stacking eggs, paying no attention to whether they touched--in fact requiring it. There were 30 eggs in the stack and the lid went on normally. My reasoning was that they would be above any violent boiling and not subject to enough motion to crack them.
I cooked them for 6 minutes, which is my preference for where I live (so I have a 5-6-5-5+ process). Full disclosure, one cracked when I picked it up, but I really think the shell itself was to blame. The other 29? Just fine.
DELLA SMITH
Every year I make 5 dozen for my 5 year old students to dye--am looking forward to making them with your method and not having to boil them in my pasta pot!! Will definitely follow all the hints since I'll be making multiple batches, 16 at a time!
Kristen Chidsey
What a fun teacher! This method will be so much easier for you! I would just recommend allowing your IP to cool slightly and using fresh cold water between batches or the timing would change slightly.
Wally
I started with the 5-5-5 method. The eggs peeled so nice! But I found them a little dry, perhaps over cooked some. So I started experimenting with the times and found a couple different things. I settled on a 4-3-5 method that gave me a marvelous creamy yolk texture. So delicious. However the peeling of the shell was a little more tenuous. Also found that when making several batches that after the first batch the shells stick much more. Suggest starting with cold water each batch to replicate the first batch. Still experimenting to improve peeling. Perhaps I’ll try 3-4-5 just for the sake of curiosity. Any comments and/or tips appreciated!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Wally! This recipe is a great starting point and can be tweaked based on preference. If you start with a hot instant pot, timing will change, so best to allow your IP to cool in between batches and always start with fresh cold water.
Larry
Ive made many hard boiled eggs in my Instant-pot. I never did the ice bath. Prefect!!! I will add that extra 5 minutes every time I make them! Thank you!
K. Sweet
Agh! Reading comprehension fail...missed the note to bring eggs to room temp to avoid cracking. Only one cracked (so I ate it straight away after the ice bath). Even it came out perfectly. Thank you for sharing this!
Kristen Chidsey
Hey, that still sounds like great success!
Rosemary
Hi there-
If I want to do a lot of eggs at once (18) should I stack them on the trivet or load up the steamer basket?
Thank you!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Rosemary, both options will work equally well.
Stephanie
Eggs came out perfectly! I like to make these ahead of time so I have a quick breakfast or snack ready in the fridge. Thank you!!
Amanda
ABSOLUTELY-FREAKIN-PERFECT
Just got done making these .. did the
5-5-5-5 (ice bath)
I have NEVER had shells roll off so easily its always taking chunks of egg with it!
This was fantastic - I never give reviews but I had too! Best hard boiled eggs ever and sooo freaking easy
Rhonda Jarrett
Your directions were perfect! I made deviled eggs. Thank you
Donna
You say you can do as few as 1 egg in a 6 quart Instant Pot, but what about an 8 quart? Hiw few can you make?
Kristen Chidsey
As few as one as well.
Layla
Very helpful. My first time doing eggs in the Instant Pot and they came out beautifully. Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for sharing Layla! It really is a game-changer!