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.
Miky Rose
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!
Kristen Chidsey
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 🙂
Shannon Gilbert
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! 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you have great success with this method Shannon 🙂
Judy Hazel
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.
Kristen Chidsey
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 🙂
Tricia
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.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for the tip for your extra large eggs! Glad you had success peeling the eggs Tricia 🙂
Yvette Johnson
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.
Kristen Chidsey
Yay!! I am celebrating with you Yvette--because of perfect eggs AND because you are ready to use your Instant Pot more!!! 🙂
Allison
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!
Kristen Chidsey
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 🙂
Lani Bradfield
I ❤ this recipe. I have shared with friends!
Thank U
Kristen Chidsey
YAY! So glad you had success and thank you for sharing with others.
Jim Blanton
Have been meaning to try steaming hard boiled eggs in my Instant Pot for ages.
Your method worked perfectly.
Thank you.
jb
Kristen Chidsey
YAY!! I am so glad this method worked so well for you Jim! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
Cyndee Bosworth
What method do you use if your Instant Pot does not have a manual setting??
Kristen Chidsey
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.
Steve P.
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.
Kristen Chidsey
YAY!! I love that you have had so much success Steve! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
Linda
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:)
Kristen Chidsey
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.
Mike
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.
Kristen Chidsey
YAY!!! This is one of my favorite things to make as well Mike! I am so glad you enjoyed.
Carolyn
Worked perfectly. Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
YAY!! I am so glad you had success Caryolyn!
Pam
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! 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
YAY!! Pam, I am so glad you found this recipe as helpful as I do! It is a game changer!
Randy
Will it matter if mine took 12 minutes to come up to pressure and start the countdown?
Kristen Chidsey
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.
Kathy
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.
Dave
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.
Kristen Chidsey
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!