Instant Pot Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
by Chungah
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How to make Instant Pot hard boiled eggs! They are so easy to peel and perfectly cooked every single time. Quick, easy and hands off!
why you’ll love instant pot hard boiled eggs
- Consistent, fool-proof method. Say goodbye to those green yolks! Green eggs tend to happen when eggs are overcooked, but the Instant Pot® will regulate the time and temperature, evenly distributing heat so you can count on perfectly cooked, bright yellow yolks every single time.
- Easy peeling. Cooking hard boiled eggs in the pressure cooker makes peeling effortless. The intense pressure of the Instant Pot loosens the eggs inner membrane while the ice bath shrinks the egg whites inside, allowing the shells to slip right off.
- Zero babysitting. There’s no need to monitor a boiling pot of water or babysit the stove. Simply add the water and eggs to the Instant Pot, close the lid, push a button and walk away.
What is the 5-5-5 method?
This is a popular, fool-proof method to cook hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot®.
- 5 minutes of high pressure cooking
- 5 minutes of natural pressure release
- 5 minutes in an ice bath
How to make hard boiled eggs in the instant pot
- Prep the Instant Pot. Add 1 cup cold water to a 6-qt Instant Pot® and place the metal trivet inside.
- Add the eggs. Gently add the eggs in a single layer, adding 6-12 eggs in each batch.
- Pressure cook. Seal the pressure cooker valve and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes (for hard boiled).
- Natural release. When the cooking cycle is complete, allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally for 5 minutes. Then flip the valve to release any remaining pressure.
- Ice bath. Immediately transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water for 5 minutes.
cook times for soft, medium and hard boiled eggs
- Soft-boiled (jammy yolks): 3 minute cook time, immediate quick release, 5 minute ice bath
- Medium-boiled: 4 minute cook time, immediate quick release, 5 minute ice bath
- Hard boiled: 5 minute cook time, 5 minute natural release, 5 minute ice bath
Recipes that use hard boiled eggs
Tools For This Recipe
Instant Pot Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Always place the eggs on the metal trivet – this will keep the eggs elevated above the boiling water so they can steam efficiently, preventing them from cracking and burning on the bottom.
An ice bath will immediately halt the cooking process, preventing overcooked eggs.
Reduce the cook time to 3 minutes, followed by an immediate quick release of pressure and a 5 minute ice bath.
Hard boiled eggs can be stored unpeeled in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days. Peeled eggs should be stored completely submerged in clean water, changed daily, for 3-4 days.
Freezing is not recommended as the egg whites will become rubbery and watery when thawed.
Instant Pot Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 6-12 large eggs
Instructions
- Add water to a 6-qt Instant Pot®. Place the metal trivet into the pot and gently add eggs on top of the trivet.
- Select manual setting; adjust pressure to high, and set time for 5 minutes. When finished cooking, allow a 5 minute natural release before a quick-release pressure according to manufacturer’s directions.
- Cool eggs in a bowl of ice water for 5 minutes. Drain well and peel.
Equipment
Notes
- Use cold eggs. Add the eggs to the Instant Pot directly from the fridge. This will allow for consistent cook times and less shell shock, keeping the whites intact to prevent cracking.
- Add enough water. For a 6-qt Instant Pot®, 1 cup water should be sufficient. For an 8-qt Instant Pot®, increase the water to 1 1/2 cups.
- Adjust the cook time. For slightly softer, jammy yolks, reduce the cook time to 3 minutes. For extra firm yolks, increase the cook time to 6 minutes.
- Always use an ice bath. Remove the eggs immediately from the Instant Pot and place them in a bowl of ice water for 5 minutes to stop the cooking process.
- Store unpeeled. Unpeeled eggs can keep up to 1 week in an airtight container in the fridge.
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Best boiled eggs ever! First of all, I followed the time recommendation to get those perfectly jammy yolks, and they were spot on. Secondly, after I did the ice bath the peelings practically jumped off the eggs!
Made these to color Easter eggs. We loved them this way.
Perfect hard boiled eggs every time.
This makes great eggs, and I’ve used it quite a few times, but does altitude make a difference? I’ve never really paid attention to my altitude and cooking, but I’ve had to increase the time to 9 min to get firm yolks, and even this time a couple had a little soft spot in the middle still.
I’m at just over 2000 feet and I find it makes a bit of difference for canning and baking but not pressure cooking as it creates the pressure it needs.
6 minutes for me makes prefect hard cooked eggs every time!
This is a good method and I’ve been using it as well asthe 5-5-5 method which is pretty much the same. One problem I have though is after the first batch, which peels fine, I immediately put in a second batch of eggs and they don’t peel very well at all. I’m wondering if the second batch, which I start in the same water, now hot, is changing the process.
My guess would be that your second batch is being cooked for a shorter period of time since you are starting with water that is already hot. Try cooking the second batch with cold water or adjust the time so it cooks longer; I’m not sure how much of an adjustment to make though.
My go to! Makes it so much easier!
Great reviews! Can you convert the settings and time for a pressure cooker rather than an InstaPot?
Excellent eggs to peal
works perfectly! I’m amazed how easy it is to peel the eggs, too. I wonder why that is? it makes this method perfect for deviled eggs, when you need perfectly peeled eggs.
Perfect every time!
I eat cage-free brown eggs and enjoy a medium yoke. I’ve been using a 12 min boiling process that cooks the yokes perfectly but they are soooo hard to shell. I just bought a Duo Plus 6QT and tried 8 brown eggs for 5 min at high pressure with quick pressure release and ice chill per your instructions. It worked perfectly! The yoke was perfectly cooked and light, the white seemed to be softer than boiled, and best of all, they were soooo much easier to peel! I believe the pressure actually softens the shell at bit.
Thank you Chungah!
Will never have hard boiled eggs again! This method is perfect and peels with ease! I always try to use the older eggs that I have (as I would for traditional HB eggs), don’t know if it’s necessary with this method, but it’s been working so I’m not gonna mess with it.
Perfect!! Will do them this way from now on, so essy!!!
Didn’t work. I put mine on for seven minutes and they were still on the soft side of soft boiled. And they were almost impossible to peel. It would have taken the same amount time to do it in water on the stove top and would have been fully cooked and easy to peel.
I always get a few cracked eggs when I follow these directions does anyone know why
Try bringing your eggs to room temperature before adding to the instant pot.
Absolutely perfect results. Thank you. I’m not even that crazy about eggs. These are so yummy. I set it for 5 minutes. I love that yolk consistency!
I am in complete agreement with you! I come to you because I cannot remember the times! Thanks for making life easy for me.
Thanks for the recipe! I wasn’t sure where to begin! I tried 4 minutes, in my opinion, that made perfect hard-boiled eggs. 3 minutes made perfect medium-boiled eggs! I used 6 eggs, 1 cup of cold water, quick release, ice bath.
Perfect. No trivet needed.
This is my go-to guide when I want to make hard boiled eggs!
Just tried these for our Easter eggs this year, and they came out perfect. We have an 8-quart Instant Pot, so I used 1.5 cups of water instead of one, and we had 14 eggs in there because we have a two-tiered holder made especially for eggs for the Instant Pot. I tested one after the first batch to see how it was and it’s the best hard-boiled egg I’ve ever eaten. I did them for 7 minutes because we like the yolk firm, and the yolks were perfect – beautiful yellow with no green, and soft and creamy while still fully set. I’ll never boil eggs again.
mine too ! 12 eggs, 1 1/2 cups water , 7 minutes + very cold water bath= perfect eggs, yellow yolks, no green , easy to peel !