In this post, I’ll show you how to make the perfect air fryer hard boiled eggs, with a step-by-step guide that’s easy to follow.

If you’re a fan of hard-boiled eggs, then you know that the process of boiling and peeling them can be quite a hassle. While you may be familiar with cooking eggs on the stovetop, there is an easier and mess-free way to make the perfect hard boiled eggs every time.

Allow me to introduce you to air fryer hard boiled eggs! Not that I need an excuse to reach for my air fryer. But making hard boiled eggs in air fryer offers the ultimate in convenience and taste.

How to hard boil eggs in air fryer

First, prepare the eggs.

Before you start, ensure you have fresh eggs, straight from the fridge. Gently rinse them with water and dry them with a paper towel.

Pre-heat your air fryer to 275ºF/135ºC if needed. Once ready, place the eggs in a single layer in the basket or rack of your air fryer. Do not overcrowd the eggs, as this can cause them to crack during cooking.

Chef’s Tip: some models of air fryers can vary in heat output. I recommend making one or two eggs in your air fryer equipment before committing to cooking a large batch. This will help you find the perfect temperature and cooking length for your air fryer.

Next, air fry eggs.

To hard boil eggs in an air fryer, cook them for 15 minutes at 275ºF/135ºC.

If you prefer firmer eggs, cook them for a few minutes longer (around 16-17 minutes). This will create a hard-boiled egg that is very firm, but not over-cooked. 

Likewise, if you like a softer yolk, take them out a few minutes early. 12-13 minutes for a runny egg and around 14 minutes for an egg with a soft “jammy center”.

15 minutes exactly will result in the perfect medium hard-boiled egg.

Finally, chill and peel the eggs.

Once the cooking time is up, remove the eggs from the air fryer. The eggs will be hot so use a pair of tongues or a slotted spoon to scoop the eggs out. 

Then place them under running cold water until they are cool enough to handle. Alternatively, you can place them in a bowl of iced water for about 10 minutes to stop the cooking process.

If you skip this step, your eggs may continue to cook even after being taken out of the air fryer. Then you may not achieve the yolk consistency you desire.

After cooling, gently crack the eggshell and roll it in your hand or on the countertop to loosen the shell.

Rolling the egg will help the shell to slide off in large sections, so you don’t have to clean up small shards of shell. Simply peel the shell off to reveal the perfectly cooked egg inside.

Storing the eggs

The best way to store your hardboiled eggs will depend on whether or not you have de-shelled them. 

Shell on: If your eggs are still within their shell, their shell will act as a protective layer. Simply place them in your fridge, ideally in an egg container, for up to a week.

Don’t store your eggs on your fridge door. Left there, they may experience fluctuations in temperature if you leave your door open for too long.

Shell off: If you have already peeled your eggs, keep them in an airtight container (or a ziplock bag) in your fridge for 5-7 days. If you’re worried about them drying out and losing their tasty texture, wrap them in a damp paper towel before storing them to stop them from losing any moisture.

While it may be tempting to slice your eggs before storing them, I don’t recommend this as the egg will likely dry out.

Serving recommendations

Eggs are an American staple, whether you’re craving eggs for breakfast, as a post-workout protein snack, or as an addition to a mouth-watering salad. Some of my top serving suggestions are:

• Snack – Did you know that one, large boiled egg has around 6 grams of protein? If you want a quick protein hit, you can snack on an air-fryer-boiled egg. To elevate the snack, slice it open. Then add a sprinkle of salt, black pepper, pesto, paprika, or whatever seasoning you fancy.
• Salad – Eggs work great in salads as they offer a creamy consistency that pairs wonderfully with crunchy vegetables. If you want to take an egg salad that will truly impress on your next BBQ, check out my deviled eggs potato salad. Take this salad to any group event and you’re guaranteed to return home with an empty bowl! You can aso make egg salad sandwich with any leftovers.

More egg recipes

• Perfect Ramen Eggs
• Egg Yolk Ravioli
• Instant Pot Boiled Eggs
• Easy Ways to Separate Eggs
• How to Pasteurize Eggs

If you try air fryer hard boiled eggs recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!