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How to make perfect Instant Pot hard boiled eggs using the 5-5-5 method. It’s easy, hands-off, and fail-proof, and the peels practically fall off the eggs!
When I perfected stove-top boiled eggs, check here for the top tips to make easy peel hard-boiled eggs, I thought that was it for me. Then I discovered air fryer boiled eggs, which require even less “babysitting,” no water, and take less time. But, for those without an air fryer, Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs are the best and most consistent method so far – especially when it comes to being the easiest peel ever!
Cooking hard-boiled eggs in an Instant Pot is not only super simple and entirely hands-off, but they take just 15 minutes to cook. Even better, they require no additional tips or tricks (like vinegar or poking holes) for perfectly easy-peel eggs every time, regardless of their age, batch size, or anything else.
The time saved on trying to carefully peel the eggs without gouging away egg white makes this method so worth it for any Instant Pot owner. Best of all, using the 5-5-5 method for pressure cooking eggs, yields consistently great easy peel eggs with perfectly cooked whites, creamy yolks, and no sign of unappealing green/gray rings.
Plus, you can make as little as one egg up to a dozen (or however many fit in your pressure cooker) with no method change – perfect for weekly meal prep and feeding crowds! You might also enjoy making perfectly poached eggs, fluffy scrambled eggs, or French-baked eggs.
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How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs in Instant Pot?
First, place a trivet, steamer basket, or the rack/egg rack that comes with your IP in your pressure cooker. Next, pour in a cup of water.
Then, place your eggs on the rack. Close the lid, ensuring the steam release valve is in the sealing position, then cook the eggs on manual HIGH pressure for 5 minutes.
Wait for the natural pressure release for 5 minutes (it’s best to set a timer), then push the vent knob to the venting position to quickly release any remaining pressure.
I like to do this with the end of a long wooden spoon or with a tea towel around my hand, as it can sputter scalding water when turning the vent knob.
Carefully, using tongs or a potholder, transfer the Instant Pot hard boiled eggs to an ice bath (a bowl filled with cold water and ice). Leave to cool for 5 minutes and finally peel.
To peel the eggs, I like to tap them against my kitchen table and gently roll them across the counter to create cracks in the shell. At that point, the peels practically slide right off your perfect hard-boiled eggs.
How Long to Cook Hard Boiled Eggs in Instant Pot?
This recipe uses the 5-5-5 method for cooking hard-boiled eggs in a 6-quart Instant Pot. What does that mean?
- The pressure cooker will take 5 minutes to come to pressure.
- You set it to 5 minutes of cook time.
- Then allow it to natural release for 5 minutes before opening the valve to release the remaining pressure.
- I then transfer the eggs to an ice water bath for 5 minutes (so really, 5-5-5-5 method).
If you use an 8-quart Instant Pot to hard boil eggs, it will take closer to 9-10 minutes to come to pressure, so you won’t need the additional 5 minutes of natural release afterward.
This method will yield fool-proof, perfectly cooked (no chalky yolks or green/gray rings), easy-peel eggs every time.
Once cooked, enjoy these Instant Pot hard boiled eggs in all your favorite ways. As a snack, over toast (like avocado toast with egg), egg salad sandwich, deviled egg potato salad, and other salads, sliced or mashed and added to sandwiches like egg salad sandwich, wraps, to make Scotch eggs, added to buddha bowls/grain bowls, and more!
Storage Instructions
It’s best to avoid keeping the Instant Pot boiled eggs at room temperature for longer than two hours for food hygiene reasons. You can store hard-boiled eggs in their shell for up to 7 days or peeled for 3-5 when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
It’s best to keep the peeled eggs whole to avoid drying out, and I don’t recommend freezing the eggs, as the whites become rubbery upon thawing. However, egg yolks will freeze for up to 3 months.
More Simple Egg Recipes
If you try this Instant Pot boiled eggs recipe, I’d love to hear your thoughts/questions below. Also, I’d appreciate a recipe card rating below, and tag me in your recipe recreations on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
Perfect Peel Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
Equipment
- Instant pot or another cooker pressure
Ingredients
- 4 eggs or as many as needed and can fit in your IP
- 1 cup water (1 cup is enough no matter how many eggs)
Instructions
- Place a trivet, steamer basket, or the rack/egg rack that comes with your IP in your pressure cooker. Next, pour in 1 cup of water.
- Place your eggs on the rack. Close the lid, ensuring the steam release valve is in the sealing position, then cook the eggs on manual HIGH pressure for 5 minutes.
- Wait for it to natural pressure release for 5 minutes (it's best to set a timer), then push the vent knob (with the end of a long wooden spoon or with a tea towel around your hand since it can sputter scalding water) to the venting position to quick release any remaining pressure.If you use an 8-quart Instant Pot to hard-boil eggs, it will take closer to 9-10 minutes to come to pressure, so you won't need the additional 5 minutes of natural release afterward.
- Carefully, using tongs or a potholder, transfer the eggs to an ice bath (a bowl filled with cold water and ice), and leave to cool for 5 minutes.
- To peel the eggs, tap them against the kitchen counter and gently roll them to create cracks in the shell. The peels practically slide right off when peeling.
Storage Instructions
- It's best to avoid keeping the cooked eggs at room temperature for longer than two hours for food hygiene reasons. You can store hard-boiled eggs in their shell for up to 7 days or peeled for 3-5 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.It's best to keep the peeled eggs whole to avoid drying out, and I don't recommend freezing the eggs, as the whites become rubbery upon thawing. However, egg yolks will freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Use room temperature eggs: This yields the most even results and is less likely to crack in the IP.
- For creamier egg yolks: Cook the eggs for 4 minutes rather than 5 for firm whites but jammy yolks.
- Using a stovetop pressure cooker: These take less time to reach pressure than an Instant Pot, so only require 3- 3/12 minutes of cooking. Test 1-2 eggs first when making pressure cooker hard boiled eggs to see what works best for your pressure cooker.
- Save the eggshells: They can be used as a fertilizer, to compost, turn into eggshell powder, and deter pests in the garden, among other uses.
- 6 quart vs. 8 quart IP: In the larger pressure cooker, it takes longer to come to pressure in the first place, so you may not need the additional 5 minutes of natural release time. Experiment to find which method you prefer.
- Egg size: This method works perfectly for medium-large eggs. The timings will need tweaking if you’re using small or extra-large eggs.
- Don’t overcrowd the IP: You can cook as many eggs as you can comfortably fit (without stacking) in the Instant Pot.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.