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!
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
Tips For Perfect Instant Pot Boiled Eggs
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.
Check the blog post for more tips and serving suggestions!