Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
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If you’re looking for a foolproof way to make perfect hard-boiled eggs every time, look no further than your Instant Pot. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week, making deviled eggs for a gathering, or just need a healthy snack on hand, Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs come out consistently perfect—no cracked shells, no overcooking, just reliable results every time.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
This recipe is MAGIC.
In all of my years of trying every hard-boiled egg trick in the book, I’ve never come out with ones that were cooked this perfectly (think moist yellow yokes with no green ring) and that peeled this easily.
The shells practically fall off once you start peeling. This recipe alone might make investing in an Instant Pot (here’s the one Polly and I both own*) worth it.
How to Make Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
Step 1: Prep the Instant Pot
First, pour 1 cup of water in the steel pot of a 6-quart Instant Pot (use 2 cups for an 8-quart), place the wire rack/trivet in the bottom, and line up your eggs.
You can really squeeze them in there. Our readers tell us you can even stack them in two layers!
Step 2: Pressure Cook the Eggs
Push the “Manual” button and adjust the time to 4 minutes. Make sure the Pressure is on “High.”
Step 3: Prepare the Ice Bath
While the Instant Pot comes up to pressure (it will take about 5 minutes), add some ice and water in a bowl nearby as an ice bath. You’ll use this to “shock” the eggs when they are done, bringing their temp down quickly so the cooking process is stopped.
Step 4: Let the Instant Pot Naturally Release Pressure
After the 4-minute cooking time is up, let the pressure naturally release for 3-4 minutes (meaning, don’t touch it). I think 3 minutes is PERFECT personally. Watch it closely, so they don’t sit longer than this.
After that, turn the knob on top to release the rest of the pressure.
Step 5: Shock the Eggs in an Ice Bath
Using tongs, transfer your eggs to the ice bath immediately.
Step 6: Peel and Enjoy!
Then, get peeling. The shells will come right off! I sometimes run them under water to get the little shell pieces off.
Warning: Do not put shells down your garbage disposal in your sink. I did this years ago and ruined ours!
Now say hello to perfectly cooked, easy-to-peel hard-boiled eggs from the Instant Pot!
Here are five great uses for hard-boiled eggs:
- Salad Topping: Add a hard boiled egg to your salad for some extra protein. This would go great with our Cobb Salad.
- Deviled Eggs: Scoop out the yolks, mix them with mayonnaise, mustard, and spices, then pipe the mixture back into the egg whites for a classic appetizer.
- Protein-Packed Snack: Keep hard-boiled eggs on hand for a quick and healthy snack. Sprinkle with a little salt, pepper, or your favorite seasoning.
- Easter Eggs: I use this method every year to prep our eggs for dyeing.
Instant Pot Cooking Times Chart
If you have an Instant Pot, be sure to download and print off our Instant Pot Cooking Times Chart that we spent two years developing for our cookbook.
This guide will help you pressure cook both fresh and frozen meals perfectly! It’s our gift to you!
Instant Pot Cooking Times Chart
FAQs
You can cook as many eggs as will fit in a single layer on the trivet or egg rack. Typically, 6–12 eggs fit comfortably. However, we’ve had readers tell us it works fine to stack the eggs.
No, the cooking time remains the same regardless of the number of eggs. The pressure-building time might increase slightly with more eggs, but the cook time does not need to be adjusted.
Eggs can crack due to sudden temperature changes or being stacked too tightly. To avoid this, use room temperature eggs, place them gently in the pot, and avoid overcrowding.
To hard boil an egg on the stove, place the eggs in a single layer in a pot and cover them with cold water by about an inch. Bring the water to a rolling boil, then remove the pot from heat, cover it with a lid, and let the eggs sit for 9-12 minutes, depending on your desired firmness. Afterward, transfer the eggs to an ice bath to stop the cooking process and make them easier to peel.
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Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
Once you make these easy-to-peel Instant Pot hard boiled eggs, you’ll never go back to the stovetop. It is the only way I make hard boiled eggs now! With 3 simple steps, you can do it too.
Ingredients
- 8–12 eggs
- 1–2 cups water
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Instructions
- Pour 1 cup of water in the steel pot of a 6 quart Instant Pot (use 2 cups for an 8 quart), place the wire rack/trivet in the bottom, and line up your eggs. You can really squeeze them in there. Our readers tell us you can even stack them in two layers!
- Push the “Manual” button and adjust the time to 4 minutes. Make sure the Pressure is on “High.”
- While the Instant Pot comes up to pressure (it will take about 5 minutes), add some ice and water in a bowl nearby as an ice bath. You’ll use this to “shock” the eggs when they are done, bringing their temp down quickly so the cooking process is stopped.
- After the 4 minute cooking time is up, let the pressure naturally release for 3-4 minutes (meaning, don’t touch it). I think 3 minutes is PERFECT personally. Watch it closely, so they don’t sit longer than this. After that, turn the knob on top to release the rest of the pressure.
- Using tongs to transfer your eggs to the ice bath immediately.
- Then, get peeling. The shells will come right off! I sometimes run them under water to get the little shell pieces off. (Warning: Don’t put your shells down the garbage disposal!)
Notes/Tips
- Warning: Do not put shells down your garbage disposal in your sink. I did this years ago and ruined ours!
- The cooking time remains the same regardless of the number of eggs.
- If your eggs are cracking, consider letting them come to room temperature before pressure cooking.
Want More Easy Recipes for the Instant Pot?
Be sure to swing by our fabulous round up of Instant Pot Freezer Meals. Every recipe can be made fresh or prepared ahead of time and then placed in the Instant Pot straight from frozen.
I’ve tried lots of methods in my 56 years and this is the first that seems foolproof! Thank you, ladies!!!
You are so welcome Grace! Thanks for leaving a review.
This is the only way I make hard boiled eggs now! Perfect every time!
So glad to hear it Janet! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
When I first got my instant pot I decided I was going to use it everyday to help me get the hang of it and this was the first thing I made. I still make eggs like this. Easy and cooks them just right.
The hard-boiled eggs alone make it worth the investment to me. 🙂 I’m glad our recipe works for you.
They were easy to peel, but mine had a green ring around the yolk.
Hi Beth. I’ve been meaning to update this recipe. I’ve tested it a lot since first writing it and have found that 4 minutes cook time and 4 minutes of natural release time prevents that. I’ll update the recipe. Thank you for leaving this comment as a reminder to me!
I love making hard boiled eggs this way! But one or two eggs usually crack when I cook them this way. Any idea why? I use 7 eggs and they don’t touch, 6 qt IP, 5-5-5 method.
Hmm, I don’t know. I sometimes have one crack a little. I haven’t noticed it affecting the cooked egg negatively, though.
It works! Finally is can make nice looking deviled eggs. Thank you so much.