Here's how to make easy Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs with step by step directions. Hands down the best, no-fail way to make hard boiled (hard cooked) eggs that easy-peel every single time.
Until I discovered how to "boil" eggs in the Instant Pot, I always dreaded cooking them on the stovetop. So many factors weighed in on whether or not they would peel easily, be over/under cooked, or have a green ring around the yolk.
Now, when I make them in the Instant Pot multi-function pressure cooker using the 5-5-5 Method, I never have to wonder if they will turn out the way I want them. They are perfect, no-fail hard boiled eggs. Every. Single. Time! It's that easy!
What is the 5-5-5 Method for Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs?
- 5 minutes cooking time on Pressure Cook
- 5 minutes Natural Release (NR)
- 5 minutes in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process and cool down
This is probably the most common method. I often drop down to 4 minutes cooking time (4-5-5 method). The yolks are still hard-cooked but the whites are not quite as hard/firm-which is how I like them. I often leave the eggs in the ice water for 6 or 7 minutes to make sure they are completely cooled down on the inside.
I've seen recipes that cook the eggs in the Instant Pot for 6 minutes, but at that point, I think you risk getting the green or grey ring around the yolk and drying out the yolk.
How to make Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
I used a 6 Quart Duo 7-in-1 Instant Pot
Any size or model Instant Pot can be used. I often use my 3-quart Mini Instant Pot. I can stack an entire dozen eggs on the rack that comes with this model!
Scroll down for detailed, printable recipe.
What you will need
- Eggs (1 to 1 dozen)
- 1 cup water
- Any model Instant Pot
- Place a metal or silicone trivet (rack) in the Instant Pot insert pot.
- Eggs can be place in a single layer or even stacked on top of each other. Add 1 cup of water.
- Then, set the pressure valve to "sealing", not venting. Set to Pressure Cook for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes of Natural Release (means do nothing after 5 minutes of cooking), push the pressure release valve to Venting for a Quick Release.
- Next, transfer the hot eggs into a bowl of ice water.
- Let stand in ice water at least 5 minutes. This cools down the eggs but also aids in the easy-peel process.
For the last step, tap the eggs on the edge of a bowl or on the counter, then roll it around on the counter with the palm of your hand to crack the shell. The shell will almost fall off before you can even "peel" it off. It's like magic!
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy to peel every single time. No more stressing over ragged outsides of eggs. Perfectly smooth Deviled Eggs.
- You can set it and walk away!
- Works perfectly even if the eggs are fresh from the hen. (Fresh eggs are notorious for not peeling well with stovetop method.
- The eggs are basically steamed and do not move around and crack during cooking.
- The yolks are a beautiful yellow color with no green or grey discoloration.
Cons
- It doesn't actually save time since it takes about 10 minutes to "come up to pressure", 5 minutes to cook, 5 minutes to Natural Release, then 5 minutes in an ice bath. BUT! I still consider it a time saver because I can set it and walk away and I save time not having to wrestle with peeling the eggs.
- The cost of an Instant Pot if you don't already have one.
Don't have an Instant Pot?
No worries. Here are the 3 models I own plus Duo in teal. I highly recommend all of them.
Which Instant Pot should I buy?
Instant Pot multi-function cookers have almost as many new versions as iPhones. Fortunately, you can't really go wrong with most any of them.
The only version I would avoid is one of the very first models-the Instant Pot Luxe version. It lacks a couple of the basic features I love like the handy slots in the handles to place the hot lid that drains the collected steam back into the pot. See what I'm talking about here. It's tempting to buy this model because it is often on sale in the big box stores and online.
For a detailed overview of the various Instant Pot models, prices, and features, check out the post from Healthy Kitchen 101.
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Other Instant Pot recipes you will love
- Naturally Dyed Deviled Eggs and Easter Eggs
- Instant Pot Bone-In Pepper Jelly Ham
- Instant Pot Fresh Green Beans with Bacon
- Instant Pot White Bean Chicken Chili
- Instant Pot Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Cheesecake
- Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts
How to Make Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs (Easy Peel Every Time)
Equipment
- instant pot
Ingredients
- 6 to 12 large eggs
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Place a metal or silicone trivet (rack) in the Instant Pot insert pot.
- Eggs can be place in a single layer or even stacked on top of each other. Add 1 cup of water.
- Set the pressure valve to "sealing", not venting. Set to Pressure Cook for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes of Natural Release (means do nothing after 5 minutes of cooking. I set a timer. Push the pressure release valve over to Venting for a Quick Release. There will not be much pressure left to release.
- Transfer the hot eggs into a bowl of ice water. Let stand in ice water at least 5 minutes. This cools down the eggs but also aids in the easy-peel process.
- When ready to eat, tap the eggs on the edge of a bowl or on the counter, then roll it around on the counter with the palm of your hand to crack the shell. The shell will almost fall off before you can even "peel" it off.
- Store the eggs peeled or unpeeled in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.
Thanks so much! I can't wait to try this!
My pleasure! Let me know in the post comments how you like them if you try them!