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Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

Written by Katerina

Published Apr 1, 2021

Healthy, wholesome, and versatile, hard boiled eggs make a wonderful snack and can be used in lots of easy meals, too. These Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs are very easy to make and super easy to peel!

halved hard boiled eggs topped with cracked black pepper

Perfect Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

Hard boiled eggs are practically the perfect protein! They are delicious, healthy, and come in their own convenient little package, that’s good for composting when you’re done. I like to keep hard boiled eggs in the fridge throughout the week for snacking and making quick meals. You can grab one as you head out, or chop up a few to throw in a sandwich, salad, or bowl of noodles.

My kids like deviled eggs a lot, and I do, too! It’s a fun “appetizer-y” food that is actually a healthier snack, perfect for keeping everyone satisfied between lunch and dinner.

If you’d like to stock your fridge with this easy, wholesome ingredient, go for it! Whether you like hard, medium, or soft boiled eggs, this recipe is for you!

instant pot pressure cooked and a plate of hard boiled halved eggs

Why Use an Instant Pot?

There are lots of reasons to make your hard boiled eggs in an Instant Pot! Sure, you can also boil them on the stovetop, or throw them in a steamer. Some people even cook eggs by baking them. That’s ME! 🙋‍♀️ But, lately I prefer to use the Instant Pot because it has several advantages that really work for me.

Quick and Easy. You don’t have to wait for a big pot of water to boil because, the Instant Pot does all the work for you! I love just pouring the water in, setting the eggs on the trivet, and letting the IP do the rest.
Consistent Cooking. The eggs turn out just right, every time! There’s no variation like there is with other methods that are less precise!
Easy Peeling. It’s not completely clear why, but many cooks agree that the Instant Pot makes boiled eggs much easier to peel.

What You’ll Need

To make these easy eggs, I recommend that you gather your supplies first. You’ll need the following:

1 to 1 ½ cups water, plus more for the ice bath
8 to 12 large eggs
A 6-quart (or larger) Instant Pot with metal trivet
One large mixing bowl
Ice

brown eggs arranged inside the instant pot

How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs in the Instant Pot

This is a nice, easy method! The Instant Pot does all the work. Just have a big bowl of ice water ready to cool the eggs!

Add the Water and Eggs to the Instant Pot. Pour one cup of water into a 6-quart Instant Pot. (If you have an 8-quart or larger Instant Pot, add one and a half cups of water.) Place the metal trivet inside the Instant Pot. Arrange your eggs on the metal trivet. I almost always cook up to 8 eggs at a time, but you can certainly fit more than that if you wish!
Cook the Eggs. Close the Instant Pot lid, and seal the valve. Press the “Manual” button; set pressure to HIGH, and set the timer between 3 and 7 minutes, according to how done you want the eggs to be. See below for a guideline.
Release Pressure and Cool Eggs. While the eggs cook, prepare a large bowl with water and ice. Once the eggs are done cooking, do a quick release. Then remove the lid, and using a pair of tongs, carefully remove each egg from the Instant Pot. Place the eggs directly into the ice bath. Let cool for about 4 minutes.
Enjoy! You can immediately peel and serve, or store the peeled eggs in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.

Cooking Times

Depending on how set you prefer your egg yolks, you can adjust the cooking time. Here are some general guidelines:

3 Minutes for Soft Boiled Eggs: The white of a soft boiled egg is set, but may be slightly wobbly, and the yolk is soft, even runny. Soft boiled eggs are perfect with a slice of buttered toast, or a few stalks of freshly blanched asparagus. 😋
5 Minutes for Medium Boiled Eggs: A medium-boiled egg has a firm white, and the yolk is mostly firm, but with a deep color and soft, not runny, center.
7 Minutes for Hard Boiled Eggs: Hard boiled eggs are firm throughout, and the yolk is paler and cooked fully.

Tips for Success

This is such an easy method, but there are some cool variations and tips I’d like to share with you! Keep reading for my best advice on getting the perfect eggs.

Size Counts: This method is for standard “large” eggs from your supermarket, since that’s what many people have. Keep in mind that for medium eggs, jumbo eggs, or unsized eggs from a farmer’s market, you may need to adjust your cooking times.
Egg Rack: If you see yourself using this method a lot (raises hand) you might want to invest in an egg rack for your Instant Pot! This special rack is easy to use and holds the eggs cozily, making it harder to accidentally break them.
Watch for Cracks: Sometimes one of the eggs may crack during the pressure release, but those eggs are still fine to eat. Just remember that since they no longer have an intact shell, they won’t keep as long in the fridge. I recommend using within 2 or 3 days.

Easy Peeling Method

So the most reliable way to make sure that your eggs are easy to peel is just to use older eggs. The more fresh your eggs are, the smaller of an air pocket there will be in the egg, and the more the parts of the egg will sort of stick together. But, slightly older eggs that have been in your fridge a week or two will usually peel much more easily.

However, the combination of pressure-cooking and using an ice-bath in this recipe also makes eggs easier to peel, even if they’re really fresh. Cooking them at a high temperature in the instant pot, followed by shocking them in icy cold water, helps loosen the shell. Boom! 💥

Ways to Use Hard Boiled Eggs

There are so many awesome uses for hard-boiled eggs! I love how versatile this quick and easy protein option can be. Here are a few of my favs to get you started!

Chopped up for egg salad
Quartered, in a garden, Cobb, or other green salad
Deviled Eggs
Grab-and-go breakfast protein or lunch protein
Added to tuna salad, potato salad, and ham salad
Added to a bowl of ramen
Scotch eggs

How to Store Hard Boiled Eggs

Storing hard-boiled eggs is easy! If you choose to peel them, all you have to do is place them in an airtight container and pop them in the fridge. They’ll keep for about 4 to 5 days.
If you refrigerate cooked eggs in the shell, they’ll keep for one week.

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